ST. GEORGE'S, TAKAPUNA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11951, 28 April 1902, Page 6

ST. GEORGE'S, TAKAPUNA.

FOUNDATION-STONE LAID BY THE GOVERNOR. Tin - , foundation-stone of St. Georges Pres-

byterian Church, Lake Takapuna, was laid on, Saturday afternoon by His Excellency the Governor Lord Ranfurly, and the ceremony, which was brief and simple, was very successful. There was a good gathering of local residents, who had been looking forward for some time to the visit of His Excellency, and some 300 people went round to the Lake from Auckland by the p.s. Osprey. Among those present were the Revs. W. Gray Dixon, W. S. Potter, H. B. Gray, J. T. Pinfold, R. F. Macnicol, R. Som- } merville, G. B. Monro, Messrs. J. Bollard, I M.H.R., Geo. Fowlds, M.H.R., H. Brett, E. | W. Alison, W. Berry, Samuel Luke, Graves I Aickin, G. Mueller, J. R. Hanna, K. Watj kin, W. E. Anderson, and T. Hilditch. The vice-regal —His Excellency the \ Governor, Lady Ranfurly, Lady Eileen Knox, Captain Alexander, private secretary, and Captain Boscawen, Hon. A.D.C. —drove out to the Lake with an escort furnished by the Seddon Horse Mounted Rifles, under Captain A. T. Reed. A guard of honour at the church grounds was formed by the Auckland Naval Artillery, under LieutenantCommander Clemens. As His Excellency was escorted to the platform-which had been erected in front of the new church, the walls of which are already up, the audience sang the National Anthem. After the " Old Hundredth," prayer was offered up by the Rev. G. B. Monro, of St. Luke's Church, Rcmuera, and the Rev. W. S. Potter, president of the Auckland Ministers' Association, read verses 10 to 19 of I. Chronicles xxix. The Rev. Robert Ferguson, minister of St. George's, then gave a short history of the church. The hist service was held in the Lake Hall on September 13, 1896, and two years later the Sunday-school, which had since done a great amount of good work in the district, was commenced. From small beginnings things progressed well, and now there was a numerous congregation of members and adherents working and worshipping happily together. Mrs. Robert Frater then presented a handsome silver trowel to His Excellency, who proceeded to lay the stone, which is of marble, and bears the following inscription : —"'St. George's Church, Takapuna. This stone was laid by the Right Hon. the Earl of Ranfurly, K.C.M.G., Governor of New Zealand, April 26, 1902. R, Reals and Sons, architects; H. Golloway, builder." His Excellency said he had pleasure in declaring the stone well and truly laid. He was pleased for the second time that week to take part in the proceedings attending the establishment of a. house for the worship of God. He was especially pleased to be present that afternoon because one of the chief objects of St. George's Church was the Sunday-school that was to be attached to it. He believed that no nation could be great if that nation lived without the Bible. (Applause.) Her late Majesty the Queen, when asked to account for England's greatness and prosperity, laid her hand on the Bible. There was a lesson. He hoped that the work begun at Lake Takapuna that day might prosper. He felt that it should prosper, judging from the large number of people present, who were evidently taking an interest in the church. He wished the church every success, and trusted that it might be a real blessing to the district. (Applause.) After prayer by the Rev. Robert Ferguson, the people sang the hymn " The Church's One Foundation," during which a collection was taken up. This, together with donations, realised a sum of £123. The Rev. W. Gray Dixon, Moderator of the Auckland Presbytery, who gave an address, said his first duty and privilege was in the name of the Presbytery of Auckland, and more especially of the minister and officebearers of the Devonport parish, to thank Mis Excellency and Lady Ranfurly for being present. Having been taught to regard the Church and State as equally divine insti-' tut ions, he always felt it to be an honour when there was an interchange of courtesies between the two institutions, and when the representative of the State was none other I than the representative of the King the honour was doubled. They also rejoiced in His Excellency's presence because they knew he and Lady Ranfurly were always ready to use their influence in promoting every cause, that was foi the true uplifting and well-being of the community. (Applause.) Remembering His Excellency's connection with John Knox, the illustrious reformer of the Church in Scotland, they might even hope that His Excellency regarded their Presbyterian Church with something of even special respect. Turning to the minister and office-bearers of the congregation of St. George's, Mr. Dixon conveyed to them, in the name of the Presbytery, most hearty congratulations on the forward movement which they had commenced in building a church in the district—one of the most beautiful suburbs of Auckland—a church which would be one of the first to catch the eye of visitors. A few weeks ago the Presbytery, in the course of business, made a visitation to the Devonport Church, and they saw that the utmost prosperity prevailed in that congregation, and that under the most active, genial, capable, and progressive minister God had given them, supported by the able labours of the elders and officers, they were giving an illustration of healthy congregational life, which it would be difficult to surpass or even match in the congregations of his acquaintance. The name chosen for the new church—St. George's—was an indication that the church was not an exclusively Scottish church'. A very important contingent was furnished by the English element. He thought that the roughness which was sometimes characteristic of the Scotchman was very much softened down when they got a good contingent of Englishmen into their congregations. (Laughter.) The name- of the church also took the thoughts to one of- the brighest examples under the blue banner of Presbyterianism— St. George's of Edinburgh. The greatest Presbyterian family in Germany, and perhaps in the world, was the family of the German Emperor—the family of the Hohenzollem. In the burial-place of that ancient family there was an abbey surrounding which there was a beautiful old*legend— that it had been built around a budding tree. St. George's had been built, around a tree that was budding, always budding, because it belonged to God's everlasting springtime, to God's age of perennial hope—the budding tree of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the resurrection. Might that gospel ever llourish. Miss Glen Ferguson, daughter of the minister of the church, presented the Countess of Ranfurly with a basket of beautiful chrysanthemums, after which the Doxology was sung, and the service was ; brought to a conclusion with the Benediction, pronounced by the Rev. R. F. Macnicol, of St. James' Church. The singing during the service, was led by the choir and a small but capable orchestra", Mrs. J. A. Bradstreet presided at the organ. St. George's Church is to seat some 200 people, with a. schoolroom for 100 scholars, i and will cost between £600 and £700. The , site covers two acres of ground, purchased for £130, towards lbs payment of which the ladies of the congregation raised £120 as the result of a sale of work. The officebearers hope that by the time the church is ready for divine service, next June or July, at least £400 will be cleared off the debt, Already handsome donations have been received from members of the congregation and others, and presentations have been made of a beautiful platform pulpit, a pulpit Bible, an ecclesiastical chair, a communion table, iron gates, ornamental notice board, etc.