REV. W. HEWITSON'S RESIGNATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2856, 9 December 1908, Page 27

REV. W. HEWITSON'S RESIGNATION.

EXPRESSIONS OF REGRET.

At last ■week's meeting of the Dunedin Presbytery the following letter was received from the Rev. William Hewitson, pastor of Knox Ohurch : — Owing to my acceptance of the mastership of Knox College I beg to resign the pastorate of Knox Church. As my appointment to the college has been dated from January 1, 1909, I request that the resignation of my pastorate may take- , effect on December V3l,V 31, 1908- I take this . 6tep with much sorrow, but with a quiet I and assured heart, owing to the unan-. im.ity of the Assembly in making my appointment to the mastership. I desrre i to acknowlf»dge_ %vit!Tdeep gratitude to the j ' people, and with' humble thankfulness to God, tlie great lrindnc? s I lwrve received from the congregation of Ki;ox ChunCh and its office-bearers, and the comfort with which I have exercised niy, ministry among them. Our relations as pastor and people hava been, so far as I have been concerned, without fret or jar. I desire, also, to express my thankfulness to the Presbytery as a whole, anchto its members individually, for the help I have received from them in performing the duties of the important cha.rge with which I was entrusted on July 9, 1£95. The long and honourable traditions of the large congregation, tha strong personality of its first ministpr. and the large and 7 tender place that he lield in the affections of the congregation made the position of -hie successor one of considerable difficulty. If these difficulties have been in any measure overcome it is due to the gra<ce of God, and, under Him, in a considerable degree to the unity of spirit and the character impressed upon the congregation by the large and hearty Christian manhood of Dr Stuart. I regret the failures that arc evident in the discharge of my trust, and quit -my past-oral office leaving- my work to the juet but merciful judgment of Him who sees with other eyes than ours. I think I may truly use the words of the Apostle concerning the Thessalonian Ohurch, and say that Knox Church has become very dear unto me, and now I live if it stands fast in" the Lord. Mv heart's desire and prayer for the Church is that it may soon find the man whom God lias chosen for it, and that its Tnost fruitful years may be ahead ' of it. A deputation' from Knox Church waited upon the Presbytery in connection with Mr Hewitson's resignation and appointment to the Theological College, those comprising the deputation being .Messrs Cl. 11. Thomson, M.P., John Roberts, C.M.G. (elders), and Messrs T. G. Young and E. R. Smith (deacons). Mr Thomson said the feeling in Knox Ohurch was one of deep regret, as the members of the Presbytery could understand, at the severance of the tie which had existed between the church members and their beloved pastor for the last 14 years. The feeling had, however, been absolutely unanimous on the part of every member of both committees of the church that the call of the whole church of New Zealand was one whioh completely overrode their (the members') feelings in the matter. They had, therefore, come to the unanimous conclusion that they desired to fall in with the wish of the Assembly and give Mr Hewitson freedom from the pastoral duties of Knox Churc* os from the end of th© year. While they were losing a pastor they revered and esteemed, all must come to the conclusion that the whole Church was gaining the man for the position Mr Hewitson was to occupy. They were now faced with filling the vacancy, and it was the unanimous wi s h of Knox Chinch Session that the Presbytery appoint a moderator pro tern, to carry on the work of the Session of the Deacons' Court, and it was the desire that when Mr llewit«on was on.cc more inducted to the position of minister in the Presbytery that he should be appointed to take up the moderatorship of the church. They recognised the very delicate position they had put Mr Hewitson in, but at the sanip time they felt, knowing his great tact and wisdom, that harmony would prevail when he came amonsr them as their moderator from the date of his induction. He (the speaker^ desired to express gratification at the cail that had been given from the whole Church, and profound regret at losing the benefit of Mr Hewitson's ministrations. • Mr Roberts said Mr Thomson had expressed the feelings of the whole congregation. Thi° Church, he thought, had made a sacrifice. Mr Young expressed the regret of the Deacons' Court as a whole at losing Mr Hewit*K>n's Mr Hewitson had done a very largo amount of work for Knox Church, and for the Church as a whole, and the congregation was deeply grateful to him for all ho had done for it. Mr E. R. iSmith said be knew they wene makinar a sacrifice. Mr He\\it>on'« sphere of n^efune^s in Knov Church had been lar<*-<\ but in the appointment he was called to fill it would be lartr^r still. Dr Nisb^t movoc' — "That the resignation of the Rev. W. He\\it=on of the pastorate of Knox Church b." accepted; that the pastorate br divolved as from the 31st December, 1908; that the charge be preached,- vacant on the fir«t Sunday of January. 1909; that an interim Moderator be appointed ; and, finally, that the request of the Knox Church office-bearers be cordially agreed to — that from the date of Mr .Hewitson's induction as professor of the Theological College he be appointed Moderator during the currency of tin" session." The" Rev. D. Borrie seconded the motion, and referred to the splendid spirit in which the Knox Church office-bearers had nW, them. The motion was carried unanimously. On the motion of the Rev. Mr Scorgie, the Rxvv. A. Cameron was appointed interim Moderator for Kr.ox Church.

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