MILTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 1932, 30 November 1888, Page 17

MILTON.

rPreibyterian Church in Milton was laid yesterday by the Bey. J. Chuholin. Notwithstanding the severe weather, there was a large gathering from all parts of the surrounding districts. , Xhe.proceedinga began at half-past 2 by the singing ' of the Hundredth £ salm % TheVeaf,ter the^Bey,. W. ,Bannermanj the .first minister 6£ the' district, read ji passage, of, Scripture from Ist Chronicles', qhap. xxix. After; this 'prayer's was. offered' by the, Rev." A. B. ,T<jdd, of Oamar.ii, 'wh'p.was-'ihe second miofifcer of the district. Th^na.jar i^iade at' the MjJijop. Pottery was pro-' i deuced, in whfch were" placed some church literature, ,and copies of,, the Dally Tiniej', Witness, EyenfiJg ,SJt^r, and.'Brfic^ Iteraia.j This, jar',' was, depositedin, the^foppdatlori; ' ' Thejeuppn,, I th i ß' architect, on .'his' ,6w'n belialf and yhat'. of , Bleasrs Gore, jlibe 'con Itjra,'ctbfß, presented the Bey.' Jamesj C/hishoim with a l silver trowel, r wh'ich. was thankfully, received and' adroit!y^sed i inßnio9th)pgab,ed 'forth' esfcflue, which' ■was. immediatbly lowered and declared .to bp' wel| and truly laid, ;'J . The Eev, Mr Chisholm said he did not mean to detain the audience long, owing to the atorroy weather. He wished them jatt to remember .that the church did 'not mean .primarily merely the building, but the. body of .professing Christiar,g t whQ met together within the bu.il6.ing to .worship God., They had a foundation, oh which to build, even the Lord Jesus Christ, anithe liying church, .wjpqld best accomplish its^ork.Ui the" world whe,n each member- kept his" place and "did the irbrk.'for -which' he was qnalified., It would baa tragic ending to all their work if the stone and brioks and mortar were to quarrel aud disparage each other's position and use; so it was .to be regretted when professing Christiana fail to keep the unity of the spirit In the bond of peace. He hoped that each one, .would 'seek to fill his place worthily and' discharge his . duties faithfully, so j .that; being fcuilt oh the foundation of the apostles ' and prophets— Jesus Christ Himself . Jbeing the chief, 'ggrijer way 89, 'Uy9 «$ <*ff,GlH6'sll tIW

building, fitly framed together, may grow unto an holy temple in the Lord.' He bad pleasure in Bayiug that they had been remembered by. one. of their old friends— Mr J. L. Gillies, Punedin,— wh'osenta telegram apologising for his abseuce, an-? promising £5 as a subscription to the new building. Mr James Adam, who was called upon to say a few words, said he rejoiced that tbey were vow building a church that was likely to bs permanent. In the early days, about 32 years ago, they built a church at Fairfax.. When the diggings broke out the population increased to such an extent that a new church was needed in Milton. • This tow creeled at a cost of over £2000. it had .sewed its day. and they were now erecting, a buildiug which., would, he believed, be unrivalled for beauty and durability aDywhere south of Dunedin. He believed that about 1000 chnrohes were erected every ye.-.r throughout Christendom. 'J his did uot Jrok-like 'hedecaneuco of Christianity of which Agnostics aud Freethinkers were continually talking. They were addirg one to the list, and he hoped as heretofore a free, puro Gospel would bo preached within its walls, and many souls be saved. He believed that their church all through had been loyal to the grand " Confession of Faith," and. those principles of Preshyterianism for which their forefathers had bled and died. ' The proceedings closed with the doxology.ftnd the benediction. Arrangements were made foe 1 holding a soirco ia the evening, at which the Beys. Professor Dutilop, Bauuerman, Todd, Allan, and others would be present and take part?. „ >' ' , , :