THE TERCENTENARY OF JOHN KNOX.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1480, 25 November 1872, Page 2

THE TERCENTENARY OF JOHN KNOX.

In commemoration of the tercentenary of the death of John Knox, the Scottish Reformer, the Rev. O. Fraser preached a sernion on lessons from his character and history at St. Andrew's Church lust night. There was a large congregation, and Lho sermon was very attentively listened to. The Rev. gentleman selected his text from II Kings, chapter ii, Terse ix — "Ipraytheo let me have a double portion of thy spirit." He first showed that the double portion of Knox's spirit led to the gentle, the equally firm and consistent life of Elisba, and then gave a brief account of the leading incidents in the life of the Reformer. He dwelt at length upon some of the points that had been considered objectionable in his character and history, as the charge of complicity m the murder of Cardinal Beatoun ; of severity in his intercourse with Queen Mary ; of sternness in his general manner and conduct j vindicating him from each charge. The Rev. gentleman then gave illustrations in proof of his genial disposition and sense of humour, following it up by showing the great political influence he had exerted in a period when politics were essentially religious. In support of this, ho quoted the testimony of Thomas Carlyle and that of Froude, his historian, the latter of whom asserted that the preservation of Protestantism, and so of civil and religious i liberty in Europe was owing chiefly under God, to two men — to Queen Elizabeth's Chief Secretary, Lord Burleigh, and to John Enox, the Scotch reformer. The general scheme of Kuox's policy by which he proposed to devote all the land of the old church to the maintenance of the poor, the establishment of schools — grammar schools and universities — and the support of the ministers of the gospel was also dotailed by Mr Fraser, who said, if the extent and permanence of a man's influence upon his fellow men, was a true test of intellectual and moral power tow men indeed could be ranked as the equal to John Enox, for he had stamped his own character upon the people and institutions of Scotland to such a degree that to this day nine-tenths of the population held his views, and held them in the very style of which he had given the example, and yet his life had been one long hard weary battle. He had to contend with the ignorance and grasping greed of the aristocracy who laid violent hands upon the land which Knox claimed for the people. None of his schemes had been fully carried out, and yet political economists could look to few quarters for better illustrations of what was needed to promote the true welfare of .the people. Especially in the exigencies of colonial life would hi 3 example bo found of use, but it would not be necessary to carry out the same strong resolute measures. And there was indeed a danger of men thinking that they imitated John Enox, when they afforded only a coarse parody of his constaucy and perseverance. The man who laya the foundation may have rough work to do, but those who rear the superstructure can add elegance and grace, without giving any weakness to the building. The preacher pointed out some instances of similarity between Elijah, the prophet of Israel, and John Enox, whom he characterised as the Elijah of modem history. The sermon was then closed with an appeal to the congregation to be true to the principles and earnest m the work of. the reformer.