RETIRING PRESBYTERIAN MINISTERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3413, 13 August 1919, Page 44

RETIRING PRESBYTERIAN MINISTERS.

APPRECIATION OF THEIR LIFE AND WORK. The Duncdiu Presbytery at its mooting last week placed on record detailed minutes of appreciation of the life and work ot three of its oldest and most honoured members, whose resignations were accepted at tho previous Presbytery meeting. The minutes, which had been carefully prepared by direction of the Presbytery, were in each case unanimously adopted without discussion. DR RUTHERFORD WADDELL. The following resolution, moved by Mr W. Gow, seconded by the Rev. A. M. Finlayson was adopted with reference to _Dr •toddell:—"ln accepting tho resignation of Dr Waddell, after a pastorate in St. Andrew's of over 40 years, the Presbytery desires to place on record its gratitude to God for the rich gifts lie bestowed upon His servant, and for the fidelity and forgetfulness of self with which he has used them all through these years. Dr Waddell has brought to the pulpit and to the platform unusual literary attainments, a graceful fancy, and a growing wealth of experience of life and of Christian truth. It has been his joy and his passion to preach God revealed in tho Old Testament in divers ways, and in the New Testament in His Son, the Saviour and Friend of man. His pulpit ministry has been marked by the prophetic spirit. In a wonderful degree he has been able to spcak_ to the hearts and minds of children. His idealism and his courage have made him in the days of his strength a preacher to youth, especially educated youth, and to the baffled and the tried. His ministry has been marked by <uiiintcrrupted personal growth in spiritual knowledge and power. On the platform his genial and overflowing humor has brightened many a meeting otherwise dull. His literary powers have been exercised for the benefit of the Church and of the community in writing and in lecturing. As first editor of the Outlook the high character of his work has been acknowledged by experts beyond the bounds of New Zealand. His occasional papers, always with grace and seasoned with" salt, have been a delight to thousands of readers. They are the joy and envy of other- men who work in the same field. ' For years as a lecturer on literary subjects Dr Waddell did more than anyone in the ranks of our ministry foster in the minds of the nublic a taste for good books. Very largely shut up by circumstances in the world of books, Dr Waddell has disclosed keen practical sympathy with the world of men. In social matters, such as the liquor question and the labour question, he has been an eager student, and, as opportunity offered, a courageous worker, whose zeal has never flagged. Under his leadership St. Andrew's was the first congregation of- our Church to employ deaconesses, and tho first to support a missionary of its own. Inspired by his faith, his people have generously supported for some years three members of the staff of the Canton Villages Mission, and every worthy cause in the Church has appealed to them. Dr Waddell has borne the growing deprivations consequent on increasing dullness of hearing without complaining, even with cheerfulness, and by the grace, of God has made his limitations minister to his strength. Too strong a man to bo nitied, his sorrows and loneliness have added a deeper element of tenderness to the love of his congregation and of his friends. Many who have sat under his ministry, and other who have watched _ his life, will say that he made the' Christian religion for them inspiring and winsome." REV. JAMES LYMBURN. The following resoluation, moved by the Rev. D. Calder, seconded by the Rev. A. Whyte, was adopted with reference to the Rev. J. Lymburn:—"That the Presbytery records its sense of profound regret that .increasing years make it necessary for the Rev. James Lymburn to retire from the active work of tho ministry. Mr Lymburn studied at Glasgow University, ana thereafter came to New Zealand. He was ordained and inducted on the Bth day of October, 1889, to the large charge of Maryborough, which "at that time extended from Featherston to the East Coast, and embraced the towns of Featherston, Martinborough, and Morrison's Bush. From there ha was translated in 1899 to the almost equally extensive charge of Lumsden, which included Balfour, and extended almost to the Lakes. Again, in 1908, he was translated to North Taieri, and there, as elsewhere, his record has been one of most faithful service, carried out in a spirit of intense devotion to the Great Head of the Church. For 11 years he has ministered to the people with such ability that he has endeared himself to the whole community. His able_ declaration of the Word of God and his sympathetic and kindly pastoral work have secured for him the love and affection of old and young. Tho Presbytery prays that tho years of quiet may be many and very restful, and that he may see much fruit from his faithful sowing of the good seed of the kingdom." DR ANDREW CAMERON. The following resolution, moved by the Rev. J. Kilpatriek, seconded by Mr H. Duckworth, was adopted with reference to Dr Andrew Cameron:—"ln accepting the resignation of tho Rev. Dr Cameron as minister of the Anderson's Bay congregation the Presbytery desires to put on record its gratitude to God for his life and work. _ For 34 years Dr Cameron has been minister of Anderson's Bay, his first and only charge. A deep spiritual tone has been the most striking characteristic of his work as a minister of the Word and of the sacraments. He has set forth Christ crucified so as to be seen, and emphasised all the fundamental Christian teachings. While walking in the old paths he has at the same time kept a mind open to tho influence of the modern spirit. As a pastor he has related himself sympathetically to his parishioners of all ages and has been tho friend of . children, of young people, of men and women bearing the heat and burden of the day, and of the aged whose active work in this world is done. In personal and family life and in the practical affairs of business he has been trusted as a shrewd, sagacious, and silent counsellor. Under his guidance his congregation has shared in the growth of the neighbourhood, and it is now a well organised body with an excellent equip-

