DIAMOND JUBILEE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20064, 22 March 1935, Page 4

DIAMOND JUBILEE

TIMARU PRESBYTERY CELEBRATION ON MONDAY In connection with the Diamond Jubilee of the Presbytery of Timaru, to be celebrated on Monday next, it is interesting to survey the growth of Presbyterianism in South Canterbury, because the work for which the Presbytery stands has had no small part | in fostering what is best in the life of the community. A little more than 14 years after the arrival of the. first four ships at Lyttelton with that band of settlers that came to found a settlement in the Canterbury province, the Presbytery of Canterbury recognised that the time had arrived to set apart a minister for Timaru and the surrounding district. The choice fell upon the Rev. George Barclay, a man of Irish extraction, who had received his scholastic training in London. He had gifts that fitted him to do important service in a young and growing community, -and fortunately his steps were turned to New Zealan’d because of his state of health. He was ordained and inducted on March 8, 1865, in St. Paul’s, Christchurch, to a charge, which, as he used to say himself, “was bounded by the Rangitata River on the north; by the Waitaki on the south, by the Pacific Ocean on the east, and by the Southern Alps on the west.” John Dickson, who wrote “The History of the Presbyterian Church in New Zealand” in 1899, describes him as “the father of South Canterbury’s educational system” as well as of its Presbyterianism, and says his name is a household word in South Canterbury. “He has probably left deeper works, ecclesiastical, educational and social, on the history of its early days than any person now living or dead.” This pioneer minister was, it seems, the man sent from God for the important work of gripping the community and helping to lay the foundations where strength was essential. With the growth of population a second charge soon became fiecessary, and, Mr Barclay having elected to minister to the district north of Timaru—Geraldine, Temuka, ' etc.—Rev. William R. Campbell, who had just arrived from Scotland, was chosen to succeed him in Timaru, where he remained for a year, and then went to the great work of his life in the. pastoral country of Amuri, North Can- 1 terbury. Presbytery Constituted The date of Mr Campbell’s induction at Timaru —September 24, 1873—was the earliest possible moment at which a Presbytery could be brought into being in South Canterbury, and the Presbytery of Canterbury, deeming it important for the well-being of this district that there should be no delay, sent Rev. W. McGowan, of Lyttelton, to join with Mr Barclay and local elders in the ordination of Mr Campbell, and at the same time to take part in the constitution of the new Presbytery, which from that date has been responsible for the work of the Presbyterian Church in South Canterbury. The original members of the Presbytery were Rev. George Barclay, Rev. W. R. Campbell, Mr A. Hart, elder from Timaru Session, and Mr Wm. Stewart, elder from Temuka Session.. Next in order of settlement was the Waimate charge, where foundation work was done for about two years by the Rev. R. Ewen, who afterwards did yeoman service in Limestone Plains,

Southland. After his departure Mr George Lindsay, a student from Dunedin, laboured in Waimate. He was the first student licensed by the Timaru Presbytery and was ordained and inducted as the first settled minister of Waimate on February 5, 1876. To the north of Timaru, the next step was the division of the Temuka charge. Geraldine was disjoined from It on May 1, 1879, and along with Mackenzie Country was erected- into a separate charge with the Rev. George Barclay as its minister, his manse having been in the Geraldine end of his parish from the time of his transference from Timaru. The same year witnessed the inauguration of the Pleasant Point charge by the induction there of Rev. A. Alexander on July 22. In 1881 the needs of the country between Waimate and Timaru called for the Presbytery’s consideration, and the St. Andrews charge came into being with the indaction of Rev. Joshua Mclntosh on August 9. Mackenzie Country along with Albury was the next parish to be settled. The first minister was the Rev.' James I. Clarke, who was ordained and inducted at Fail-lie Creek on January 27, 1891. and who spent the closing years of his ministry in the Waimate charge. Next in order came the Waitaki charge now known as Morven. It was disjoined from Waimate and the Rev. G. K. Stowell commenced to work there in February, 1897. Chalmers Church Comes Into Being The second charge in Timaru—that of Chalmers Church —came into being through the desire of many, after the resignation of the Rev. Wm. Gillies, to have the Rev. Robert Jackson as their minister. He was inducted on May 15, 1902. Chalmers has been a large congregation from the very first and ranks in membership next to Knox Church and First Church in Dunedin. In 1909 the Albury charge was formed between Fairlie and Pleasant Point, and the Rev. Peter Wilson was inducted as its first minister on August 4. In August 1914, the outfields of Geraldine and Temuka Peel Forest, Arundel, Rangitata, Orari, Orton and Clandeboye were formed into a Home Mission Station and worked from Orari as a centre. The following year the outfields of Waimate were constituted a charge and called as their first minister the Rev. W. Fairlie Evans, who was inducted on October 6. Last of all the outfields of Chalmers Church with Highfield as a centre were erected into a sanctioned charge under the name of Highfield, and in later years St. Paul’s. The Rev. A. Begg was inducted on February 21, 1918. Statistics The Presbytery has now the oversight of eleven charges and two Home Mission stations. The communicants number 3005. The attendance at public worship is 4225. The Sunday School scholars total 1752, with a teaching staff of 210, while the number of young people in the Bible Classes is 667 The gross revenue of the congregations within the bounds for 1932 (the last year for which there are complete returns) was £8617, of which amount £1546 went to missions and Other benevolent work outside the various congregations. The following have done service in the office of Presbytery Clerk:—Rev. W R Campbell (1873—74), Rev. Wm. Gillies (1875—1891), Rev. A. Bruce Todd (1891—1914), Rev. George King (1914 18. Rev. T. Stinson acted during Mr King’s absence on war service). Rev A Begg (1918—31), and the present Clerk, Rev. W. F. Nichol (1931—). Among the students whom the Timaru Presbytery has had the privilege of sending into the work of the min-

