PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Southland Times, Issue 24420, 28 April 1941, Page 10

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

DIAMOND JUBILEE AT GORE Special services in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the opening of the Presbyterian Church at Gore was held in St. Andrew’s Hall, Devon street, Gore, yesterday. The morning service was conducted by the Very Rev. J. A. Asher, of Napier, who was minister at Gore from 1890 to 1898 and in the evening the service was conducted by the Rev. J. M. Simpson, of Roslyn, Dunedin, who was minister at Gore from 1913 to 1920. There were big congregations at both services. Appropriate addresses were given to the Sunday School children at 2.30 o’clock in the afternoon by Mr W. A. McCaw, of Invercargill, at East Gore, and by Mr Joseph Hunter at St. Andrew’s Hall. Dr J. D. Salmond, of Dunedin, Youth Director of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, also addressed a young people's rally in St. Andrew’s Kindergarten Hall in the afternoon. Many visitors are attending the diamond jubilee of the church, which is being combined with the 50th anniversary of the Presbytery of Mataura. The celebrations began on Saturday with a social afternoon in St. Andrew’s Hall and they will conclude tomorrow this being the day of presbytery celebrations. A closing inspirational rally will be held tomorrow evening. The visitors include the Very Rev. J. A. Asher and Miss Asher, of Napier, the Rev. J. M. Simpson, of Dunedin, the Rev. W. G. Hannah, of Oamaru, the Rev. D. K. Fisher, of Mataura, Dr J. Salmond, Dunedin, Miss M. Salmond, Dunedin, Mrs Sullivan, Dunedin, Mr and Mrs Rawlinson, Dunedin, Mrs R. Speden, Kaka Point, Mr and Mrs J. Hutchinson, Oamaru, Mrs Tweedie, Riverton, Miss Sayers, Dunedin, Mrs Cockburn, Dunedin, Mrs Chamberlain, Paparimu and Mr and Mrs J. Hunter, Dunedin.

There was a large attendance at the social afternoon held in St. Andrew’s Hall on Saturday, when the Rev. F. B. Barton was chairman. VISITORS TO CELEBRATIONS Mr Barton, on behalf of the jubilee committee, the office-bearers and members of the church, extended a welcome to all present. He stated that some of the people had come a considerable distance and he was delighted to see them there. A list of apologies, which included greetings from members of the church and members and former members of the Presbytery of Mataura, was read by Mr Barton. One of the main ceremonies of the afternoon was the lighting of the jubilee cake, which was presented by Mr Martin. The president of the Presbyterian Womens Missionary Union (Mrs R. Mackie) was called upon to light the taper and then members representing the various decades lighted 10 candles each. The first set of candles, which represented the period 1881 to 1891, was lighted by Mrs J. Turnbull, who has been a communicant member of the church for 56 years. The other members who lighted candles were: Mrs W. McDowell, 1891-1901; Mrs James Boyne (Mrs McDonald), 1901-11; Miss Mataura Mac Gibbon, 1911-21; Mrs J. M. Watters, 1921-31: Mrs A. Gray (Mrs Sullivan), 1931-41. Mr J. Wright, the oldest male member of the church, was unable to be present, and Mr Adam Speden, the next oldest member, was called upon to extinguish the lights. The cake was then cut by Mrs F. B. Barton, wife of the present minister. A short address was then given by the moderator of the Presbytery of Mataura (the Rev. B. Bisselt) who congratulated the office-bearers and members on celebrating the diamond jubilee of their church.

Greetings from the sister churches of Gore, from fellow ministers and also sincere greetings from the Gore Baptist Church were conveyed by the president of the Gore Ministers’ Association (the Rev. L. A. Day). Mr Day said that 60 years was a long time in the life of an individual, but in the life of a church it was not so long. “We can say that this church has made proud and noble progress through years of great difficulty,” said Mr Day, “and it is leading the other churches of this town in evangelistic effort.” Mr Day paid a tribute to the work of the Rev. F. B. Barton. FORMER MINISTER Interesting reminiscences were contributed by Mr Asher. Mr Asher also related several amusing incidents which occurred during his ministry at Gore and said it was a great joy to him to be present at the diamond jubilee of the church.

Mr Hugh Smith, an old member of the church, and Mr Simpson, also spoke. Mr Robert Mackie, session clerk of the church, extended thanks on behalf of the jubilee committee and officebearers, to all those who had assisted in making the function a success. Items were given during the afternoon by Miss S. Stevenson (vocal solo) and Mrs J. Martin (vocal solo). Mrs H. H. Brown was accompanist.

On Saturday night Miss Mary Salmond, principal of the Presbyterian Women’s Training Institute, Dunedin, and former member of the St. Andrew’s congregation, addressed a large gathering of members of the Girls' Auxiliary and Presbyterian Women’s Missionary Union, in the St. Andrew’s Hall. Miss Salmond gave an interesting account of the work and aims of the institute. She was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for her interesting address.