OPENING OF THE NEW FIRST CHURCH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3686, 27 November 1873, Page 6

OPENING OF THE NEW FIRST CHURCH.

" The new Cathedral on Bell Hill," as Hia Honour, the Superintendent playfully called the new First Church on Tuesday evening, could scarcely have been opened under happier auspices than it was last Sunday morning. We are certain that in adopting His Honour's suggestion to secure the;services of Drßegg to open the Church, the Gbmmittee were ionly carrying out the wished of the congregation. In fact, it was regarded by many as an understood thing, some time before the arrival of Dr Begg, that he should have the pleasure of performing divine service for the first time in this noble building; which in truly a worthy monument of , Presbyterianism in. Ofcago. The weather yesterday morning was all,, that' could be desired ;. and at a quarter to 11 o'clock the large building was crammed literallyl from floor to ceiling. The Church is calculated to seat 850 persons oh the floor ; and as not [only every seat, but' every square fbpt of standing' room was: occupied, there must have been; considerably over one thousand persons present. Hundreds of worshippers ■•'crowded, into all the, approaches of the building, and even the platform on which the pulpit, stauds was closely packed. : A large number had to take their departure for'other churches after vainly endeavouring 'to effect an entrance even within the doorW&fs. ■;■■;.•■•• ■■■■ •' •■"• ■■'•■■ ' ',v',:", :".;" (r^ '"_' The circumstances attending the erection' of this church bave Caused iip^ small stir in the Presbyterian Church of Otago. But the so far successful completion of the work, its apparent' suitability,in all respects, and the. admitted fact that it is one of the finest, if. not the finest ecclesiastical building; in the Australasian Colonies, : ; are. considerations which ought to; have weight :-with1.: those Church.who haveheretofoßedpposed;its; erection.; Ife ( isl onljy due. tk*"'the public-'of; the; Pfoyince' that the; new ,First Church'building should be wbrihyl oiE.its historical position, and taking everything into -account,. -We s think ',. the ,expemlitiire upon it is rather below than, above what might have .teen expected. W isi protty '.certain that the same .building could not be erected at the present time for the original contract prace, fil^OOO^wbich sum, we .understand, i will ' be'; the; exact ■ cost of the Church when^^entirely complete. '; ,; Thefpubdationstohewaalaidbythelateltev. Dr^nrns on May 29th,1868, and the' worfcs have 'been progressing ' more. ;• oif less [ rapidly 'since that time.! -The difficulty experienced. in obtaining suitable timber proved a serious : .obstacle at the cbmmeDcement of the works. 'The difficulty and delay wiere considerably iucreaiied by the wreck of the first vessel cbarcered to convey the required1 material: Owing to' this want of timber : the - bodjr of ithe; cou^d; 'not' be proceedied- witfi^ .andL'.'yjEhe | cbueequence ' ''waa*'!ttiat ;> ftb&- ■*s!»' and*- '-tbweic'''. ,'were " almost \ at,' •'^raV. ■ 101 l ineight'^^bef^re5, •' the . roof/ "w«s. via;" : prpgroßsV, ,\y"e have already furnished our reaae»(iwitfc' a 'very Jiiil 'ilescriptibn of,the Church, so that 'it;is needless on the_present occasion to>men.'tion'eveiry detaiL Wewillj however^, state a few facts, to show the extent of the work and the manner in which it has been caiiried out.' The exterior: walls,1 are"; liuiiiJ;;of. Oamaru stone thrbughout, oil a solid base course ;ofi Port'Chalrnerß ; Btone...'The:inn'cE; ijortions;df' the wiprk' are partly filled in witii ;brick.".ThW tower .