NEW MODERATOR

New Zealand Times, Volume XLI, Issue 9513, 22 November 1916, Page 3

NEW MODERATOR

REV R. «9. RYBURN, M.A. (Contributed) For tha first time in. her history our Church will have as her Moderator ouo bore and wholly trailed in New Zealand. The highest honour in the Church’s gift, is the Moderatorship of the General Assembly, and this signal honour has been .conferred tipon the Rev. Robert Middleton Ryburn, M.A., minister of First Church, Invercargill. His father, a worthy elder of tho Church, hailed from Campbelltown, Argyllshire; his mother was a daugiitor of the Rev. .lames Hamlin, of tho C.M.S., who arrived in Xciv Zealand in 1820. Mr Ryburn was born at Pacmure, near Anchland, on November 22nd, ISGS, so that ho may he regarded ns quite a youthful Moderator. His early education he received at Paun.urc, Newmarket, and Auckland City Hast Public Schools. At the age of 18, obtaining a Hoard of Kducation Junior Scholarship. he entered tha Auckland College and Grammar School; two years later he w.on tho board’s opeu scholarship; matriculated on, the Junior University Scholarsnip examination, and entered) tho Auckland University College in I.SS4 — the second year of its existence. That year ha gained tho College Senior Scholarship and the Somervell Theological Bursary. After taking the degree of B.A. in 18S7, Mr Ryburn went to Dunedin, where he took his M.A. degree with honours in mathematics. Having completed his theological course in 1888. he continued his studies two years longer in Dunedin

After being licensed by the Presbytery of Auckland, a hearty call was extended to him by the congregation of Gisborne. There he was ordained in 1800, inducted into his first charge, and began his real life’s work. Ho was the minister of Gisborne for seven years. The charge in those days was quite an isolated one. Tho nearest ministers were 111 miles to tho north-west and 72 miles to the south. Quarterly trips were made on horseback by the young minister to Tbkomaru and Waipiro, 02 and '72 miles -north;.and the centre of a now district was established by him at Ormond. begun by a week-night service. Some two years after Air Byburn’s settlement in Gisborne, ho was married to -Miss Steadman, a member of North Dunedin Church, whose minister was at that time tho Rev J. Gibson Smith. She taught in the Sabbath School, and was a member of tho choir- To her husband she has been a true helpmeet, to her children a wise and kind mother, and she still continues to serve the Church in manifold useful ways.

Air Byburn’s second charge was St. Paul’s. Wanganui. Tho church —already a largo one—soon increased in numbers, and two new wings had to bo added to the building. Every department of congregational activity was carried on with scrupulous fidelity ; true and abiding success attended bis labours. He was loved and trusted. His ministry was a fruitful one. To him was given tho joy of opening St. Andrew’s Church as a fully sanctioned charge. This is now quite a flourishing young church. Hater ho opened a new church building in the Wanganui East mission district. Recently this has become a fully sanctioned charge, with an ordained ministry To Air Bv burn’s unwearied and unselfish efforts these two charges are largely due. . He was respected by all classes of tho community daring his eleven years’ pastorate in TV anganui. As a member of the committee- of tho-local orphanage, he did excellent philanthropic work; the x>. and F. Bible Society bad m him an ardent advocate of its claims; and chiefly through his persevering efforts tho Ministers’ Association gamed across to.the State schools once a week. Seven years ago First Church, in* v-wcargill, tendered to Air B-yburn a lufiarty and unanimous call- A magnificent new church, with hall, classrooms, and every up-to-date equip--merit, was opened two years ago by one of bis predecessors—Rev. J. Gibeon Smith—and the strong congregation, under the leadership of their honoured pastor, exercise an influence for good in and around the capital of Southland. . . For tho Church as a whole Mr Ky* burn hae done an enormous amount of useful work. Ho was a member of tho examination board in the Northern and United Church, and for five years the convener of the temperance committee As convener of tho Alaon Alission committee, only those associated with; him know what wholehearted and abundant, work ho did, and tho remits of those-labours are now well known. He hold the conveiiersliip of the committee on religion and morals for two years, and to-day ho is one of fihe best-known and most prominent “figures” in the Assembly, inasmuch as he has been its convener of bills and business for ten years. As a preacher Mr Ryburn has used his magnificent voice “to testify the Gospel of the draco of God.” He is a believer in the Gospel. Ho is an evangelical of thn evangelicals. Christ is to him a “living, bright reality. God has greatly honoured His faithful servant. We know of a surety that under his spiritual, Scriptural, and powerful ministry , the saints have been built up; and Hi is spiritual children. like good Duncan Alatheson s, are ‘‘are weel-born.” Alombers of his congregation and visiting ministers have testified to the spiritual uplift received from his prayers. He is a diligent pastor, and one of the most kindly and .sympathetic in sorrow’s darkest, hour. Those who have been most closely associated with him in any department of Church work know how easy it is to “get on” with him. and how firm, yet gonial and courteous, he is. His courage, too, is admirable. As a friend he is loved and felly trusted. With all his spirituality of mind, he has a fine, keen sense of humour, and no one enjoys a -story, pure and pawky, more than our AloderatorTho Church has recognised Mr Kybum’s work and worth, and has conferred upon him, while yet in his prime, her highest honour. He well deserves it- His lengthy experience of Assembly business, his knowledge of Church ‘procedure, his scrupulous fairness and courtesy, will doubtless make him an ideal Aloderator. He will fill the office with its manifold duties to the great credit of the Church he, loves. Members of the Church —homeborn and New Zealanders—Fill ail wish our first New Zealand-born Moderator a happv term of office.