THE OTAGO FATHERS AND THE OTAGO WITNESS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17273, 27 March 1918, Page 10

THE OTAGO FATHERS AND THE OTAGO WITNESS.

On Sunday evening tho llev. A. Whyte, preaching in Port Chalmers Presbyterian Church on tho seventieth anniversary of the settlement of Otago, said that one could not turn over the first file of tho Otago Witness without realising that the first Otago settlers had chosen the good part They had just seen tho greatest act of self-sacrifice had luiown for two centuries, when at the " Disruption" nearly bOO ministers left, all for conscienop sake, to found tho Free Church of Scoilarid. Tho New Zealand Company believed that tho followers of theso leaders would mako good settlers, so they applied to Or Burns and his friends. Dr Burns had given up ono of the richest livings in his country. In tho first number of the Witncs-s, on February 8, lfcSl. tho editor had stated the policy of his paper. Its principles would bo those of the original scheme of the settlement, as expressed in tho " insti-. tutcs." In religion it would bo evangelical, suffering nothing derogatory to tho saoredness of the Holy Scriptures. In politics it would bo constitutional. That number gavo an aocouut of tho religious census taken by Dr Burns, showing a total of 1149 souls, including 883 Presbyterians and 206 Anglicans. Tho minister told how all denominations, so to speak, attended his services and sacraments; and bow the °,ibbaths wero perfectly still, not a person appearing on tho street at tho time of service. Thero w.to two significant references to education. The church officials, being disturbed by the withdrawal of the New Zealand Company, wero setting themselves to secure that their church primary schools should bo maintained/everywhere in efficiency, and 'that a higher grade grammar school should bo kept steaddy in view. On tho other hand, q private secondary school for boys ,was advertised, offering all tho usual classical, scientific, commercial, and aesthetic courses, but asserting that the 'teaching would be religious, moral, and intellectual. There wir» no hint then of secu-

larism in education. Turning over the pages of tho file, one came on a tribute by Mr Macandrow, a recent arrival, to the Herculean powers of work, shown in Edinburgh by the secretary of the O'fcago Association, Mr John M'Glashan; and presently, after Mr M'Glashan'e own arrival, appeared accounts of his ptiblio lectures, rne dealing specially with the place of religion and religious education in colonisation, showing how those who did not embrace religion wholly gained groat economic benefit even from their partial adherence. The Witness gave a vivid account of tho opening of tho church at Port Chalmers, on October 17, 1852; of tho voyage in boats oi Dr Burns and tho office-bearers and congregation of the First Church (the First Church being closed that day); of x tli(j scene that could never be forgotten when the boats were backing into the landing place, past the beflagged ship Persia, ttie " handsome church looking full down upon tho sceyo "; whilo parties came from all parts along tho bush tracks 'to bless "this eecond structure." More than a year later, on November 19, 1c53, tho Witnese congratulated tho pooplo of East Taieri on the very neat and tasteful schoolhouse just erectcd, and on tho important fact that, having secured e teacher, the school' was now opened for all essential purposes of the education of their children, and mentioned 'that on the 27th the Rev. Mr Burns would preach there and take up a collection for the school funds. Of that opening function a full account in duo course appeared. The whole atmosphere of that first file was worthy of tiio best traditions of tho New England Pilgrim Fathers, whom tho Ofcago lathers endeavoured to follow. Mr Whyto addod a corroboration that had just" been placcd in his hand from Sir Thomas Mackenzie, High Commissioner for New Zealand in London. Sir Thomas, on receiving from a senior member of tho congregation the two pamphlets issued by tho session sotting out tho history of 'the Port Chalmers Church from 1848 to the present time, had sat down immediately, evidently with a full heart, and had eent his greetings to tho survivors of his old friends in tho church and his tribute to the heroes

who were dead, whose portraits appeared in the booklets. Ho said he had como to

Port Chalmers wlien 15 years old, and had remained there for three years. He spoke especially of the minister (Mr Johnston), whose widow ho rejoiced to see so ac'tivo still in the church, and of the venerable elder (Mr Roid), whose instruction lie hud enjoyed in the evenings. He had been present at the opening, in 1872, of Mr Johnston's stono church. The preacher appealed to the younger members of 'the congregation to hold fast traditions which old Port Chalmers boys .like Sir Thomas so delighted to honour. \