PRESBYTERY OF DUNEDIN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1191, 26 September 1874, Page 9

PRESBYTERY OF DUNEDIN.

The Presbytery of Dunedin met in North Taieri Church on Wednesday, the 16th inst., for the ordination of Mr John Sutherland, M.A., Licentiate of the Free Church of Scotland. The church was well filled by a respectable audience. After a sermon by the Rev. John Gow, and the usual questions, Mr Sutherland was ordained by the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery and prayer, and thereafter inducted to the pastoral charge of the parish.

The Rev. A. Blake delivered the charge to the minister, and Dr Stuart to the congregation. As the congregation retired they gave the right hand of fellowship to their p.istor, after the custom of the Presbyterian Churches.

In the evening a social meeting was held in connection with the ordination. The ladies of the parish provided a generous spread of all good thing*, to which a crowded audience did ample justice. After a hymn, pleasantly 811112 by the school children under the leadership of Mr Anderson, their teacher, Mr Sutherland, the minister, who presided, gave an able address, in which he shortly touched on several points of his work as the minister, and promised with the blessing of God and the help of the people to devote himself to the labours of the pastorate. The Rev. Messrs Eraser (from Victoria), Will, Stuart, Gillies, &c., briefly addressed the audience on topics connected with the solemnities of the day. The West Taieri Choir turned out in great force, and under the leadership of Mr Cuthbert sang several hymns with great taste andefficiency. Thanks were proposed to the Rev. William Gillies by Donald Beid, Esq., for his many services as Moderator of the Session during the vacancy.