CHALMERS CHURCH.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 14056, 13 November 1909, Page 3

CHALMERS CHURCH.

INDUCTION 01-' XKW MINISTKR

There was :i good representation of tin: Chalmers congregation present at the ceremony of tne induction of the new minister, Rev. Macaulay Caldwell, last evening. Rev. P. Wilson, ol Albury, acted as moderator, conducted the service, and preached an interesting sermon on perseverance in faith and works, from the example of St. Paul. Rev. C. Macdonald, of Teniuka, who has been Moderator of the congregation, made a statement recalling events which had caused and led up to the present ceremony; the resignation of Rev. R. Jackson (to whose work and lor his death appreciative and regretluL tributes were paid); the hearing of candidates and the call to the Rev. MiBrown of Stirling; the latters accident, which prevented him from accepting the call; the second hearing, and the call to Mr Caldwell, which was now being brought to a Inippv consummation. Rev. .Air Wilson put " the questions '" to the candidate, and these being answered as required, declared Mr Caldwell duly inducted. Kev. A. P. Morrison addressed the minister, on the importance of his duties, the key-note of his address boin-r, ''luagniiy your office." The address dealt in a thoroughly serious manner with the various forms of ministerial duty to the congregation as a whole, a i n ~i i s " uliviclllal members, and concluded with a solemn invocation to the sacred performance of duty. Rev. C. Macdonald addressed the congregation, dealing with practical points m a commonsense way In urging regular attendance at 'church he remarked that they had heard so many candidates that they must now ue skiltu "sermon-testers"; but he advised them to put aside the critical attitude and try to get good for themselves out of every sermon. Ho. urued the congregation to help their minister in every possible way; and on the other hand not to expect too much from him. as however good a minister he was not; omniscient or übiquitous. He suggested ... regard to "visiting" the adoption of the ,-,il« that tJif minister .should not visit anyone who was not either verv or very wicked. (Laughter) Finally he urged the people Io be proud of their Church, and Wo t as nrominent spiritually as it ' was architecturally, its spiro ~e l - „ landmark for miles around, . Im l the first thing the visitor saw on .'.npc.arhmg Timaru.

THE SOCIAL. At 8 run. the congregation :w)j„ IMI .- *d to tlio Assembly- Rooms who- ( . ~ "we social meeting c:.s held The hall proved too small to nv.-ornin.,.••><« everyone comfortably and n <»«• l,ft early. The ministerial r.ismb--:-<; of the Presbytery occupied seats on the -i-'-.t----form, and the new minister nre-sii.'c-l in a manner that gavo confid'nee in him.

In an opening address Mr fl;,iMi«.-pll expressed gratitude for the ••ntlrisiastic welcome he had received, an 1 for the kindly interest shown in hiri and Ins. The nature ot" his reception lad given him great hope *'ur a .iii'Yess. ill future and happy rela'.ixis wth his people. In his former i-'iargas he happened to be appointed to voak chrrches, and he had tiifm. Hero he came to a strong church and he had an idea that it v/as more d'iricult to maintain one that hau reathed a high degree of prosperity than to build up a depressed church. Yet with the kindly cooperation aud syr..pathy of the congregation lie hoped to be able to maintain it. Ite wished to say that he took up the position ot maintaining the old gospel and u would be his aim to make it i}.t->. esting and instructive, and as inspiring as (Kissible. He hoped that the liberality which had ch.ir.ur, jr.sed Chalmers Church in the past, woLld be continued unabated, so hint all branches of work could he carried on unhampered by financial cares. He came here also, to be not only minister of Chalmers, but as a citizen of Timaru. Ho wished to take his place as such from time to time, and do what lay in his power to further the interests of the town. He loked forward with pleasure, he added, to iM-ing associated with his brother ministers, and especially with Air Stinson, his brother of Trinity, in all good works. (Mr Caldwell was frequently applauded.)

.Short addresses on various topics were given by several of the ministers present (including Rev. J. G. Chappie, who had not attended the Presbytery meeting). PRESENTATIONS.

Alter reiresmnems lia<l been h.ui'Jeu round and partaKun oi, two pi\seiiluilous Were i.iutic, CiiUi i,i«U...i ;i tiuou cieal ol interest. .ur ii. tx. jjiiwit, session clerk, presented lo UU.' lli'v. V.-. Jla,i.i.iwiu i'

purse oi su\ ereijyis, lit t./Keii ol tlu appreciation ol uic session oi tin- n .t.\ IK: nau. ivurkid lor uie uuring the long vacancy. in accepting ana returning thanks for the iiresentMr Maedonakl .said Air Aiowie outfit to Have said •■halvers! for lie had done the lion's share ol the work. He thanked tho deacons and elders for the harmonious way ihey had worked together. .Mr George T'eunant, on behalf of the office-bearers and congregation, said they had said "halvers" and in their name, and with a eulogium of his services, he presented to Mr Bowis three handsome pieces of silver plate—a soup tureen and two entree dishes—the first suitably inscribed. Mr bowie had previously said that he was at a loss to find words to make the presentation to Rev. Mr Maedonald and lie was now in a very much worse case in that regard. However, he briefly thanked them for their appreciation, and their handsome tiresent. Revs. W. Ha umber, A. E. Hunt. .1. Olphert. T. C. Ciirnow, A. S. Morrison, and S. Buchanan, on behalf of their respective clum-hes, in turn nscended the platform, and welcomed Mr Caldwell and congratulated the congiogation on the settlement. Mr Caldwell thanked them for the kindlv in-

terost shown on th; 1 ; occasion, anil said ho hoped that now he had become a follow citizen lie would lie found cooperating with his brother ministers in the. work of the blaster. The meeting, in which sneeches were interspersed with songs and recitations, was closed just before* 11 p.m. with the Benediction.