First Presbyterian Church

Southland Times, Issue 19194, 4 November 1903, Page 2

First Presbyterian Church

APPLICATION TO MOKKUATK IN A CALL. At tlic meeting of the Southland P'Vslijtfiy yesterday, tin- Key •) C'ijjiitiling (Moderator of First ('hurch conHH'fiuiUnij applied for permission to moderate in v cull. Messrs T M. Mil(Junald. J . Neil, J. Lennie. and .1. I-. Watson utu-ivded «« representatives of the congregation atid support the application Ihe Moderator of Presbytery (the Key .Mr Simpson; lirst cuiled on Mr T. M Macdonuld, who said that the duty of tho representatives wan to satisiy tfie Presbytery that the mind of ihu congregation hud been made Up to cull sonii'budy. and he could sniely .say lhat they hud decided in this instance uith singular unanitnity and enthusiasm, following the translation of the Ke.v .j . Clibson Smith, a large selection \\>w raittt-T.-, consisting °'* Mnpnty members, and office-hearers, was set up to make enquiries for n ■.suitable successor, 'lhis I'ouvmtttee had held v number of meetings, and had come to the conclusion, without hearing candidate^, lhat the Key Robert Ftrguson. of Devonport, Auckland, would probably suit the congregation, and had asked him to coruo to lnvercargill and preach. Xl r Ferguson preached in First Church last Sunday, and at the congregational meeting on Monday evening it was unanimously decided to request the Presbytery to i»ront moderation in a call to him. It was one of the largest meetings evef held by First Church in connection with similar business, and the matter \va» decided with remarkable spontaneity and unanimity Air Ma<;donaid having obtained leuvi< to make a suggestion to the Presbytery regarding procedure, ho pointed out that the congregation had been without a fixed minister since tho beginning of August. In the ordinary w£y of things, by the most speedy proceedings by the Presbytery, the congregation could not Aspect the new minister, if he accepted tho call, in less than six or seven weeks, when they would have been live months vacant- The First Church congregation were very unxiona to have the minister amongst them, and he now made an application that the day for moderation be fixed for Thursday, 19th inst., at the unanimous wish of tho session and congregation. Mr .1 Neil, in supporting tho application, said that he could only emphasise the astonishing unanimity shown by tho congregation in connection with the call. Their knowledge of Mr Ferguson hud been largely heursay, but when they saw him amongst the congregation, the* good they had nenrd was confirmed by tho presence of that gentleman himself llrt had so favourably impressed the people that they wished to welcome him to Invercargill us speedily as possible. Tho church had been well served by the locum lenens, ami the Moderator (Mr dimming) deserved very hearty recognition for the harmonious mauner in which ho had guided the proceedings. Mr Lennie also supported the application. There was not a whisper against it either in the committee or tne congregation. Mr Watson said that he could enly endorse the remarks /of the previous speakers. The » Rev. Mr Baird, in moving that the application bo granted, said that the unanimity prevailing was a most gratifying feature. The Rev. G. Lindsay, in seconding, hoped that the Prosoytery would sco its way to accede to tho request made by Mr Macdonald. The Moderator put the motion, and on it being carried, said thut he hud known Mr Ferguson for a good few years, and t>he> First Church congregation could not have done better. It was arranged that moderation would be given on Thursday evening, 19th inst., as requested, and tho Presbytery would hold v meeting on USrtl inst. to deal with the call ami other business. The Auckland Presbytery "Meets on December 2nd. The Rev. Hubert Ferguson is a native of Glasgow, and studied at the Glasgow University. Immediately on qualifying foi the ministry ho, accompanied by Mr> Ferguson, cam.- Mit to New Zealand, airiving in Wellington early in I W2 Tin Onehunga charge being vacant Mr Fergu ■son at once received and accepted a call there Later he was culled in Devonport, and although he has. received calls at different times to churches at Napiet and Sydney he has remained in this cliurgp up to the present. It is worth recording that Mr Ferguson was licensed to preach the. Gospel by the Hamilton UScotlaiid) Presbytery, the same- which licensed the lirst pastor of First Church, 1 the Key. A Stobo. Mr Ferguson has another sentimental connection l with First Church, in that the Rev. Gibson Smith, the late pastor, wan brought up in the church of which fMr Ferguson's uncle was minister. Wo understand that there will be no delay in complying with the prescribed formalities in connection with Mr Ferguson's translation' to lnvercargill. and that if the call is placet? in his hands, by the Auckland Preshy tery it will be accepted. In conclusion it may set some idle speculations ai rest if we slate that Mr Ferguson is not related in any way to the Key. John I'erguson, formerly of First Church, and now of St. Stephen's, Sydney.. Our Wellington correspondent wires : — " Tho Rev. Robert Ferguson., who has been given a cull to the First Church, lnvercargill. hus been described to mo as v genial " Scot." At Oovonport he hus made himself extremely popular with his parishioners, and I am told ftliat his parish work is oj«s of hin strongest and best points. As a worker among his people he is tireless and in the Sunday school he ands a wide field for his energy Only recently Sunday school pupils all over the colony made him a presentation as a token of their appreciation. Mr Ferguson draws uniformly good congregations ami the membership of the Devonport church has increased steadily since it has been under his care. The impression left on my mind after a conversation with one who knows Mr Ferguson is that he is a genial. popular man not afraid of hard work— a minister in every way suited for such a charge us the First Church.