^d;BpireiareYery r itirongly. /cpnstracted:;. they,.are bnilt in cemient from ' foundation] to finish; the tower; is -SM feet square at the base, and; the total height of the spire, 1175 feet. - Owing to jsomeJmißun* derstanding, the: spire has 'been eriacted; slightly, -oiati -of the' perpendicular ;;bufc arrffiagements havip -^e'tf'^ini^fi.'fQr^heigMeii^' ing and I .straightening, .the ( upper- portion, - which ;v?iil probiibly ,add ; 15 -..f«sV to the tol^ and certainly,enhance 'the elegant'a,ppe»rance--.of^ Hie p|.the. building is in xipen; space, and encloses a superficial area- of 5480); feefc. \ ;; Ak iwe i have already '■ stated, it ■ i«; seat»d!',fofr '< over 850 ion the floor^' swicl|!.» sloped, andf rises abput"fotur: feet; as it'ap-.' proachesthe'tna;ni^^eivtrance;'3j(wwjiyi";/^5n»o:" later iff screened off from the body, of the Church by,' ak':"elaborate, Ctbthic .panelled; and perforated >phe;P»9** attractive features d£;,the .interiori are,',thV:p,u]ipit»! il*v surrbiittding railings] andithe carved wbrk oa^ \the'capitalsi at- the spring "of the-a'rehes in the apse, j . They are.all^fieated-inQaiiiiuftt5 stone, and carried;'6rit in: harmony with .the general design,; and may| |«irly diaim to '^tai;e iV ; ; & frbiit'^rauK:'as''iwiir.ro'. '"■pf:[. art,; i ,' : A-. ! i wi^by'''fimng*ii i ;%lie: .Bpac6, rin~" the Imain^ ;gable\'..pyer ; .^iibe..,.ap_3e..\w. : also a markeil^ feature^in^the^.bnilding.; -It is a mbst.-eliibprate f£etwjotfk;,oi; atone,-and. shows hojw- r freely, .onr Qamaru. stone^ can ibe handled. iThisiwindow, and the heads of the two,principal transept windowe,;airefilled in with-taitefully arrangetl:stained glassinipatterns; andci'loiired^^niargins^airei'introduced into all of the;windows. ~Thci .style of)rpflj .finishing is/ alsp r renMrkaW 9^9-'! expansiyd effec^ '. \vith',■ apparent;.strength' ,in "all parisi The; wlible1 of ,thei woodwork ia pjunted—the principal; .grpiundwork a.pale; I 'blue;Cand; the principahs and raftera^varied for relief. We believe*it"ia*intondetl vto'paint the roof |on a future; occasion, (when prof bably, a! more elaborate, style will be introduce^.! Should.it be found;necessary,, it is intended '; to "'"■''' erect galleries,^^.4^ the pulpit ' has;:-'i.ti&«sen";> "''jp3iacled':"'~at"' f;Bnfch|. satfl elevation' as i will suit "this" arraugenient without 'further alteratioit. ? •.. Vestries; - ; a scUbol-room, and,other acc^sspnes have been,. arranged as required, but of coursethese are not main features, and ;!do not call; for,' P*vticular 4escnptibn. '"'': The contractor; for the building is:'Mr Pavid ; Hunter, ./who has ciir-,, ri'ed oiifc i fiis', lii , a ntost sat^f^ctp.ry\ maimer ; iaaut the: caryihg^ b<>tH in |y<*wi stone—sbnie of which fias. stall to beplaiccd—-" is the handiwork of Mr '%{-, Godfrey, who is, 'favburaiily' kUpwn in this dbpartment of art. , The whole of the \vork.liAS b'^eu executed 1 ■iidtd. the designs and undef the personal; supervision of Mr B. A. : architect. We trust tliat the managers of the Churchy will accept a hint .already thrown .out to, them in these columns to have the. gro'uuds suitably laid out, and an.appropria*6 |enc;e erected, so completing thejr|good yirork..',;;. i THE Ji;OJttNINa. SERVICE. Theltev'. Ur'Beggascended thehandsome pnl|>it at ■ eleven o'clock, and. gave .out part of the 122 nd paalm, comsnenciug with i the words—-;' ■•: ■.■■• .. : .''■'•■ ■■/■.'■'"'•'' '""':

I jojfd when to ttie hduae of Gody ■■'.' ■ ! ■;' Go up. they aaiA to mp. ■.■<,-' ;Y-'; i>\. Jern.mleai, withia.thy g*tci ' . ''' Oar fe«st shall standing be. This psalm was led by klie Cliurcli clioif, and. heartily joined in by the large/congregation:,, The ; rfty.; tfocfcor -theit offered ui> a very iiuprcssiy« prayer, a^kiif>\vle<lgJiig tEe mercies of GcKlht peraiittuig tltera t>> assemble cm this pccytsioii to consecrate tlie iiewchurch, asking His blessing upon tlieir. choice of, a. paster, and upon! their futnre labours. : Part of the 6th ehtjite'r 'of the, Second Book of Cb'ro" nicies was then real,/after which .Dr Bssgg gavd' an. exppaition of Stiloinon's grayer at ihe consecration, of the magn'iiceut Temple at Jerus^ilem. , Ailthougb SoioaiX>n had everythiug.'at' conmund—windoiKj/riclies, and p >Wer—yet lie, gt cat as he was, kaelt in tkj presetiee ; of C.051 when offering tins prayer, thusi showing an exeel--I'eiib example to rich men of the present day. Prayer should be nude at all tini«s, whether ia tinifs of peace or war—in sickness or in health. Solomon* 'Li his petition to tlie (ireat Creator drew no lities of distinction; he asked that tlie>tpplication of the stranger might be heard vvh^n he came to worship iv theTempla The eavfch is the Lord's and the fulue&j thereof, aad'all trn« believers must worship Him in spirit and in truth. We must have places suitable for the worship of God, but must fnot confine ourselves ia prayer and praise to any particular locality. Fartdf the I32iict Psalm was then sung, commenciug at—

