REV. W. HEWITSON'S RESIGNATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14386, 2 December 1908, Page 2

REV. W. HEWITSON'S RESIGNATION

EXPRESSIONS OF REGRET. At yesterday's meeting,of the Dunediii Presbytery the following letter was received from the Eov. William Howitson, pastor of Knox Ohurch:— Owing to.my.acceptance of the mastership of Knox College I beg to lesign the pastorate of Knox Ohurch. Ah my appointment to the collego 'has been dated from January 1, 1909, I request llmt the resignation of my pastorate may take effect on December 31, iBOS. ' I take this step with much sorrow, hut/with a quiet and assured heart, owing to thp unanimity of tho Assembly in making my appointment to the mastership. I desire to acknowledge with deep gratitudo to the poople, and with' humble,thankfulness to \God, tho great kindness I, have received from the congregation, of Knox Church and its office-bearers, and. the . comfort with which I have exorcised my ministry •among them,' Our relations as pastor and people have been; so far as I, have' been concerned, without fret or jar. I desire, also, to express my thankfulness to the Presbytery as a'whole, and to itsmembers individually, for the help I have received from them in performing tho duties of the important charge with which I was entrusted on July 9, 1895. The long and honourable traditions of tho largo con•gregation, the strong personality of its first minister,, and tho la.rge and tender place .that he held in tho affcofions. of the , congregation made . the position of his successor one of' /considerable difficulty. If these difficulties have been in nny measure overcome it, is due to the grate of God, and, under Him, in a considerable degree ,to the unity of spirit and the character impressed upon the congregation by the large and 'hearty Christian manhood of ' Br' Stiia,rt; I regret the failures that are evident in the discharge

of my trust, ind quit, my (pastoral office Jeaving-jny work to the just but merciful judgment.'-.of Him. w r ho. see 3 with .other eyes than >ours.'. I think I may truly use tilie words of the.Mpostie concerning the Thossilonian Ohurch, and say that- Knox ' Church has become very dear unto : rrte; and now I live <if it stands fast in thfc Lord. -My heart's desire and prayer for the Church is-.that it, may soon find the mm whom God'has chosen 'for .ft, and ' that its most fruitful years may be ahead of it'. .' ■■';.; . ".. « A deputation from Knox Church waited' upon thp'' Presbytery in connection with Mr HewitsonV resignation and appointment to the. Theological College, those comprising the deputation being Messrs G.' M. Thomson, M.P., John'. Roberts, C:M.G: .(elders), and Messrs T. G. Yoitng and E. Rl Smith- (deacons). ... ' , ' . .. Mr Thomson 'saidi the; feeling in Knox Ohurch was one of .deep regret, as tho members of l the Presbytery could understand, at the'severance, of the-Uie whioh had existed "hetwoen the church members and their beloved pastor for the last 14 years. The' feeling had, howevetv been absolutely unanimous on tho' part of every member of both committees of the church that the call of the whole church of New Zealand.was one whish completely overrode their (the members') feelings in the matter, They bad, therefore, come to the unanimous conclusion that they desired to fall in with the wish of tho .Assembly and givo Mr Howiteon freedom ; fi'dm -\t.he pastoral duties of Knox OhurcJi as from the end of the year. .While they were losing a pastor' they revered and esteemod, all must come to tho conclusion that the whole Church,was gaining THE man for the position Mi- Howitson was to occupy. They were now faced with filling the vacancy, ..and it was tho unanimous wish of Knox Churcji Session that the Presbytery appoint a moderator pro tern,, to carry on tho work of the.Session of'the Deacons' Court, aad.it .was v tho'.desire'.that 'when Mr Howitson. was oitee inoro inducted to tho "position of minister.in "the Presbytery that he should be appointed to take up the • moderatorship of the,church. They recognised the very delicate position they had: put Mr Howitson in, but at the same : time they felt, knowing his great tact and wis-' dom, that harmony would prevail whoii he' came among them as their moderator from the date of his induction. Ho' (the speaker) desired to express gratification at .tho .call . that had been given from;th'o whole Church, and profound regret at losing the benefit of; Mr. Hewitson's'ministrations; Mr ""Roberts 'said Mr Thomson,'had ox- 1 pressed the 'feelings of the whole congrega--t-ion. Tto? Church;'"he thought, had made a .sacrifice. As regarded. the Moderatorship, he thought the Prcshytory"-%buld give due consideration to 1 the.suggestion made by, Mr Thomson. -They wenei hoping' that, in February they, would be able to ask the Moderator pro. tein to withdraw, and'Mr Hewitson 'to take his place. , Ho thought' Mr Howitson had rather shrunk from taking the position, but no serious, development, would arise from his being there. Mr Young cxprcsse/l the regret of the Deacons' Court as a--;whole at, losing-Mr Hewitson's services.' Mr Hewitsoii had done a very 'large amount ; of work for Knox Churoh, and for the Church as a whole, and the congregation was deeply grateful to him for all he had done for it. Mr E. R. Smith said ho knew they were making a sacrifice. Mr Hewitson's sphere of uscftiness in Knox Church had been large, but in the appointment he was called to fill it would'be larger still. The Moderator (the Eov'/'-W,. T. Todd) said the question before the Presbytery was the resignation of Mr Howitson.' They' had heard''what, th-3 representatives from Knox Church had had to say. . , ;

Dr Nisbflt moved—"That tho resignation of the Rev; W. Hewitson of the pastorate of Knox Church be accepted; that the pastorate bo dissolved as from tho'' 31st. December,' 1908; that the'-'charge-' be preaoh'gfj. Vacant!on the'"first-'Sunday of January,; i 909; that.an interim-Moderator, be appointed; and, fihally,.'lhat ;the request: of the Knox Ohurch office-bearers bo cordially agreed to—that from tho date of Mr Hewitson's induction as-professor of. the Theological College . ho ■ be' appointed . Moderator during, the currency. of : the' session." ■'.'-.: '}■ ■ The Re;v. D. Borrio' seconded the motion, and referred to tho splendid spirit in which the Knox Church office-bearers hfid mot them. 1 ' The motion was carried unanimously. On the';motion, of' the Rev. Mr Scbrgje, the R«v;-''A. C-a'inieron was appointed interim Moderator, for Kr.ox Church.. Dr Nisbot moved that a small committee be appointed to draw,'up' a minute of appreciation of Mr Howitson and hia work on behalf of. the Presbytery, to bo submitted to next meeting of Presbytery. Ho thought 'it was ;.tho sort of. thing tliat should be done ideliborately, and not the thing, for on'off-hand 6poech on that occasion. . " The motion was oarried, and the Revs. Oamerori, Aitken, and Borrio appointed a committee. On the motion of the Rev. A. Cameron a vote' of thanks Was passed to the Knox Chiircli offiea-boarers for tho handsome way in which they had acted towards the Presbytery in.the matter. _-'• ■ The deputation then withdrew. . It was-resolved that the Residential College Committee be requested to sugpesft. a suitable time,' etc., for'inducting -Mr Howitson as professor.