SEVENTY YEARS ON

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20067, 26 March 1935, Page 11

SEVENTY YEARS ON

TRINITY CHURCH ANNIVERSARY

CELEBRATIONS HELD The seventieth anniversary of Trinity Church and the diamond jubilee of Tjmaru Presbytery were celebrated at a joint function held in the Church last night. There was a large attendance of parishioners, over whom the Rev. A. J. H. Dow presided, having associated with him the Rt. Rev. J. Dickie (Moderator of the General Assembly), and the Rev. W. J. Couling (Moderator of the Timaru Presbytery). At the outset, Mr Dow expressed gratification at the celebration of the seventieth anniversary of the beginning of Presbyterianism in South Canterbury. They were building up the Church of Christ and were thinking of those who had done their work well and had gone to their reward. While remembering them in mind they should also remember them in action, and he asked the gathering to stand in respectful silence in memory of the pioneers of the Church. In a review of the early history of the Church Mr Dow said that the first service had been held in the Mechanics Institute in North Street, in 1865. and the building was still standing. Previous to that, however, services had been held whenever a minister had been passing through Timaru. The first minister had been the Rev. George Barclay, of whom some probably had dear memories. After him had come the Rev. W. R. Campbell, and. looking through the early records of the Church. Mr Dow said he had found a passage which said that when the induction of the new minister was to be held no fewer than 20 telegrams had been sent north and south to get enough ministers together to hold the service. The next minister was the Rev. William Gillies and when he came he had been one of the most stalwart leaders the Church had had. “I feel I am altogether too unworthy to make any mention of the work for this Church of the Rev. Thomas Stinson,” said Mr Dow. It was just seven years since Mr Stinson had retired from his ministry in Timaru and there were many who would look back with joy on the ministry of one of the finest ministers the Old Land had sent. “He was generous and kind, and I don’t think any congregation has had more devoted service than Trinity has had from Mr Stinson.”

Mr Dow then read a letter from Mrs Stinson apologising from Mr Stinson’s absence on account of his physical condition and extending best wishes for the celebration of the jubilee. At Mr Dow’s suggestion the gathering decided to send a message to Mr and Mrs Stinson at Peel Forest.

Dr. Dickie prefaced his remarks by expressing regret at the absence of Mr Stinson, stating that it was just 20 years since he had first enjoyed Mr Stinson’s hospitalitv at Trinity Manse. As principal of Theological Hall he* looked upon Trinity Church with affection. for so many men had come to the Hall from Timaru. Presbyterianism had a great and glorious history and probably the best days were still to come. Undoubtedly the most important events in Presbyterian history during the last 70 years were the two unions, and those who came from Scotland would be glad to know that everything went well at Home. In conclusion. Dr. Dickie expressed a hope that the Gospel would continue to be preached from the pulpit of Trinity Church, and that the congregation would enjoy the benefits of Mr Dow’s able ministry. Presbytery’s Greetings The greetings of the Timaru Presbytery were conveyed by the Moderator (the Rev. W. J. Couling who said that his Presbytery rejoiced that the Church had reached the venerable age of three score years and ten. He congratulated them on their wonderful record and said that the Church held an honoured place in the community due to the able men who had occupied the pulpit in the past, and to the able man who now occupied it, Mr Gow. In calling on the Mayor to address the gathering, Mr Dow said that in Mr Satterthwaite the ministers had a man who was sympathetic to the churches and whose support they greatly appreciated. Tribute to Mr Dow Mr Satterthwaite thanked Mr Dow for his remarks and said that so far as he was concerned, Mr Dow and all the ministers in Timaru could depend on all the support he could give them for the welfare of the town. The Mayor congratulated Trinity Church on attaining its seventieth anniversary and the Presbytery on reaching its diamond jubilee. “I feel that in the present occupant of your pulpit you have a beloved minister and we have a worthy citizen,” said the Mayor, who added that Mr Dow not only did his work in the Church but also devoted a good deal of his time to the affairs of the town. Referring to the pioneer days of the Rev. George Barclay, the Mayor said that when his parents arrived at Timaru by surf boat his father had gone to Geraldine, and all the time he was there he had been superintendent of the Geraldine Sunday School. Mr Barclay had been minister there at the time, and it had been the speaker’s privilege to drive him round the district as the minister was then blind. As Mr Barclay was the founder of Presbyterianism in South Canterbury, he (the Mayor) was proud to have been associated with him, although at the time he was only a boy. The Mayor said that he was pleased to see that the Presbyterian Church had made such progress in South Canterbury, and on behalf of the citizens of Timaru he expressed a hope that they would do as well in the future as they had done in the past. Interesting Reminiscences A reminiscent note was struck by the Rev. Adam Begg, who, after referring to the excellent work which was being done at the Presbytery’s two mission charges by the Rev. Hodgson (St. Andrews) and the Rev. Reid (Orari), said that in the early days in New Zealand the Scots were well to the fore, the first minister in Canterbury having been the Rev. Charles Fraser, who had taken up his ministry in 1856. In 1865 the work of the Church had been started in South Canterbury by a man from the Emerald Isle who went to England to complete his scholastic career, George Barclay. So it would be seen that England, Ireland and Scotland had all had a part in laying the foundation of the Church in South Canterbury. The Presbytery of Timaru 6tood tenth on the list in point of age in New Zealand. Important Works During the years Trinity had had a part in three matters of importance to the Church. First came the care of children; second the sending of men to the work of the ministry. This year was a record one for the Church, for 18 new students had entered the Theological Hall at Dunedin, and of those Timaru had sent three. One of the greatest of South Canterbury’s students had been John McKenzie, and all had been sorry when he accepted a call to Melbourne. He was

now the Moderator of their General Assembly and had been given the honour of a Doctorate of the University of Edinburgh. The third work Was the sending of men to work in the Church’s missionary fields. So far they had provided 37 for foreign missions and 32 for work among the Maoris. “Our Church stands for equality among our Church workers and expects equality of service and devotion from all,” he concluded. Another Jubilee The fact that Methodism had been established in Timaru only a few months after Presbyterianism was mentioned by the Rev. J. D. McArthur, who conveyed the congratulations of the Methodists of South Canterbury, and also of the Timaru Ministers’ Association, of which he is president. He said that the Methodists had actually shared the same building, the Mechanics’ Institute, with the!'Presbyterians in the early days, and their jubilee occurred about Easter time, but was being postponed until July, when it would be fittingly celebrated. The thanks of the congregation to all who had assisted in the celebration of the anniversady were conveyed by Mr C. D. Gibson, whose remarks were endorsed by Mr W. Thomas. During the evening solos were sung by Messrs C. Goulding and A. J. Wheeler, and the anthems “Praise the Lord” and “The Heavens are Telling” were given by the choir, Mr David Blair presiding at the organ. At the conclusion of the function, supper was dispensed in Trinity Hall by the ladies.