A TRIBUTE TO THE LATE DR STUART.

Otago Witness, Issue 2104, 21 June 1894, Page 29

A TRIBUTE TO THE LATE DR STUART.

Ab the ordinary meeting of the Clutha Presbytery, held at' Balclutha on Wednesday, the following minute anent the death of Dr Stuart was unanimously agreed to on the motion of the Rev. James Chisholm :—: —

The presbytery desires at thi?, its first meeting after the death of Dr Scuart, to place on record its sense of the great loss which the church has sustained by his death. He occupied for 3* years a foremost place in every branch of the church's life and work. He bad an iutimate knowledge of almost every congregation throughout the province, and was ever ready by sympathy and "help to encourage office-bearers and members in wellrdoiog. He took a keen interest iv the spread of Christian ordinances, and for many years in his capacity as convener of the Church Extension Committee bore the burden of a toilsome and patient endeavour to keep the church abreast of extending settlement in this new land. He took with alacrity his full share of work in the church courts, and while loyal to the forms of Preabyterianism was never slow to make ecclesiastical precedent wait on what he deemed the immediate duty of a living church. He made the entire community his debtor by his zealous and successful efforts to bring the means of higher educatiou within easy reach of all classes. And while engaging with rare industry in so many enterprises that needed, especially at their beginnings, just such guidance fvs his practical sagacity and varied experience and Christian character fitted him to give, he kept together and fired with a measure of bis own enthusiasm the largest and most influential congregation in this colony, and thereby earned a high degree as a faithful minister of Jesus Christ. The presbytery desires to thank the exalted Head of the Church for such a gift, and would seek to b j moved by such an example to greater zeal and hopefulness in furthering " the glorious Gospel of the blessed God." .