FIRST CHURCH CONVERSAZIONE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2622, 15 June 1904, Page 15

FIRST CHURCH CONVERSAZIONE.

The social and conversazione in which the congregation of Fir=t Church extended a welcome to their newly-elected minister, th& Rev. Thomas Nisbet, D.D., took place in the Garrkon Hall on Thursday. The first IDart of the proceedings took the form of a tea, and at the numerous tables provided in all close on 800 persons must have sat down. The principal table was presided over by Mrs A. W. Morris, president of the Ladies' Association of First Church, ivith Miss Bums, vice-president of tho association; the other tables being under the able superintendence of members of the Ladies' Associatio.i and wives of the officebearers. This important prior function concluded, «n after meeting was hold, at which _Dr iWatt presided, the representative gathering associated with him on the platform including Professor Salmond, Dr Waddell, the ■Revs. G. Heighway, D. Dutton, A. W. Kinmont, J. J. Cairney, I. K. M'lntyre, J. Chisholm, W. Hay, D. Borne, A. Don, A. Cameron, R. R. M. Sutherland, W. Will, iW. Waters, J. Niven, Messrs A. S. Adams, T. R. Christie (Mayor), G. Fenwick, G. M. Thomson, A. Struthers, E. Ro=e.vear, D. A. MacNicoll, K. Ramsay, W. Logic, D. iWright, John Duncan, and a number of members of First Church Session. Apologies for absence were received from the !Ws. J- A. Will. W. Curzon-Siggers, Adam Beg-g, G. Miller 1 , J. Kilpatrick, W. , Seorgie, Dr Nicoison, £. 0. Teanem. R.

Fairmaid, A. Greig, R Mackic, A. Finlayson, W. ■Saunders, Professor Gilray, and Messrs A. Wilson, W. Couston, W. Nicol6Oii- R. Chisholm, and T. Scott. The. Rev. Dr Gibb wrote as follows: — "Wellington, 6th June, 1904-.— Dsar Dr Watt, — I have received an invitation to lie present at the welcome meeting which is to be tendered next Thuisday evening to my friend Dr Nisbet, the new minister of First Church. I wish I could attend a function so interesting, to expro-s my gladness that the congregation has stood together so well during the vacancy and is now rejoicing in the settlement of a pastor who will prove himself a workman that neodeth not to be as-hame-d, and under whom, with the blessing of God, I tiust First Church will have a brighter and more successful future than even its past. From my heart I pray that the hand of God may be for good upon minister and people, and that every passing year may crown with over-larger success the pastorate so auspiciously begun this week. — I am, yours sincerely, James Gibb." The church choir, under Mr Timson, having rendered an antliexn. in pleasing style, Miss Dora Ramray stepped forward ! and presented a hatndsome bouquet to Mrs I Nisbot. A number of brief speeches had been arranged' for, and the speakei's kept themselves admirably to the'r allotted time. T>l- Watt, who was the first speaker, said he was now retiring from the position hehad hold for some months past as moderator of the session of First Church congregation, and his contact with the> officebearers of that congregation during that period had been of the most pleasant character. With what the majority approved he noticed the remainder readily acquiesced, and the congregation were loyal to the cause of Christ and to the interests of Presbyterianism. In speaking to them of their attitude towards their minister he could not do better than echo the weighty words of Dr Dunlop the previous day. They would pardon him for mentioning it, but he just wished to express the wish that thh large; and liberal-hearted congregation should continue loyal to their Sustcnlation Fund.— (Applause.) Mr Struthers, a? representing the congregation of First Church, said it was very gratifying to see so representative a gatherj ing met to accord a nearly welcome to Dr } and Mrs Nisbct and their family. Dr Nisbet j was a man who had been tried in other I spheres of labour, and one whom they | deemed well worthy to step into the shoes of those who had preceded him. He extended there-fore to Dr and Mrs Nisbet and family the heartiest of welcomes, not only from tho congregation, but from every society connected Tvith it, and expressed at tho same "time the hop© that his ministry would be one of great success. — (Applause.) The Rev. A. Cameron, next called upon, said he wished the original programme could have been adhered to, as then the Rev.~"J. A. Will, a fellow student with Dr Nisbet in Edinburgh, would have spoken in his stead. He had to add 1 now hi 3 word of welcome to Dr Nisbet, and of congratulation to the congregation on the speedy and happy settlement effected. — (Applause.) Mr A. H. Adams said ho had much pleasure in taking advantage of the opportunity afforded .him on behalf of th© Dunedin Council of Christian Churches most cordially and warmly to welcome Dr Nisbet to this city a3 minister of First Church. He acceded to the invitation with peculiar pleasure on the 2 5r esent occasion, for he had a vory grateful recollection of First Church and of the pastors who had preceded Dr Niobet there. His father had been one of the stalwart band who joined together to welcome Dr Burns to this city when he arrived, 50 years ago. Of the" Rev. MiLindsay Mackie he had the most grateful personal recollections. Amid great diversity of opinion in matters of church polity, Dr Nisbet would find in Dunedin a very real union on all the deep fundamental doctrines of Christian faith. As one who had had a good deal to do with th© Council of Churches and come a good deal into contact with those of all denominations he could assert this to be the caie. As for the Presbyterian Church, no church in the coJony had such splendid records. — (Applause.) The Rev. W. Hewitson, who spoke next, said he was commissioned by the Deacons' Court of Knox Church to convey their greetings to First Church and its new minister, and to express the hope that the settlement just effected might be a very happy one. He hoped that the relations between pastor and people- might be mutually helpful. Speaking of Dr Gibb,' whose effectiveness and activity as a minister had always a&lonished the speaker, some people seemed to think within the past few days that Dr Gibb's mantle was falling upon his (the speaker's) shoulders, and that he was disclosing a resemblance ,to him ; but he had not got on Dr Gibb's old gown ; he> had left it for Dr Gibb's successor. — (Laughter.) Dr Nisbet r in- former pastorates, had had the name of being a good administrator, and in First Church he would no doubt have abundant opportunity for th© display of this quality, and under his guidance and experience the church should rise to a still higher efficiency. — "(Applause.) Professor Salmond, like the last speaker, spok© partly in humorous vein. He compared First Church to a watch-tower, and pictured the disastrous result were its light not kept trimmed and burning. Dr Nisbet's coming to ;t would, he hoped, be a source of light and strength to every good institution in the community, and especially so to the- building up of its religious life. Dr Nir-bet, he could assure him, had come among psople who would be thoroughly, if not demonstratively, appreciative of the best he could give them. — (Applause.) Mr Keith Ramsay then, on behalf of theladies of the congregation, presented to Dr Nisbefc a new pulpit-gown. As an old office-bearer of First Church, he also expressed his appreciation of the kindly welcome expressed to Dr Nisbet by Mr Struthers. Dr Nisbet had left behind him a splendid record of work. He was asked by the ladies to accept this gown, and congratulation on his appointment to First Church. Mrs Nisbet and their children being especially included in the welcome. — (Applause.) Dr Watt then vacated the chair, as president, in favour of Dr Nisbet, who, on rising to speak, was received with prolonged applause. Pr Nisbot caid be had to thank the various speakers for their kindly remarks and words of welcome. They (he and Mrs Nisbet) had been assured of a warm reception, but certainly they had not received it from the climate. After detailing somehumorous aspects of New Zealand climate as mentioned by a foreboding Brisbane resident, Dr Nisbefc went on to say that he felt auite unable to expr&ss adequately his fesl-