We'll go into Hio tabernacles. An-1 at His footstool bow; Arise, Q Lord, unto thy re.-.t, XJi! ark of tby strangtti and thon. O let thy priests U'e cToth«l, OXord,With t-uth and r ghiecmaness ; i: • And let alt tlto.se that, nit- thy saints, Sfe&at loud fur joyfiiiness. ■ The rev, gentleman chose his text from the 16th chapter of St. -Matthew, at the 2tith verses ; —*' For wliat is a, man profited if he shall gain the lyhole world and lose his own soul; or wliai shall a man give in exchange, for. his soul?" The circumstances utuler which these .words were originally spoken were very remarkable. Peter had made a confession to Christ, saying—"Thou art the Uhrist, the son of the living God ; " ami pur Saviour had responded, that upon this rock he should build his Ohurch, and the gate.3 of Hell should not prevail against it. Immediately afterwards, he explained to his disciples that he must go ta Jerusalem and suffer many things of the eldtrs, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed,

and be raised again the third day; but they did rot comprehend the saying which he spake to them. A great many persons Jookde upon St. Peter as the infallible foundation of the Christian Church. Now, shortly; after these memorable words were spoken to Peter, his ignorance anil fallibility were most wonderfully illustrated ; for, after he rebuked his master, when'told of hia future Bufferings at Jerusalem, Christ turned and said unto him, *' Get thee behind me, Ssitan, for thou eavourest not of the things that be of Go«l, but those that be of men." Tlserefpre Jesus addressed him as "Satan," thus conclusively overturning* the .doctrine of Peter's infallibility. He afterwards asked the important question, what is a ntan profited if he1 gain the whole world and lose his own soul; and further, when He stated that "whosoever shall lose, his life for my sake shall find it," he*meant that tti would be found in the world »f immortality. We should'search the Scriptures, and never be afraid to ask! questions thereon. How shall it be with us if we neglect the great salvation that is provided fop us? When He.said,' ''What is a man profited if he gain- the whole .world1 and lose his own boul ? " he meant; to say ;it .would' profit him nothing.; In matters !6f religiontliere were ' things beyond the Human intellect, the samel as - therewere in the works of Nature. He was asked to believe the Bible ■; it had^stood the test1 of go many centuries; •He it -was God's Woid on: the evidence of His senses. But He would ask, was itr the Divine Word? • If it were they must aciwapt it as" it stands.' But there were a great many things in it, the same] as in the Book of Nature, which' they could not understand ; yet.a'day would come when- they would, lie.fully, explained.-, There arje three important: things to <be conr. sidered in the text/ -The first was: That every: man lias a precious soul. .Second, That- 'that, -soul was .":':.:m'!j;;'danger^.riof.' being.lbs't. Third, That if it were lost, all that a man' could otherwise gain, would! be a miserable compensation for thatjloss. Their own .experience; and observation proved the truth of the iiTßt.-propoeition. f ,They.;;knewv that the jbody and soul were inseparable; the: body being the casket^ as- it were; which contained the blessed jewel of the soul. When (rod made man he first made his body, and then; breathed into his nostrils the breach of life, and man became a living.boul. Tie body.of a man goeth to; corruption, ,but the soul never die 3;; it goeth upwards^. There is an instinct implanted in eyery'mM ~to sjlopk; forward; to,*;' future: judgment. St Paul, in one of his Epistles, ■ays':.' *'we wrest not against flesh, and blood, but against principalities and powers,., against, the rulers of the darkness of ;* this: world, against spiritual wickedness in/high. ■places."'! Onthe other" hand, the, angelsiof God"'watch over our interests ; and there is ; joy irir their , presence .-^over,,; -every -sinner; that repenteth. Oar. Saviour came from .his.: throne above . to> seek * and to save that ■$(do& w«ui{lost. -,thereforethere,ifo»ja;;way.; of escapeL-fpr^eyfiry man to, enter into ,the presence jof Godl He did '.not spare His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth inHim might not perish, but have everlasting, life;. It is the.gk>By; pi men that Christ: : as.