First Church Celebration.

Southland Times, Issue 11462, 23 May 1890, Page 2

First Church Celebration.

A social meeting to celebrate the completion of the tenth year of the Rev. J. Ferguson's connection with the Invercargill First Church was held in the Theatre Royal yesterday evening. The members of the congregation mustered in full force, and a number of friends from other churches increased the attendance very considerably, the numbers present being so great that the tables had to be laid twice to satisfy the demand made upon their resources. The catering Avas entrusted to Mr J. Kingsland who discharged his important functions in a highly creditable manner, and the tables were under the personal charge of the lady friends of the church office-bearers. After the excellent repast had received proper attention the hall was put in order for the after meeting, the Rev. J. Ferguson taking the chair and a number of clergymen j aud other gentlemen taking seats on the platform. A. hymn having been sung by the choir, The Rev. Mr Ferguson delivered an opening address. He said it was now ten years since he had stood there as the newly inducted parson of the First Church, a time which, although seemingly short to look back upon probably [formed the best part of a man's working life. He did not now feel, however, a bit older or less full of life and courage than he did then, and he trusted that if he was spared for another ten years' work here he would at the end of that period feel just as young and as lively as at present. As he looked back over the past a feeling of sadness came over him as he thought of the many noble men who were here ten years ago and were now in their laat resting place. He had no desire to call the roll of these men, he only wished to pay a tribute to their memory, and he would hasten on to say that during the term of his ministry here he had had round him men whom he revered and honoured and to whose assistance and encouragement he was much indebted. He did not say that the work of the church had succeeded to the extent it should have done ; there were many respects in which they had failed. He was not downhearted by any means, but he made the confession of partial failure so that they might be stimulated to increased effort in the future. After referring to the financial and commercial troubles that had darkened recent years he proceeded to explain the programme he had laid down for himself in the future. In the first place he was going to strive to have more patience, more courage and patience, and in the second he wanted to learn to preach. The power of preaching the Gospel was no pastor present possession; he did not believe that any man could preach up to his ideal of what preaching should be. We wanted to learn to preach the Gospel, to try and briug them to the living God. Another thing he wanted was to know the people of the congregation better. Recently he had been going about them more systematically than before, and he was . beginning to realise the value of visiting. He also intended to try and work better among the young, and above all he would try to nuke his personal life more sanctified and more devoted to the service of God. These were some of the rules he intended to observe in -beginning this new period of his ministry, and he hoped to waken his people up to greater activity in the cause of Christ. He hoped the speeches they would hear that evening would have the effect of stimulating them all in their work for the Master, iv fact that was the great, the principal object of the gathering.' The Rev. A. H. Stobo humorously referred to the fact that he had been limited to a speech of five minutes, stating that he had intended referring to his long experiences of thirty years' connection with the church here, but would have to reserve his remarks when they would be less harsh with their old pastor than limit him to so fchort a time. At this stage Messrs J. Findlay, G. Robertson, and J. Borrie, ou behalf of the young men and women of the Bible-class, presented Mr Ferguson with a handsome easy chair, and a silver and crystal butter-cooler, the latter being for Mrs Ferguson. Mr Findlay, in making the presentation, referred to the great success which had attended the Bible-class, describing it as one of the marked features of Mr Ferguson's ministry. He referred in eulogistic terms to the work Mr Ferguson had accomplished among the young of the congregation, expressing the hope that he and Mrs Ferguson would be loug spared to them imd that the Bible-class would be even more successful and prosperous in the future. Mr Ferguson sincerely thanked the members of the Bible-class for their handsome gift. Working among the young was a passion with him ever since he could remember, and he had always found his sphere of labour in that connection increasing. The class was now ten years old, and it numbered just 101 members, while many who had belonged to it had gone far afield, and others had become class teachers. He was ! compelled to say that he found among the I young, especially among the young men, a I

