INDUCTION OF PASTOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18709, 15 May 1924, Page 9

INDUCTION OF PASTOR.

BERESFORD STREET CHURCH.

THE REV. L. B. FLETCHER.

• The induction of the Rev. Lionel B. Fletcher, as pastor of the Beresford Street Congregational Church was held last evening, being conducted by the Rev. Harry Johnson. There was a large congregation. v The senior deacon of the church, Mr. F. W. Matthews, in making a brief statement as to the call, said they had .despatched a commission _ to the Colonial Missionary Society in London, to place in the hands of some outstanding minister of ; their denomination the call toy- their church. He believed the coming of Mr. Fletcher would be such an . influence that all their : churches throughout the Dominion would be inspired -and uplifted to do the will. of God. ■ « '.

The Rev. Lionel Fletcher, in reply, said he had endeavoured to find the right minister to fill the pastorate, and to that end bad interviewed man after man. Finally, the secretary of the -. society said: "Fletcher, what about going yourself On three occasions he refused that re-* quest. Then, when, in America, he received a cablegram from the combined ministers, reading, Will you not reconsider and go to New Zealand ?" To that he cabled a refusal. "Yet,"' proceeded Mr. Fletcher, " the call haunted me all through my American tour, and one night my wife and I prayed for guidance, and from then onward the pathway opened. That was the reason I camel'' In concluding, he referred, to himself as" a son ! of the Dominion," and said that if he had been called to take, part in the building iip of a new nation in the mighty Pacific he : would answer the call. I have done my best to.follow the Light." • Others taking part in the.service were the Revs. Harold Ralph, Frank de' Lisle, E. H. Taylor, and Frank Tucker.