A CHURCH JUBILEE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3169, 9 December 1914, Page 69

A CHURCH JUBILEE.

ST. ANDREW’S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. A handsome jubilee souvenir giving an illustrated sketch of the origin and history of the church from 1861 to 1913 has been published by the Jubilee Committee of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Dunedin, and forms a most interesting booklet. The Rev. Dr Waddell, the loved pastor of the church, contributes a “ foreword,” in which he remarks: ‘‘.lt is good _ to come into touch with the traditions and memories of this half-century of St. Andrew’s life and work.” A perusal of these pages will, I trust, fire with fresh enthusiasm and unite us all in the fervent prayer, ‘ - That, cast in some Divine mould, may the now cycle shame the old.” A perusal of the historical narrative will make the reader acquainted with many quiet and unobtrusive worthies of the early days, many of whose photographs adorn the pages of the booklet. The genesis of St Andrew’s recalls to mind the fact that the late Rev. Dr Stuart did, perhaps, more than any other minister of the early days in the way of church extension. When men in search of gold arrived in Dunedin by the thousands —men olad in blue and red jumpers and moleskin trousers, who did not care to venture among the existing congregations, where the men wore the black cloth suits brought from the Homeland —the Rev. Mr Stuart (not then a doctor) tried to reach the ‘‘new iniquity” by holding Sunday afternoon services at the foot of Stafford street, then the recognised centre of the growing city. But the streets of Dunedin in 1861 were not inviting places to assemble in on wet days, and Air Henry Cook, a merchant of that period, offered a portion of Reynolds’s paddock, between Walker and Stafford street, free of rent as a site, and provided the material for a canvas place of worship. The offer was accepted, and in about a fortnight the canvas church, capable of holding about 260 persons, was opened for service, the Rev. Dr Burns preaching in the afternoon and the Rev. D. M. Stuart in the evening. It can sometimes blow in Dunedin, and on the opening day the wind made a rent in the canvas above the preacher’s bjad, and when rain fell it had a habit of dripping through. Services were continued in the canvas church —which, by the way, had only an earthen floor, —and in March, 1862, the Deacons’Courts of First and Knox Churches agreed to secure the services of Mr Glasgow (father of Mr W. T. Glasgow) and to erect a place of worship. Air Glasgow began his work in the canvas church, but through the generosity of Air Cook and Mrs W. H. Reynolds a site was secured at the corner of Walker and Melville streets (on which the present building stands), and a com' modious wooden building was erected, a building fund of £SOO being provided by the congregations of First Church and Knox Church. It was opened in Alay, 1862. Apparently the late Air W. H. Reynolds was the only office-bearer. He arranged for a pulpit supply when necessary, acted as doorkeeper or bellringer if occasion arose, and was not above taking the position of precentor. It is said he had on more than one occasion to fill the pulpit. Air P. W. Hutton (now of Timaru) was also prominent. Office-bearers were later appointed by First and Knox Churches, and in Alarch, 1863, tho Presbytery, appointed a Kirk Session, with the Rev Mr Stuart as Aloderator and Alessrs E. B. Cargill, James Paterson, James Morris, and James Souness as elders, and Messrs W. H. Reynolds and P. W. Hutton as deacons. Air Glasgow having been called away to his rest in the meantime, the Rev. D. Mciklejohn accepted a call, and St. Andrew’s may be said to have become a settled charge. The congregation prospered, and a manse was provided at Hdlside. The R"v. Mr Meiklejohn having accepted a call from Victoria, the Rev R. Scrimgcour succeeded him. As the congregation increased, the accommodation proved too limited. Despite the dull times which had set in, funds were raised for a

now building-, and, except for the addition 9* the organ and some other alterations, tne interior of the building was practically os it is to-day. The opening services were held on the 14th February, 1870. While the building was being erected services wore held in what is now the Stock -Exchange Building. Mr Slcrimgoour retired in 1871, and a call was accepted by the Rev. John Grow, then of Hokitika. In 1878 Mr Gow accepted a call to a charge in the more salubrious Bay of Plenty district, and a considerable interval occurred before a call waa accepted by the Rev. Rutherford Waddell, then stationed at Prebblcton, Canterbury, He was inducted on the 18th April, 1879. Suice then St. Andrew’s Church hag eteadily progressed, its activities extending to Mornington (until that became a settled charge) an <3 Kensington. The history of Dr Waddell s pastorate and the steady growth and loyalty of the congregation have been recounted so recently it is not necessary to repeat the story here. Perhaps in no direction has it made such strides as in ita foreign mission development. The congregation supports three missionaries in active service without in any way interfering with the other agencies. Space will not permit oi our giving even a few of the names of those who have taken a loading part in W u rk °* ? model congregation. After they have only been more m more closely associated with thoJu pastor. The power and unitv of the congregation and church are due to the loyalty and active co-operation of the members as a whole rather than to individual members. Ihe souvenir is neatly got up by Mesrss Coulls, Culling, and Co (Ltd.).