DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22284, 9 June 1934, Page 9

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS EIGHTY YEARS SYNE Tliu Presbytery of Dunedin intends to celebrate in adequate fashion on July 3 tlie eightieth anniversary of its inauguration. There is a Scottish expression, " It*s a far cry to Loch -Awe," and it is likewise a "far cry" to the time when, in the winter of 1554, the three pioneer Presbyterian ministers, with three representative elders, met by arrangement in the old First Church beside the sea beach and constituted the first presbytery in New Zealand. The present-day citizen cannot easily visualise the little six-year-old village of those days, close to the water's edge, with a few houses sparsely scattered at some distance. A peaceful community it was, but in the land from which they had come there was the stirring of war excitement, and armies were gathering towards the Black Scu. British regiments had left Home, and before the year was out Alma and Balaclava and Jnkcrman had become written in history. Two of the three laymen who sat in the presbytery on June 27, 1854, had fought against Napoleon by land and sea respectively, and would be specially interested in the news that had already reached Dunedin.

Picture the country members of that first presbytery arriving in Dunedin after traversing miles of wintry roads. Though impressed with the importance of the occasion they could hardly appear in immaculate garments. They were joined by the Rev. Thomas Burns, Cnptain William Cargill, Mr John M'Glashan, and a number of other local members who had been notified of the meeting, and invited to be present to give their advice and help. Presiding over that historic meeting was the Rev. Thomas Burns, verging on three score, for he was 52 when he arrived as the pioneer minister in 1-848. For six years Otago was his parish, and he afterwards made jocose reference to the autocratic spiritual authority which he wielded in the early days of the settlement.

But in February. 1854, the Revs. William Will and William Bannerman had arrived, and the land stretching southward to the Bluff was apportioned between them, Mr Will settling at East Taieri and Mr Bannerman at Clutha. These two districts have recently observed the eightieth anniversary of the settlement of their pioneer ministers and the foundation of their churches.

The lay representatives were Captain Cargill (Dunedin), Mr John Allan (Taieri), and Mr M'Glashan as representing Clutha. Some biographical details of the six members who constituted the " Presbytery of Otago" will be given later, but in the meantime just try to imagine the sonorous voice of the chairman leading the preliminary devotions, and then referring to his position a s an ordained minister in Dunedin, Mr Will and Mr Bannerman thereafter reading the certificates of their ordination by

the Free Church Presbyteries of Irvine and of Perth respectively. The three elders' commissions were handed in, and a resolution was carried that the three ministers and the three elders constitute the "Presbytery of Otago." The Rev. Thomas Burns, as was seemly, was appointed moderator and Mr M'Glashan was clerk. No doubt they were impressed by the niomentousness of the step they were taking in this establishing the polity of their beloved church in this war-off land; and "pari passu" with the development of the settlement the church has crown, so that now the one presbytery has become six. The forthcoming celebration promises to enlist much _ public interest and to prove of great inspirational value.