NEW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT ROSLYN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13079, 15 September 1904, Page 10

NEW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT ROSLYN.

The celebrations in connection wiih the opening of the now Presbyterian Church at Roslyn were continual la-t evening, when a _ tea-meeting was held at 6.30, this being foiiowed by a public meeting in the new church at, 8 o'clock. As usual, the tea meeting attracted a largo gathering, consisting, for tho ino;t part, of enthusiastic juveniles, 'l'ho ladies of the congregation wno had charge of tho tables were kept busy fur soaie time in supplying Uie material wants ol their patrons. Tho public meeting was also very well attended, nearly, the whole of tho accommodation in the buildiii" being taken up. Tho Kev. Jas. Cliisholm (pastor) presided, and amongst those present wcro the Kev. Dr Watt, the Revs. Win. Will, D. Borne, 1!. It. .M, Sutherland, Waters, Christie, and Brooke. The meeting included about two seats full of Chinese. ° After those present had joined in praisi and prayer, the Chairman read apologies from tho Mayor of Duncdin (Mr T. K, Christie), Captain Strang (who was at New Plymouth), Kev. Drs Waddeli, Nicolson, Aisbet, lJunlop, Rivs. J. J. Cairney, A. M. Finlayson, K C. Tcunent, A. tireig, ]. K. M'lntyro, It. Mackio, J. Kilpatrick, J. 11. JxcutoiV, A. \\, Kinmont, K, Fairmaid. I). Dutton, A. Canicron, "W. Saunders, Canon Alnyne, and Mr .1. R. Scott. Mr Cliisholm, in the coarse of his opening remarks, said ho was sure that the most prominent thing in tho hcarls of "those present that evening was a deep feeling of thankfuiiicss to God for having given thorn such a beautiful church. When tliey thought: of tho very short time th?y had been in existence as a congregation, and of the somewhat adverse circumstances under which they had to begin and carry on work in Roslyn, ho thought they might feel thankful that the movement had reached such an advantage stage. They gathered in what was perhaps quite a unique building as far G5 compactness, comfort, and beauty were concerned, and tho church had been erected without any serious mishap. Tho speaker conciudcd by calling upon Mr A. C. Beg to deliver a brief historical address. = Mr Begg, who wa3 received with hearty applause, said that 10 mouths fl.?o they wore engaged m laying the .foundation stone of tho ehui'Cni. 1 lie building was now coin* plcted, and he was quite sure that all present would agree, tint tho building was very beautiful, very substantial, and very commodious, and was well adapted in every way for tho use to which it was to be put. Ao doubt tho strength of tho minister would bo very much conserved by the case wiili Winch ho would be able to address the congregation, mid the comfort of the worshippers would be very much enhanced by sitting ill the church, where they, could hear every word without straining their ears, and whero they could see without craning .tlmir necks. The policy of setting apart land for churchci and schools when the settlement of Otago was founded had been of immense benefit to the* churches, and tho Roslyn church had benefited to the extent of nearly £1000—a very substantial and material assistance. When ho (Mr Begg) first camo to Otago there was only one chutph—First Church—a very small building, seating about 250 people. He was one of those who branched off to iio'.p in founding Knox Liuirch when Dr Stuart camo hero, and a good many years elapsed before lie joined lirst Church again. ... The Roslyn ■ church was an otf-shcot of First Church. In at>6b or 1867 some of the members of First Church thought it necessary to start a Sunday school in Roslyn, as tho population .there was beginning to increase, and tho result

was that the little Roslyn Hall was croc-tcd and used as a Sunday school. That went on for some years, bat when the population j of Koslyu increased very rapidly it \yas> deemed necessary to jiolcl stated iscfvicci' there. Services were at .first. lieliV in thoi evening, but that was not sufficient, and an/

attempt was made to found a congregation; Some three or four years ago their"present pastor (tho Rev. Hr Chisholm) was appointed by the Presbyter)- to go to ltoslyn and coilduct services, and ho tried to build up n congregation. All present knew how successful the effort had been. Only t'io years elapsed from tho time Sir Chishojia went to lloslyn boforo it was found neetssilry to buiid a ne;v church, arid 12 months ot'so ago if was decided to .build a church /that would accommodate 500. people. The/out ; ward appearance of the church was f very good, but it was not to bo oomparcdi with the interior, which, lie thought, compared favourably with any other ■ church in New