-: Btimed: our nature and spoke our : language, < and't hid is evidence which goes to the heart, of man. jWhen.djeath comes it< changes: the. countenance, and. the body-sees; corruption; but'the soul, goeth.upwards. ■ This -brought h^ni to the eeconfiJ portion of his text. r—Jeaus said that a man was in danger of losing his soul.;: No one could produce anything clean, from: an unclean,- object.. OurvSaviour; had 'said,;except,w&betieyedin him,,weshonlddie in bur Bins. It i» Kke a case; of shipwreck ; TOlfi^«'enteß;the^Bfeboat provided for {us and ;b«:'saved ? Thfrrev.Tgentleman here instanced the tinjc of Iloah enteringinto the, ark, and • the multitude beiag drowned through their I «in" of nnbelief, and alao the chQdren of , Israeli in. tliffc Trildwness ;"* the questiori was, ;:Would:ther&raeKteß look; up to the brazen Betpentand beiiealed T and, as, Moses lifted ; u^.the^Berpenf in the wildernewi,, so also was : the Sun ofi Man lifted up, that vvhoapeyer be^ lieveth; in Him should not perish, but have everlasting liffe What shall it profit a man if: he1 gain the whole world, and losehis own i soul t' "It is impossible that one man can ; eirer gain1 the whole world. Even, supposing itl^t all mea with the exception of one were I swept offi the earth, weulji! ttfa^man Tte auay it*hef*etter if he lost l.^\s,'i^fn:'*snil^i^£b^. ■ißcreaae iof wealth^wifl iPpt pecejaariiy i make : a,' person : ; happy. , ;, : , had everything at his command, and .yet ; he declared that all waa vanity and vexation °( 'spirit;; ',"-:^fan needs pup iitt^ej^.ereihelow',- nor needs wat Jjjitle long*; if,iwe .feyenLood and. raiment, i we;' Bhould be", therewitk content.; iWhether Ve;haye,richJßsor other^rise,<we can smellthe fragrance 6i^ ftpwerSjandvenjpy s the beauties of. mature. jjs y ,wellj -.solo.mpn says, the sleep of a labouring pan is sweet, and a man's life cpnsistfettt not in the things that he p^^'eßsieth.-t^e prejicher rdferiyd to ; the 'parable'bf the rich. man.j^ho. h£d,np,,accqm-; ', nibdation: fqr,. all liis .goods,; :i butt,the.. Bame l.fligUt'the' J .so is "nbw^ rj^quircxl of7tliee j; then • w,hiiwe. shall, these things; be wli^chjthgu h^t provided.? " - : 3--here is .a peace which^ the world .cannot, giy,e, and ■ this' cbmes,/oiily from.--God. Those ;wh«»jcontinue ins godliness,,have,,,th;e .promise, ■•;■ of the life that;, now^isj/-and,.;q£.,that? which is to cornel The man at the marriage feast wjvs epeechless beca.use.he had not availed himself! pfrthe^oppor^nitiesaccordetl itim' of. ptjoyi^ingj a wedding., g^irmentv. God desir«s the salvation of all mcii, or else what be.the ; neceaaity-;..0f §ermpus,being jireached. We have loved" darknesßf rather ; tiian ; light; r we ; have;all?;sinned and come, .short of the.gi|r>ry of; God ; ; but lie.asks us, "rather to;go to.him for iorgiyeaess. He says bjEifee:.cfaildreu,of Isj^lr-If,-.iiiy had .hearkeiied unto■ me,sl':W<&iild jhaye.fed them ?wth thVfine^ ■galf'fixed between.the, glorie3 of Heayen ; and (iestructibn. • :is;'tbe ; reasqn of this;.?; Because the day of grace .is, past; a >main the -meang; of. saltation v places; himself in the same category -a's;Vhe; evil spirits occupy; ...\Yhat shaU-it.jprpfit a man,, /therefore^ if he gam the 3yhp|e.world and |lose his'own soul. The preacher wouklplcad them this day to flise fromL the wrath to , come. The Biblesayp, yHpleyeryptiethatthirgteth, come ye to the watqrs and drink,;. and 'wh'ospeyer.will, let him;tal!;e of thefountaiuof the; water oflifefreely,"^i'Mary hadchosenthat good part which should not, be.taketti^way: from her^ The opening of this Church is au iinyortaut event ; and it rismiftdedhim pfthe labours of the Free Charchcpf,Scotland.,jhe; Protestant Church in.all its ; branches diffei'S! wideiy.from the Church,;of Rome;; the infallibility dogma of the latter; Qhwch S»«m a. Ynde gtllf tQ;exist,halweea the churches; iThe. Word,of God is the only standartl|of trutli. There is one theory; still existing which was: established, at.