ings on tho subject of the social welcome they had received, but he could say that tho arrangements made by the ohurch officcbeaiers for their comfort, the warmth of the welcome from the people of First Church, and the welcome of the members of the Dunedin Presbytery, made it possible for himself and Mis Nisbet to feel as much at home as could be under the circumstances. He had to thank the ladies of the congregation for the handsome gown just presented to him. He was not a believer in so-called clerical attire, for good and sufficient reasons. A minister should be a man among men, and the less there was to make a distinct class or caste- tho better. But anything that added to tho effectheness or "dignity of the service in the way oi vestments or otherwise might well be desirable, and especially was this the case with the Geneva gown, which linked Presbyterians with the pa'-t. It was a new and somewhat delightful experience for him, though it increased his sense of responsibility, to succeed the men who had gone before him, such as those known to him by repute — Dr Burns, the Roy. Lindsay Mackie, and Dr Gibb (whose good work was known to all interested in tho progress of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand). No effort would be wanting on his part to continue the good work the-se eminent servants of God had done in the post. It was sometimes customary for a minister in his position to lay before the congregation an elaborate programme of what he meant to do, and how he meant to do it, but ho was not going- to make such a mistake as thst, for he- initiated hi 3 ministry her© not without a certain fear and trembling. Here ho was faced with entirely new conditions, and his success remained to be seen. In the peculiar ciicumstances of 'the Queensland Church it was necessary for him to do a very Jarge amount of woik for the General Assembly, and take a practical interest in movements outside the Presbyterian Church altogether. He hoped, however,, that he would not be called tipon to do much work here in connection with tho General Assembly or outside movements, but would, for some little time at any rate, be allowed to devote his energies to the work to be done in connection with his own congregation. Did lie, however, devote his energies ■to the First Church alone, ho would be a poor sort of Presbyterisn. His prayer for them and himself was that they might go forward mutually loving, mutually helpful, and mutually forbearing- to do Christ's work in this place. — (Applause.) Mr W. H. Adams then, on behalf of the Church Session, after referring in eulogistic 'terms to the untiring and unselfish efforts of Dr Watt, as Moderator of the Session and in regard to the pastoral work in First Church, presented to him a purse of sovereigns, expressing the hope that Dr Watt would thus procuie for himself some memento of <the occasion. Dr Watt having replied, and the choir having rendered a taking part-song, the formal part of the proceedings oamo to a close, those present mingling for social intercourse, while music was supplied by an efficient orchestra. The pulpit-gown presented to Dr Xisbe-f, it might be mentioned, is of the richest silk obtainable, and was supplied by J. Crombie and Co.