PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19374, 24 December 1932, Page 14

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

PROGRESS IN TIMARU DISTRICT

Nothing has contributed more to the real wealth of Britain’s far-flung Empire than the fact that the colonists carried with them and established in the new lands the moral and spiritual traditions of their fathers. In common with the other Dominions, the life of New Zealand has been enriched in this way. Of the spiritual traditions that have become firmly established, Presbyterianism can well claim an honoured position. Its communicant members in New Zealand number 51,794 and 196,145 are “under pastoral care.” The type of character developed in a spiritual atmosphere so distinctive as

that of Presbyterianism must needs itself be distinctive and a writer in the Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics describes in the following way the character which is typically Presbyterian. “A certain probity, a sturdy independence, a reluctance to act except from real conviction, a stiffnecked insistence upon just dealing, and the energetic will to make the best of a given situation have characterized Presbyterian morals throughout, and have made of the Presbyterian a sound and trustworthy business man. an excellent colonist, a soldier to be feared—indeed a man to be reckoned with in any walk of life.” Whether the Presbyterian of to-day can claim these virtues is another matter. It is clear that the ideal for which their Church stands is a most exalted one. THE PRESENT POSITION OF THE CHURCH As indicated above, there are three Presbyterian Churches in Timaru— Trinity, Chalmers and St. Paul’s. The last-named possesses the distinction of having for its minister, the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, the Rev. Adam Begg. M.A.. The 'following figures indicate the combined strength of the three churches. The communicants number 1,490. The total number in some way or other associated with the three churches is well over 3,000. There are many other Presbyterians in the town who are known only to the Government, statistician who becomes aware

lof their existence once in ten years ; through the census. During the past 1 year 229 new communicants were ad- ! mitted to membership. | The churches have vigorous Youth Organisations. The Sunday schools have a roll of 623 pupils and 81 teachers. The bible classes have a roll of 299 members and 19 leaders. During the past year, the Sunday schools and bible classes contributed the sum of £177 12s. to the missionary l schemes of the Church. The total contributions to missions by the three j churches and this includes the above- | mentioned figure in the year 1931-32 ! amounted to £7BB. j The figures reveal a healthy and j vigorous church life and indicate the I existence of a keen interest in the missionary enterprise of the Church which augurs well for the future. The Presbyterian Churches, in hearty cooperation with the other churches of the town, are unceasing in their efforts for the moral and spiritual welfare of | the community, and may rightly claim that their labour has not been in

HISTORICAL The first services in Timaru were

probably given by ministers on their way from Christchurch to Dunedin, or vice versa, when they gathered a few of the early settlers together, as opportunity arose. Nothing in the way of organisation was attempted until the Rev. George Barclay, who landed in New Zealand rixty-eight years ago and who afterwards did such a wonderful work for education and the church, was ordained over the charge of South Canterbury in St. Paul’s Church, Christchurch, on March 8, 1865. This note on the first page of the Session book of the first Presbyterian Church Timaru, is of par-

ticular interest: “The Congregation first met for worship under their first minister, the Rev. George Barclay on the 19th of March 1865. the place where they assembled being the Mechanics Institute of Timaru.”

The question of a church early came up for consideration, and the congregation resolved to build a substantial one of stone on a quarter acre section, the gift of Messrs Rhodes. This church which was capable of seating 220 persons was opened for worship on July 7, 1867 by the Rev. John Hall, then of Lyttelton, but has since been pulled down to make way for the Scottish Hall. The first session contained the names of Messrs. P. W. Hutton, George Mac Knight, and A. Hart.

As the work of the extensive charge developed. Mr Barclay was settled in Temuka and Geraldine district, and succeeded in 1373 by Rev. W. R. Campbell, erdained at the first meeting of the Timaru Presbytery on September 24, and then by Rev. W. Gillies in 1875.

The present church in Barnard Street was opened by Dr. Stuart, of Dunedin, on October 15. 1876. and the name Trinity Church, used for the first time. As the town expanded, Sunday schools were opened at the church, the South School at the Parkgate, Washdyke. Waimaitaitai School, Gleniti, and a new hall built in Sandie Town in 1884, and now known as the Cullmanntown Presbyterian Sunday School in Church Street West.

Twenty-five years after the founding of the church, the communicant membership had risen from 30 to 327. Thus has the work progressed with the growing town until there are now three churches, Trinity, Chalmers, founded in 1901, and St. Paul’s, Highfield, raised to a fully sanctioned Charge in 1901.

JUDGING OTHERS. What is commonly wrong is to pasa a judgment on our fellow-creatures. Never let is be forgotten that there is scarely a single moral action of anyone of which other men can have such a knowledge, in its ultimate grounds, its surrounding incidents, and the real determining causes of its merits, as to warrant their pronouncing a conclusive judgment upon it. To accept good advice is but to increase one’s own ability. The immediately possible is hardly worth living for. It is the ideal that kindles enthusiasm, and gives inspiration and vigour to all human effort.