istry are John Mackenzie, M.A.. D.D., R. McCully, John Davie, E. J. Tippler, 8.A., J. McMaster 8.A., L. McMaster B. R. S. Keenan and R. Byers M.A. Another is a probationer of the church and there are at present six students in training in Dunedin. Missionary Work As for the missionary work of the church, Sister Flora represents Timaru Presbytery among the Maoris and Miss Cone spent some years in the same work; the late Mr J. W. Mansfield did important service in the New Hebrides; and Miss Ogilvie, an honoured worker in Canton, was a member of the Highfield congregation when she offered herself and was accepted by the Foreign Missions Committee. The Timaru Presbytery shares in the important work that is being carried out to-day for children whose welfare has a special claim upon the church and the community. In the Presbyterian Children’s Home in North Street, Timaru, which was founded in November. 1918. there are at present 18 boys and girls, and the committee has a responsibility for seven of the older boys, who hava been sent to the Christchurch Home. Of the ministers who have served in South Canterbury the following have occupied the position of Moderator of the General Assembly:—Revs. G. Barclay, W. Gillies. G. Lindsay, W. J. Comrie and A. Begg. List of Ministers The following is a list of the ministers who have occupied the various charges in South Canterbury from the beginning to the present day:— Albury—Peter Wilson (1909—14). J. C. Paterson, M.A. (1914 —17); J. B, Hall (1917—24): A. Alexander <1924 31); J. Mann (1932—). Geraldine—George Barclay (1879 89)" A. Bruce Todd. B.A. (1890 —1914'; C. J. Tocker (1915—19); J. D. C. Madill M. (1920—28); W. J. CouHng (1928—). Mackenzie County—James I. Clarke (1891—94); W. J. Comrie (1894—99); I H. K. Lawrie (1899—1902); W. .G. Black, M.A., LLD. (1902—12); J. Cfaig (1912—17); A. C. W. Standage, M.A. (1917—23); C. J. Wilcox (1923—30); J. Fordyee (1930 —). Morven—G. K. Stowell (1897 —1900); John Watt (1901 —03); R. Dickie (1903 —22); F. R. Charmah (1923 —29) j J. Tennent < 1929 —). Pleasant Point—A. Alexander (1879 —80); D. McLennan (1880— W. White, M.A. (1885—1890); Joseph White (1892—1908); George King (1909 —18); J. T. Gunn (1919); G. D. Fal- , coner (1920—26); W. McNeur <l92§r-)-St. Andrews —Joshua Mclntosh (1881 —83); Robert Mackie (1897 —1901); H. ■ K. Lawrie (1902—03); J. H. G. ChSjfcle (1903—10); F. R. Jeffreys ( 1911t5» T. N. Cuttle (1914—17); F. J. XJBtier (1918—23); A. McNeur (1924—29>J ,D. N. Pryor (1930—33). fcs Temuka—George Barclay (1872—TO); ■ 'David Gordon (1880—84); Eneas ,MSc- : kintcsh (1885—86); John Dickson£3tA. ■ (1887—1S02); C. McDonald 'l9o3^B'; I H. R. Fell, M.A.. B.D. (1923—3lffcC. : A. Kennedy (1930 —). SX Timaru’ Chalmers —R- Jacksong]lWo2 ; —08); A. M. Caldwell (1909 —143k* E. R. Harries (1914—20); P G. Hughes, > B.A. (1921—33); E. L. Williams,'BA. : G 933-). ;£ l Timaru. St. Paul’s—A. Begg, »A. 1 (1918—33); James Bail'd. B.A. (l*3f» ). Timaru. Trinity George Hagav U 865—72); W. R. Campbell <18714238 ‘ , William Gillies (1875—1901); T.' SOu- . son, B.A. (1902—28); A. J. H. JJgw. . 8.A.. B.D. (1928—). TA Waihao Valley—W Fairlie Evas ; (1915—16); J C Harkness (1929^*1); - J. B. Kirk (1930). Waimate —George Lindsay tteff - ■ 1882); James McKee (1882—92)] Htagh . Kelly. B.A. (1893—98): A. S. Morrison. . M.A. (1899—1917); J. I. Clarke ,(ISl£ > j 19); J. D Wilson (1919—26); f W.’ F. ■ | Nichol (1926—). J 4