Zealand. The subscriptions collected from the congregation and friends amounpd to nearly £1400, and tho ofliec ; bearersTnad tQ thank the subscribers, more especially tlisso not connected wi(h' the:-' copgm/atipii; Several large subscriptions had bceii mceived from Presbyterians not connected with tiie lloslyn congregation. Jlr Glendinbig - had contributed £100, and Mr Ross, his partner, £(50,■ both contributions being, particularly generous, and of very jaaterid helpj to' the

congregation. While they had n beautiful church, tlie-y mitst not forgnt that tho c-intrch did not comist of tho building. They must remember that it was 11. placc 'wlioro irot shippers could gather together and worship God in comfort. Tho speaker concluded by congratulating Mr Ohisholm 011 the completion of tho building, ami expressing tho ill-it hopes for tho future of tho church, which, he ti'u-ted, would be useful 111 the highest sense of the word. Tho next speaker, Mr .Tamos Scoular, slated that- lie had been asked by tlio ladies to present, the I'c-v. Mr Chaholm with a, pulpit chair and a rug. Tho propojjl emanated from t'he Ladies' Guild, and So anxious were thc !udic;; of the- congregation to take part in the prnsei:lation that many of them'font, along their tubcriptions without being c.itlod oil. The sifis woro accompanied bv sniccrc' wishes t!:at thc recipient would be loii" spared to enjoy tlio use of them. Tlk> clrair, which was a hnhdso'mo pieci; cf wotI;, wa» inscribed as follow*:— " Presented to tho Piov. J. Cliisiio'in by tho ladies of tho congregation; 011 thc occasion

of tho opening of tho uc-w church, 14th September, 1904.'' Sir Oirisholm, who was greeted with hearty and prolonged applause, stated that 110 had been taken absolutely by fiirprise, bit lie had very great pleasure in ace:pfing thc gifts, which he would value very highly so long as 110 was spared to minister in llcslyn, They .would remind him of tho good work dono by tho ladies of the congregation. lla was sure that but for the ladies in the guild and in other parts of the church wcrk thev

would never have progressed ns well as thc-y had done.

Speaking with reference to flic financial

position, Mr Scoular stated that the total. co;t of the new church anel sito, allowing fo- incidental cxpeiuo-s, was about £3000j towards whioh subscriptions in cash to the amount of £858 hael been received. Tho collections on the opening day amounted .to £19 6?, and tho sum of £1300 bad been borrowed, while a further amonnt ot would bo borrowed against tho church's synod grant. When these sum? came in th.! amount still outstanding would be about £200, against which there were subscriptions rir.ounting to £463 still to come in. Of tho last-mentioned sum, £200 should bo paid shortly; eo that tho financial position might bo considered very satisfactory on tho whole. When all the subscriptions woro paicl anel tho church had rcc:-ivcd thc synod grant of £1000 the debt, without allowing for any additional new subscriptions, would be about £800. on the whole church property. Con-pid-ering t.bat the congregation, was suoli a sniall body, he thought the financial position was highly satisfactory, and thc congregation could congratulate itscif upon it. Mr Nicolson, scs-iou olerk, speaking with reference to the- organisations c.onncclcd with tho church, slated that the Sunday School had.now a roll number of 15S, which was, in .his opinion, very crpditablc. Tho strange iking about it- that the number of boys on. the roll exceeded tho number of girls, this having been the case for tho last 12 months. Tlio children were very regular in thf-ir attendance, and tbey contributed very well to the mission funds, the rccorel iuin cf over £28 having been given during; tho past year. Tho Sumhy Sohicol has as lino a body of teachers as could be got anywhere. There were 19 teschers-ll ladies and eight gentlemen, but tlio fc'nool was -badly in need of another eentloman. Tho Bible Was;, conducted by tbo liev. Mr Chisliolm, was not as well attended as was desired. Tho membership was about 15. but ho was quite sure that the number eou.id lie doubled very easily. The branch of tho Presbyterian Women's Mission Union, which colleeleil fund? for the mission field, and also made up garments for the missionarie-i, hael a very fair membership, but thero was still room for an increase. Thc attendance at the weekly .prayer meetings was very disappointing, and was not at all in proportion to t>« number cf the congregation, thc bulk of the congregation being conspicuous by tluir absence.

The. next sneaker wa; Mr R. A. Wale?, who devoted his attention to the Ladies' Uuilel, the choir,-and the Mutual Improvement Association..'Tho Dracons' Court desired lo take the. opportunity of thanking all t-hfi different agencies that had done so inn eh good for the church. Tho liadies' Guild bad presented the church ttit-h a set of cups and saucers for use at soirees, and the spoalSr thought, it was impossible to say too much in pra.ise of the work cione by tho guild. The e-l,o:r has a membership of some 52, and the average a.: practices was 22. whilo that at the evening services was 24, that at the morning services baing very littlo Joivcr. Tco much praife coulel not bo bestowed on the choirmaster (Mr Saiinond), who. attended regularly, and who also rendered every assistance in his power: and Miss G'allemler was also entitled to praise for her most tegular attendance. The Mutual Improvement Association had a ir.emb:rshin of 16, with an average attendajice of 39.

Addresses were also delivered by the Rev Dr Watt, the Revs. W. Will. D. Borrie, It'. It. M. Sutherland, and T. Li. Brcoke. all the speakers expressing great pleasure at being present, and exhorting the congrcgption to continue., vigorous efforts lo progress in the Christian world.

During the eveniuu solos were rendered by Miss Wilson and Mr I!. I\ Poster, juu., and. some anthems were also sung by t.lw choir.

Votes of thanks were accorded tho anihilect, tho contractor,--, t'le ladies (for providing thc refreshment?, doing thc work at thc tea meeting, and docorating tho church and tall), tho organist and choir, and the various speakers. ,