FIRST CHDRCH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7056, 26 September 1884, Page 4

FIRST CHDRCH.

Scotch papers by the mail contain the following respecting the new pastor of the First Church -.—The First Church of Dunedin having become vacant by the death of the Rev. Lindsay" Mackie, the congregation resolved, with hearty unanimity, to appoint as their commissioners the Rev. Dr Rainy (principal of the New College, Edinburgh), the Key. Dr Oharteris (professor of Divinity in the University of Edinburgh), and the Rev. Dr Gairns (professor of Theology in and principal l£ e United Presbyterian Church Hall): but as Dr Cairns was unable to act, the Rev. Dr Whyte, minister of St. George's Free Church, Edinburgh, waa appointed in his stead, with lull power to select and appoint a minister belonging to any of the Presbyterian Churches. At a meeting in 1 June the commissioners resolved unanimously to offer the ministry of the First Church to the Rev. Wm. H. Gualter, at present minister of St. Marks Free Church, Glasgow. The First Church has become the name and designation of the congregation, as it is the perpetuated existence of the first congregation, once tbe only congregation, and the mother of all the congregations; and it has still a claim to be considered the representative church of the Colony. The Rev. Dr Burns, one of the pilgrim fathers, waa its first minister. There is an excellent manße of nine apartments, standing in an acre of ground and adjoining the church. The church has an efficient staff of office-bearers, both elders and deacons, who take an active and lively interest in the spiritual and temporal welfare of the congregation. Upwards of 500 children attend the Sabbath-schools, with a staff of 54 teachers. We do not know who most to congratulate whether Mr Gualter to the appointment of so important and influential a congregation, or the First Church of Dunedin on the selection of so able and accomplished a minister of the New Testament as Mt Gualter has proved himself to be—first at Hawick, then at Aberdeen, and now at Glasgow. At a meeting of the Glasgow Free Presbytery held on August 6, the clerk of Presbytery intimated that the Commission had unanimously offered the charge to Mr Gualter, and it was agreed to hold a meeting on August 19 to dispose of the call. Dr Adam, in reference to the appointment, said that "the congregation to which Mr Gualter is so unanimously appointed is one of great importance in Dunedin, and well entitled to the services of one of our best men. It is so far a mark of honour and confidence that these men asked Mr Gualter to undertake the work. The separation of Mr Gualter will be a great loss to us, and a change we will very much regret,"