Totara Valley.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 6345, 13 October 1890, Page 3

Totara Valley.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. [Contributed.] • For some time past the members of the Presbyterian Church in Totara Valley, Pleasant Point, have been actively engaged in building a church to accommodate the large number of families now resident in the district. Heretofore services have been conducted in the upper Totara Valley schoolroom, and in Mr Dickson's both, places being much too small. On the Lord’s Day, stb inst, the new church was opened by the Rev. A. Bruce Todd, 8.A., of Geraldine, who preached excellent sermons at the forenoon and afternoon diets of worship. The attendance was very largo 'and the offertories far exceeded the most sanguine expectations of the^cocamittee. The" church is a beautiful and substantial building after the Grecian order of architecture, and reflects much credit on Mr W. Annand, who very generously supplied the plana and specifications. It is situated on the left hand side of the road towards Mr Blue’s, and facing the road which passes Mr Hay’s front entrance. The site was given by the A. and N-Z.L, Coy, through Mr O. N. Orbell, the highly esteemed manager of the Levels estate. The church is built of white stone from Fraser Bros, estate, and the masonry is skilfully planned and neatly executed. It is plastered inside and has coved ceilings with ornamental ventilators. T he walls are tinted light blue, very pleasant to the eye; the windows are of stained glass of various colours ; the pulpit, seats, and dadoing are in dark wood, presenting a contrast to tho walls. The acoustic properties of the building are excellent, the slightest whisper being heard in any part of it. Immediately above the door on the" outside is a perforated stone with the figure of a burning bush carved upon it, and tho motto of the Presbyterian church of Now Zealand—" Nee tamen con • sumelatur .” The doorway is squared at the top, the congregation hoping at some not remote date to build a porch and vestry. In tho meantime they have endeavoured to 1 reduce the cost of the building to the minimum commensurate with obtaining an elegant and useful church. The total cost, including services gratuitously rendered, has not been less than £460, and the debt is not moro than £l4O. It may be mentioned that the pulpit desk was presented by Mr John Elder of Pleasant Point, the Bible by Mr P. W. Hutton, of this town, and Mr J. E. Beckingham is supplying a pulpit chair to match the desk, ana Miss Gullendar, of Upper Totara School, a table. On Thursday evening there was a social meeting in the church to celebrate the open- * jpg. The attendance was very large, fully

200 being present. Tea etc., was provided by the ladies of the congregation. After the good things bad been partaken of, several ladies and gentlemen and the Pleasant Point choir rendered pieces of sacred music in excellent style, the singing being interspersed with short appropriate addresses by the Revs. T. Jasper-Smytb, W. Gillies, and J. Dickson and Messrs Cuthbert, Stewart and Buxton. The chairman, the Rev. W. Whyte, on opening the meeting congratulated the members of the congregation on the completion of their beautiful church. On behalf of the building committee he tendered to those who had so liberally subscribed to the building fund hearty thanks for the sympathy they had shown ; also to Mr Annand for the great amount of trouble he had taken in providing plans, etc.; to the Rev. A. Bruce Todd for his excellent services on the previous Sabbath ; and to all who had in any way contributed to the success of the undertaking. His tamest wish was that the church might be to each and all of them a great blessing. To this end he asked their united prayers. Unless this he observed no blessing could be expected, or success achieved. Where each was engaged in prayer for the other, there only could wo find the cause of Christ ingThe Rev Jasper-Smyth was the next, to speak. He expressed the pleasure it afforded him to be present on that occasion. The church was a great credit to the builder, the people, and the district. It was a standing proof of the belief in a God to worship. He wished to say that it was in no formal manner he was present, but as a friend who rejoiced with them heartily. He thanked them for the very liberal and kind offer they had made him, to allow him to occupy their pulpit on any occasion he might be able to preach there. He begged to be allowed to reciprocate the ' same spirit of Christian sympathy. Though not wishing (he great lines of distinction between their churches to be obliterated, he was delighted that at least the coping stones wore removed and they were able to shake hands in a friendly manner over the wall. In conclusion he hoped that just as the 'empleof old, was built in silence, so in silence the members of St. Paul’s Church, Totara Talley, would grow iu all the Christian gracesMr Buxton exhorted all present to stand by tho church. There was a belief abroad in some places, he said, that the church and tho Libia were old-fashioned, and that something better was wanted. He showed how dangerous such a belief was, and that the best members of tho society would be those who feared God and honoured their fellow-men.

The Rev, J. Dickson, said it afforded him pleasure to be present on the completion of their handsome church. Great praise was due to all who had taken part in its erection. It occurred to him that it would stand an attack of the "Russians, with its strong walls and stone doorways. Mr Dickson wont on to speak on tea, temperance, and templebulldiog, showing the advantages to be derived from total abstinence, and exhorting those present to form a temperance society at once. The chairman next called upon Mr Stewart of Orari, to whom, he said, the church in South Canterbury was more indebted than to any other man. For many years he had held services in districts whore it would have been impossible to have had the Gospel preached, Mr Stewart was glad that at last the Church was built, and he exhorted all to bo regular in attendance and not to fear a wet day. The Bev. W. Gillies expressed his pleasure at being present on the completion of their church. It would be a witness to God and Christ and a living faith in them. He was pleased with its acoustic properties, as the slightest whisper could be heard. He exhorted the people to use it well by attending regularly at every diet of worship ; by coming prepared ; by making a personal use of what they heard ; by using their minister well. He showed that the physical acts upon the spiritual, and that it was often a little more blood, as much as a little more piety, that was wanted. A little sympathy does a great deal.

MrOuthbert expressed his pleasure at being present. Ho believed, that though the church was now complete, yet it was too short ; when they were gone and their children children’s children took their places they would require to “ lengthen their cords and strengthen their stakes.” He hoped everyone would strive to excel, and that they would bo found in the great temple of God’s own building as prepared stones. During the evening the following musical items were rendered—by the Pleasant Point choir: anthems, “ Behold O God our shield,” “ As the Hart panteth,’ hymn, “Behold what manner of Love”; by Miss Sutherland “Who can tell and “ The Officers funeral” sby Miss Menzies, of Kakahu Bush, “ The cleansing Fire,” “No Light here”; by Miss Cu hbert of Timaru, " The breaking of the Day,” “ In Paradise”; by Mr Gairdner, of Oamaru, “ The Pilot,” “ Little Nell” ; by Mr McNab, “ The Queen of the earth.” Mrs Hay kindly and ably played the accompaniments. Yoles of thanks having been passed the meeting was concluded by the Rev. Mr Gillies pronouncing the Benediction. A most important part of the evening’s programme was a presentation to Mrs Dickson by the members of the congregation. As a token of their appreciation of her ■ kindness during many years past they asked her to accept a beautiful writing desk and jewel case combined, together with three pieces of plate, chastely wrought.