ment of buildings practically free of debt —church, school, and manse. His people havo loyally co-operated with him in all congregational and general church schemes and emulated his wide vision and sympathies. One of the chief secrets and supports of his personal life <ind ministerial work in his parish has been his homo. In tho wider life of the Church Dr Cameron has taken a prominent place. In Church courts he is known as a progressive, conciliatory, and wise adviser, and in the committees of the Church he has taken his share of routine work. He was one of the promoters of the Presbyterian Social Service Association, a movement which has spread rapidly throughout the Church. Its remarkable growth and de velopment in this province is largely due to his forethought and fostering care. Education has been one of the main interests of his life. He has served on almost every important educational scheme of the Church. All through his ministry he has been connected with the Theological Committee as member, secretary, or convener. Many students for the ministry when at the University and in the hall have found him a true friend, and in academic matters, an expert counsellor. During his convenership of the Theological Committee he felt the need of a suitable college building, and he was the first in our Church to advocate a college, combining class rooms and residental quarters, open to students of all faculties and of all denominations. Knox College is the monument to his vision, his persistency, and his faith. His services to the community have been largely in connection with primary, secondary, and university education. For years lie has been on the council of the University of Otago and on the Senate of the University of New Zealand. As Chancellor of the Otago University he has shown a fine capacity for administration and leadership. The Presbytery regards the honorary degree of LL.D., recently conferred upon him by the University of Edinburgh as a fitting recognition of a long career of valuable services to education in the Church and in the State. In a remarkable degree he has shown the power of inspiring confidence in the schemes he has advocated, and in securing the . financial support of private individua-ls and of the general community. Of all his valuable services to the Church and the community the most important has been that of a life disinterested and' without self-assertiveness, as of a man striving hard to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God." CORDiAL SOCIAL GATHERING. A valedictory social was tendered last week to the Rev. Dr Andrew Cameron and his family, on his retirement from the pastorate of Anderson's Bay Presbyterian Church. The gathering took place in the old church building, which was crowded. The hall was most artistically decorated. The chair was occupied by the Rev. J. Kilpatrick (interim moderator of the charge), and speeches were delivered by the Chairman, Revs. W. Gray Dixon (Moderator of the General Assembly), E. A. Axelsen, Professor Hewitson, Revs. W. Trotter, R. R. M. Sutherland, Messrs T. Somerville, H. Duckworth, J. R. Fairbairn. Mr Slomerville presented Dr Cameron with a beautifully upholstered easy chair. Mrs A. Nichol, a very old member of the congregation, presented Mrs Cameron with a case of cutlery. Mr G. W. Gibson said he had been deputed to remind these present that there were other Camerons —there were the members of Dr Cameron's family. Probably the greatest satisfaction Dr Cameron had felt in his life had been in his family. They had all been with him in his work. Miss Cameron and Mr Norman Cameron had both worked in the Sunday school for a number of years, and he had been asked to make them presentations, which took the form of cases containing silverware^ Mr H. B. Austing referred to the good services Dr Cameron had rendered the choir and the Glee Club. He thanked Miss May Cameron for the work she had done in connection with musical matters, and presented her with a travelling case. At the same time he presented Miss Irene Cameron with a brooch, Mr Frank Cameron with a walkingstick* and Mr Max Cameron with a pair of sleevelinks. Dr Cameron, on rising to epeak, was received with loud applause. He said he had been thinking or the commandment "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." Ho wondered at many things that had been said there and elsewhere of late. He wished to thank them for their gifts to himself, Mrs Cameron, and each member of his family. He felt he owed everything to his home under God. One of the greatest gifts God had given him was his home. Ho had been blessed with health, and had received the help, of those who had co-operated with him in. the work on which he had been engaged, and there had been perfect harmony. _ He had been specially blessed in his family. Dr Cameron went on to refer_ to the many public, or semi-public, positions he had filled, and said he had really wanted to be a pastor and a student. That was one reason why he had gone to Anderson's Bay. He felt extremely grateful to Mr an?! Mrs Nichol and to many others for the kindness he had received at their hands. He also referred'in terms of gratitude to the choir and the teachers in the Sunday school. He mentioned that in the early days of his pastorate, when there was no other minister in the district, he had called upon all the residents, but bad later desisted from doing so because he had not wanted to do anything that would in the slightest degree look as if he wished to attract residents towards the congregation with which he was connected. If "lie" left Anderson's Bay it would be because he felt that in the interests of the congregation he should do so. He must in no way come between the congregation and its new minister. The Rev. H. O. Fenton (St. Michael's Anglican Church) was among those who offered congratulations to Dr Cameron, to whom he referred in eulogistic terms. During the evening the choir, under the direction of Mr Austing, rendered, some anthems. Refreshments were handed round, social intercourse was engaged in, and the proceedings closed with the benediction.