CHALMERS CHURCH MINISTRY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19257, 22 August 1924, Page 10

CHALMERS CHURCH MINISTRY

REV. JOHN PRINGLE INDUCTED,

The Rev. John Pringle was inducted to the charge of Chalmers Church last night when, in addition to the members of the Dunedin Presbytery, there was a large congregation, presided over by the Rev. Tulloch Yutlle, os Moderator of the Presbytery. The preacher was the Rev, D. Campbell, who based his text on Ist Corinthians, chapter xv, verso 56: “Therefore my beloved "brethren be ye stedfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch a 3 yo know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

After the sermon the Rev. W. R. Hutchison, of Kaikorai Church, delivered the narration of steps, which dated two years back, when the late minister, Rev. E. Adams, asked the Presbytery to relieve him of his duties on account of ill-health. The congregation, however, persuaded him to ask for leave of absence, and bills the Presbytery readily granted. For a year the church had different ministers, until the Rev. Isaac Jolly relieved ’for about 18 months. Again last month Mr Adams was compelled for the same reason to tender his resignation, and it was with the greatest regret that the Presbytery and the congregation accepted it. Tint was oi, February 28, and’ subsequently a selection committee appointed from the congregation wrote to the Rev. John Pringle, of Edendalc, inviting him to preach. He was cordially welcomed, and the congregation then agreed unanimously tu call him.

The induction ceremony followed, and then the Rev. Dr Merringtoa addressed the new minister. The address to the congregation was delivered by the Rev. A. C. W. Standage, of Maori Hill, who exhorted the congregation to support their minister by their prayers. Tiie minister himself must essentially be a man of prayer, he said, but it was equally essential that the congregation should pray for their minister. The best and the greatest offering they could make was the offering of a prayer. The service was interspersed with suitable hymns and prayers.