CHALMERS CHURCH.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13904, 15 May 1909, Page 7

CHALMERS CHURCH.

CALL TO REV. MR BROWN*.

(Clutha Leader.")

At the meeting of the Clutha PresTbytery on .Friday, the Clerk explained tirat the principal business of the meeting was to deal with a call from the congregation of Chalmers Church, 'itmaru. to the Rev. W. W. Brown, of Stirling. The. necessary documents ■were put ui tu warrant tue Presbytery dealing with the call, and the Presbyterv were informed that the Rev. Mr McDonald, Messrs R. Bowie and A. Sinclair, commissioners, were prevent from Timaru to the I'resbytery. The Rev. G. Miller said that the recent accident to the Rev. W. W. Brown had put them in rather an awkVnrd predicament, bnt they would just have to proceed and try to find a wav out of the dilemma.

Rev. Mr McDonald, one of the Timaru commissioners, in addressing the i'resbytery referred feelingly to the accident to Mr Brown, expressing the hope that he would soon recover from the. effects of the shock. The call of Chalmers Church was one of considerable importance, there being a membership of over i3OO, and the stipend Ving €4OO per annum, with £'so in lieu of hon<=e. He dwelt at some length on the way in which Chalmers C'nrch had progressed, keeping pace with the progress of the town, which bade fair to become one of the most important trade centres in the colony. T'«e churc'i had bee» without .- settled minis+ r v for some time, bnt the congregation r>'id subscriptions had kent up very well. They were in need cf a voung, strong, capable, and iudicious leader such as'they believed Mr Brown to be, and all that he had heard of him convinced him (the speaker) that Mr Brown should be transplanted to the larger sphere of usefulness. Mr Bowie (Timaru). in supporting Mr McDonald, said the congregation had only heard Mr Brown once, hut they took to him instinctively. He was sure that if the call were accepted Mr Brown would have the wholehearted loyalty and support of the congregation. "The call was practically unanimous, and there was not one dis- • "ient- vii— 40l hnviw '■"•r»ed th'i. call out of i>oo merolK-rs. it being also signed by 233 adherents. They were sorry to be the possible means of taking Mr Brown away from the Stirling friends, where he- seemed .to have done such good work, but he felt that the large field afforded for Mr Brown's energies and capabilities in Timaru was a justification sufficient of the call being urged. Mr Sinclair (Timaru) said they wanted a young minister to lead a virile church, and they believed Mr Brown to be the very man for the position. Dr Stenhouse - had assured tVm that morning that he thought Mr Brown would soon recover from the effect of h ; s accident. The congregation of Chalmers Church was nnxiously awaiting the result of that day's meeting.

Bev. P. B. Frnser said Tie had presided at the statutory congregational meeting held on the previous Tuesday nfght at Stirling, and with the previous speakers lie regretted that u-ost unfortunate accident. He detailed the steps that had been taken hv fl>e Stirling friends to seek to retain Mr Brown with them. The following resolution was passed nt the congregational meeting:—" The congregation finding that there is a possibility that the Rer. W\ V. Brown will receive a call wish to express their strong desire that he should remain with them, and , .. t ;.-!,,» ti|f» go"d work. b"t shon'd the Presbytery place the call in Mr Brown's hands, and .should he consider fit to accept it tliey prayed that lijs work miglit be equally blessed in his new sphere of labour.'' The Stirling session and congregation had exhibited :i verv handsome spirit in the whole matter. Naturally when they heard of the call they were dismayed and disappointed, not that they had any grievance, but that there should be a prospect of losing their minister whom they had come to love. He had been singularly successful there, and there had been no minister in any charge who has heen more successful in the dominion that he. and without resorting to any of the those arts which might give temporary success. .'■ For myself," continued the speaker, '• I feel sorry to lose Mr Brown as a neighbour and out of the Presbytery. ! ut" at the same tii»e I am glad and proud that he should be called to a church of the prominence of Chalmers Church, and that a congregation should take a colonial, and not go abroad to find a minister to ~HII the appointment." Mr Smaill joined in the general expression of regret at Mr Brown's accident. He could only support the motion the Rev. -Mr Fraser had read: it expressed the feeling of the con-

gregation. Mr MTvinlev spoke of Mr Brown's work among the young people. There bad died out that feeling of opposition to religion that so many of our voting people had manifested. Tf Mr Brown were to accept the call they would endeavour with the best of grace to acre"' the situation.

Mr Thos. Parker said that if Mr Brown wont Stirling would expi>rio"<P ;i true sorrow and a truo joy. Tlip pneakor felt that hi< voire was hv the knowledge that it rested with the : r minister himself to decide. "Rev. 0. Miller explained that the Jlev. ?. W. Ciirrie and he had called

on Mr Brown that morning, hut ho appeared to bo in a very unstrung condition, and it was felt that it would In- bettor to defer the matter until Mr Brown was in. :i lit condition to speak his mind.

Rev. .I*. B. Fraser moved—"That the Presbytery heard with regret that Mr Brown within the last few days had met with an accident which prevented his attendance at the Presbytery meeting tiiat day, and that further dialing with the case should be postponed until Mr Brown was sufficiently recovered to indicate his mind in the matter." He felt, he said, that MiBrown hesitated to accept the call knowing that Timaru required an ableh:>died man, and he seemed'to fear that he could not stand the strain.

The Rev. Sir. Dalrymple seconded the proposal. Mr McDonald said that it was evidently Mr Brown's intention to accept the call before the accident happened, and that should be borne in mind, and lie had so expressed his mind to them, the commissioners from Timaru. Mr Bowie referred in appreciative terms to the generous way in which the Stirling people had acted in the matter, and said they had no desire that Mr Brown should overtax himself. They would give him every opportunity to recruit that he desired. Mr Sinclair assured the Presbytery that their people would help him in tvery way which lay in their power, and even after the three months.would case the burden of the church off his shoulders in every way they saw possible.

Rev. Mr Orr said, that the Preshvtery was not in a position to accede to the request of the friends from Timaru, because the Presbytery had not the acceptance of Mr Brown before them.

The motion of the Rev. P. B. Fraser was then put to the Presbytery, and carried.

The Rev. Mr Miller said the Prosbvtery were extremely sorry that the Timaru commissioners had been put to so much trouble, but the I'resbytery would do its very best to have arrangements made a« soon "s r>assi*»l". A vote of sympathy with the Rev. W. W. Brown was passed by the Presbvtcrv.