> the llefonnation, tliat eyerything introduced into the Chnrch (Uiust be in accordance with the authority, of the Bible. Our Saviour, in anthorismu the apostles !to preach the Gospel, said,' "Go, teach, all nations whatsoever. Tr- have comunnded you." He is the Head of'theChurch, and presides over it; and aijain, it is said to be tlie House of Christ. Therefore we must not be guided by the" commandments of men.; If we impose anything on bur consciences contrary to the Bible, from^that moment we become slaves. .The preaching of the gospel is of most importance. St.; Paul says; "I thank Godl bay tisednone of you exceptCrispus and Gaius"; would.he have made use Pf those words if baptism, meant the same as regeneration? The time is gi^adually approaching when tie kingdoms of the earth shall worship Chiist. The preacher here refeircd to the neighbourhood* of Wignon, in Scotland, where several martyrsI'had suffered death in . the^ cause of the Gospel. In those times the poor people were not allowed standing room by the wealthy classes to hear the Gospel preached; We must stand by the glorious principles of the Information. The Almighty, should not be worshipped with instrumental music, which is only attractive to the ear. Wo must praise Him with the fruit of our lips. For eight centuries no instrumental1 Music was heard in the early Church, bufcsinging and prayer. The Colonies .are, now reaping the fruits of hard-fought victories in the time 3 of the Jlef ormatibh. We should think how wide the,world ie, and libw many there are who have not yet heard the sound of the i Gospel. -Let every man be frilly ,pa #3uaded in, his owa mind, and let lis do good uuto all n?en, especially mito them, that are of,,the household of faith. May God bless the readingyf His Y/ord, and to His naone be praise." '•.'■•!■. :- , : ■-.-■ ■•■■• • ■■•

[We regret, tltat we «re unable to give a more complete report of the Iter. Drßegg's eloquent t ermon. The utter absence of anything in the shape'of-accommodation rendered reporting almost a matter of impossibility.] ' "'. ; . An impressive prayer was then offei-ctl by the Rev. Dr Begu:, a*k;ng the blessing of God upon the ne.w structure, and ujj'm the widow and family of one whose early connection with the Church would always be re-

remembered. The office-bearers and congregation who will worship in the building from generation to generation wero also referred to, that they might love as brethren and bear each other's burdens. In. conclusion, he prayed that '' the kingdom, of this world may soon become the kingdom. oE our Lord and of his Christ. Thou crownesfc ;the earth with Thy goodness, and makesfc i the little hills to rejoice with thy fatßeae.** | May the blessing of God-rest upon the siek_ f antl needy for Christ'sl sake. The 67th Psalm waff then given oati, cmxfrtaencing with the word»:— , ..'*lu<xrd, bless and pity iw, : '. Shine on us with thy face, •"Chat the earth thy way,.and nations all . ■: • May know thy saving gjrace." ■ > . - This having been heartify sung, and & few Church notices given, the Rev. Dt Begg pr*nouiKodlthe Benediction. ';;• ■ . EVKNIKO SKKV3CB. The Dr. Stuart officiated in tito evening r when service was commenced witib the lOOeh Fsahn. The first leason was them read,,when the preacher offered up an im— pressive piayer for the extension of G©&'« kingdom;, and the blessing of his peopla. ' The 24th Bsalm, "Ye gates, lift up yduir heads on high," was heartily joined in hgr the-large congregation. . The preacher d«--livered.- am excellent sermon.from the 14tk. chapter of Kbmanß, 7th and Bth verse* :^— none-«f us livethiinto himself, andl none of us dieth to himself :—Ebr whearnr we live; we live with the Lord; and whether ! • • we die, weidi*tintoi the Lord ; whetherw» live, therefore^ or die,' wb; are the liord'«. r ß .••■•'•■ ■••••■■ •MiAnothier prayer followed,'the 59th Para- ' • • phrase was sung, and the congregation, wem ' dismissed witfethe Benediction. " The Bible sad Psalm Book used By Br Begg on this occasion were new, and gifted^ to the Church by the Young Men's Christi«m 'Association. They are very fine i^ecimau* of the bookbinder's art, and were obtainei. atMrWm, Hajt's establishment m> Bnniß«F. street.- We understand that the collection. . made yesterday came to within, a few shillings of £05. .';■■'"' ;.:'fv ; '■'■■;■ :,':':\- /• . '~''...