ANDERSON’S BAY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 3098, 30 July 1913, Page 80

ANDERSON’S BAY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

JUBILEE SERVICES. Tlio jubilee services of the Anderson’s Ray Presbyterian Church were held on Sunday. The attendance both in the morning and evening was very large, and among those who attended were several who could look back upon the day when the Rev. James Henry M’Nuughten preached hia first sermon after his induction in 1863. 'The preacher in the morning was the Rev. Jaa. Chisholm. He took as his text Hebrews, chapter 13, verse vii: “ Remember them that had the rule over you, which spoke unto you the Word of God; and considering the issue of their life, imitate their faith.” He bade his hcai'crs to remember, consider, and imitate the men who had gone before, and made reference to the members of the first session of Anderson’s Bay. Messrs Win. Somerville, Jas. King, Jas. Patrick, A. V'. Morris, W. B. Mackay, and Jas. Samuel —men, he said, who had borne witness for God by word and deed, and laid deep the foundations of God’s house in Anderson's Bay. The sermon was enriched by beautiful and apt poetical quotations. Mr Chisholm also gave an historical outline of* the church, in the course of which ho made use of the figure 7 in a wav that added greatly to’’ the force of his words. The year of jubilee was a multiple of seven, plus one. The Rev. Mr M'Naughton was inducted on July 8, 1863. and continued to minister to the wants of the congregation for 14 years —two sevens. Ho was succeeded by the Rev. C. S. Ross, who remained seven years, ami in turn was followed by tlic present minister, the Rev. A. Cameron, who had bold the position for 23 years four sevens, plus the year of jubilee. Mr Chisholm afterwards recounted some local history less closely identified with the church. For 15 years the settlers made First Church their worshipping centre. They often had to cross over in a l>oat as it was at times impossible to reach Dunedin by land, except by making a detour, via the sandhills and round by Cavcrsham, and he had himself stood on the site of First Church and watched the boat coming across. In the evening Professor Hcwitson conducted the service. His text was Revelation. chapter i, verses 11 and 12, “ For [ long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end that ye may be established; that is, that f with you may be comforted in you, each of us by the others faith, both yours and mine,” on which words he based a fine discourse on the relation of pastor and people. Prior to commencing the address he stated that Miss Burns, daughter of ;ho late Dr Burns—“the Aaron of the settlement” —had asked him to tell them how her father had loved the people of Anderson’s Bay, and appreciated the regularity with which they used to walk the Jong load between Anderson’s Bay and I 1 irst Church Sunday by Sunday. When concluding his sermon, in which all thought ho was insistent that for the highest results there must bo an absolute interdependence between pastor and people, each giving to and receiving from the other the oest that was possible, he made special reference to the larger view taken by the congregation of what a minister’s sphere of action might 1)0, for. it was onlv by such a conception, ho said, that Mr Cameron had been free to devote thought and time to render to the church and education the distinguished services recognised by all. The psalms and hymns for the day worn aptly chosen and did much to rnako tho services a delight and an inspiration to those present. , Ri the afternoon tho Rev. Mr Chisholm addressed tho Sunday school children. Ho impressed upon them three texts which, he said, contained tho whole gospel; “All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.” “ Behold tho Lamb of God which taketh away tho sin of tho world.” “ Come unto Me all yo who are heavy Laden and I will give you rest.” Mr Chisholm’s address was followed by some remarks from the Rev. Mr Cameron, who asked the children to imitate the pioneers by upright living and by trying to leave th e world a litilo better than they found During the services the. Rev. Mr Cameron announced that it was intended to hold a social reunion of original members of the congregation and their descendants.