Rev. J. a Smith's New Charge.

Southland Times, Issue 19134, 26 August 1903, Page 2

Rev. J. a Smith's New Charge.

• — /v •;-■ ■ •-■ : INDUCTION CEREMONY. N By Telegraph. Z (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 25. This evening a goodly number of . the congregation of St. Andrews assembled to witness the induction of their r.ew minister, the Rev. J. Gibson Smith. The special service was conducted by the Rev R. Wood, of Masterton, Moderator. The service opened with the singing of the hymn '■' 'We love the place of God, wherein Thine Honour dwells." Tbe Moderator next preached. There were three points in the text he invited them to study s First, the fact of Christ's love : secondly, the point of Christ's love :: and, thirdly, the praise of Christ's love. In the word " love," as a wise teacher of our time pointed out, there was a trinity of virtues. There was self-affirmation. He affirmed His holiness. His justice, His truth. Wherever there was pure love there was giving. God, by sympathy, lived in men s lives, found pain in their pain, joy in their joy. Having dweit on the different points of his text in an eloquent sermon, the preacher concluded by expressing the hope that the church i in which they were assembled might be a great .workshop wherein character would be made clean und new by tho blood of Christ. The usual interrogatories were then put to tho new pastor,, who answered them in' a low tone ol voice. The Moderator received tho hand of fellowship from Mr Smith, who extended it in turn to each member of the Presbytery. The Rev. J. Kennedy Eliott, in delivering his charge to the new minister, complimented and congratulated him on his appointment to the city ajid as minister of St. Andrew's* cqngregation. it was a reward for ndelity. The Great, Captain under whom he served bad now promoted him to another post in tha field, where Mr Smith ; wOuld find the battle a little keen and the conditions, somewhat more difficult, but he exhorted, him not to be discouraged, because -the prospects were good. Owing to the farseeing sagacity of his predecessor that beautiful edifice, with a substantial endowment attached, had been placed ' in an end of the city where Presbyterianism was not so strongly in evidence before. j Wellington, in the near future, wa9 going to be a great city. In euch a condition of things, a man of their new clergyman's popularity and ability was certain to have a large congregation. If tho minister succeeded in bringing peace to the guilty, disparaged, distracted, agonised soul throughout all ages of eternity the indebtedness for that good work would be a centre of gracious influence and a happy recollection to the minister. He impressed on Mr Smith the importance of being careful about his health, and observed .-that -the pastor required not only one day's rest in seven, the same as other men, but his cougregution should see also that he had an extended holiday once a year. The- importance of prayer, study, evangelical preaching, pastoral visitation, and of abstaining from the pursuit of worldly wealth or political strife were also emphasised. The speaker concluded by welcoming Mr Smith most heartily. --- ,; The Rev. A. Thomson, : impressed c on them the necessity of attending chuich regularly, of supporting their minister : w{th their 'prayers,' their sympathy .and the means wherewith God had blest them. The office-bearers would also be i willing co-workers. •■ The benediction having been imparted by the Moderator, tbe service ended.'