certain lack of fespect for authority which made the work of a minister very difficult, and he deeply deplored the fact that so many young men were to be found loafing about street comers during the hours of divine service. Nevertheless he was unspeakably glad that so many of the young cleavod to the ohurch of Christ, and without boasting, he could say that no minister was more thankful for the spirit of his young men and young women than lie waa that evening. Me concluded by again thanking the Bible class, on his wife's behalf and on hia own for their very handsome gifts. The Yen. Archdeacon Stacker expressed great pleasure at being present that evening, and said that such a meeting not only served to show the sympathy existing between pastor and congregation, but also enabled those outside the particular church interested to show their respect, or rather their friendship, for the minister they had to meet. When he first came to Invercargill he had frequently to aspply to Mr Ferguson for information and sometimes for advice, and on every occasion he had received the greatest kindness, consideration, and sympathy. Since then he had been associated with Mr Ferguson closely, and he had learned to appreciate his ability, his honesty, and his earnestness of purpose: He would not speak in stronger terms in Mr Ferguson's presence ; there were many things he might say behind hia back which he would not care to tell him to his face. He had attended that meeting to show his sympathy with the First Church and his respect for i:s minister. He thought the congregation were to be congratulated upon having for so, Jong enjoyed the services of so able a gentleman, and thaC Mr Ferguson was to be congratulated upon the large and brilliant meeting; which waa held that evening tb do him honour^ Mr Denniston said they were met to " celebrate the close of a ten years' pastorate, and there was always something impressive in the lapse of a decade. It was one of the periods that marked with distinctness and significance portions of individual, ecclesiastical and national history. He could lay claim to the privilege of speaking on that occasion mainly as on 6of a rapidly decreasing number who could remember the beginning, or nearly the beginning, of Presbyterian worship in Invercargill. It was when forest trees were more numerous than houses in that town that the nucleus of the First Church had been formed. The early services were held in a schoolhouse within a stone's thrown of the present church in Tay street, and his now venerable friend Mr Bethune officiated when the speaker had been present there for the first time. Presbyterianism was strong from the beginning in Invercargill and the names of many would occur to the audience of those who had been the earliest stoops of the charch. Some of these had survived but others had found their resting-place in honoured graves. Under the vigorous intellect and evangelical • teaching of Mr Stobo, the First Church grew in numbers and influence and became the centre of Presbyterian organisation, and the mother of the many churches that now cover the fair face of Southland. Ten years ago Mr Stobo's failing health compelled him to lay down the pastorate, and it was thought his career of activity had closed. But the appointment of a colleague seemed often to revive the failing energy of a preacher. Twice since his coadjutor had arrived in Dunedin, the venerable Dr Stuart had preached in the speaker's hearing, and the fervour and eloquence of the discourses were worthy of the palmiest days of the doctor's ministry. And they knew that Mr Stobo, among other evidences of returning youth, was prepared again to go into harness and give his active services to the church. Long might he aid by his preaching and counsel the cause of Presbyterianism in Southland and New Zealand ! It was not, easy to believe that it was ten years since Mr Ferguson assumed the pastorate of the First Church. They certainly woidd not discover the fact from any change in his appearance. The decade had only mellowed a little his youth, and added something to his weight and . authority; and it '"would take another ten years to bring him to the meridian of hia powers. It was not for the speaker to pronounce Mr Ferguson 's panegyric. They all knew how earnestly he had laboured in the field assigned to him ; how able had been his pulpit ministrations ; and how many institutions for the spiritual and intellectual good of his people he had fostered ■ or initiated. He had been a power, on the platform on which they could always rely, and his weight was acknowledged in the Church Courts and in the discussion of every public question. Just one word might be said— and that word embraced many — that the prestige of the First Church stood at that moment as high as its warmest friends could desire, and there had never been before it so bright a prospect of usefulness and influence. Their wish and prayer would be that the bow of their pastor might abide in strength and that he might continue long to minister to an attached and people. The speaker went on to say that he had been looking back, and would like to take a single glance forward; What would the next ten years see? They would see, he was sure, long before they closed, a new First Church erected in place of the old. They would see, he hoped, a yet larger congregation filling the pews. He trusted, above all, that they would witness the declaration from the pulpit of the Old Trttthd without revision, qualification or reserve. He hoped that the Catechism and the Confession of Faith, intact, would continue the doctrinal symbols acknowledged by whatever minister and coagregation^might succeed the founders of the First Church of Inver-' cargill. The Rev. G. Lindsay said he had vei*y great pleasure in attending the tenth anniversary of Mr Ferguson's arrival in Invercargill, and he trusted that gentleman had many years before him as minister of the First Church and that great blessings would attend his labours in so large and influential a congregation. At such a time as that the question forced itself upon their minds as tb what were the aims of the Christian church, and in this connection he urged that the whole work should not be left to the ministers and office-bearers but that all should work and work together in the course of Christ and for the extension, of His kingdom. He hoped the members of the First Church congregation would rally round their parson as they had done in the past, and that the success of the last ten years would prove only an earnest of the success to come. The Rev. J. Evans (All Saints' Gladstone), tendered his very hearty thanks for the kind invitation he had received to be present, as he was almost a stranger here. He spoke of the great necessity and the many advantages to be gained from true brotherliness among Christians of all denominations, and said that if (bey could not.see their way to federate among the colonies he hoped they would, by and bye, see their way to federate among the churches. He expected to have the privilege of working in/tnis pleasant part of New Zealand — where the climate was, as he had written to a friend, not altogether too monotonous — and if 4he were fortuuate enough to be so appointed he trusted that his relations with the people would be as amicable and sympathetic as those which existed between Mr Ferguson" and his congregation. He would beyery happy if it was his fortune to work for some time with such kindly and liberal people as he had found here. The Rev. C. Griffin (St. Paul's Wesleyari Church) said he had felt almost inclined to envy the lot of a Presbyterian minister who could be connected with such a congregation as that of the First Church for ten years! They were all aware that Wesleyan ministers had to shift every three years, but h« expected there would soon,be.an,alteration in the system, and that he might have the privilege of remaining in Invercargill if not for ten perhaps for five years. He did not know much of Mr Ferguson, but he waa ahyays ready to take the evidence of public opinion, and the meeting that' evening gave testimony in favour of Mr Ferguson's being a thoroughly true and good and honesc worker for the great Master, and one who had the sympathy of the people with him. He hoped that sympathy would increase, and that their pastor's work would be even more successful than in the past. The Rev. R. Thornton (Waikiwi) said he joined most heartily in the congratulations : which, had been paid to Mr Ferguson, and ./>\ he rejoiced to hear of the prosperity which i: had attended the congregation -and the * success which had marked the labours of their two ministers After speaking of the vital importance of loyalty to Christ and the necessity for all to work in Hia cause so as to spread the Qospe^ t^ughout tb^ v

world, he concluded by again congratulating the congregation and wishing them increase :d activity and success. During the evening a number of hymns were sung by an efficient choir under Mr ]R. Erskine, Mr J. L. Watson ably ofnciatrng at the harmonium. The meeting closed with the usual religious observances.