RIVERTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Western Star, Issue 261, 7 September 1878, Page 5

RIVERTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

OLIDIXATION—INDUCTIOS SERYICES. A ceremony of greed; interest took place in the Presbyterian Church on Thursday—the ordination of the Rev James Cameron, M.A., to the ministry and ids induction to the Riverton parish. The event has been looked forward to with great interest for some time past, and but for the’unfortunate circumstance that the weathe, was most severe, a much larger number would have been present at tiie ordination service. The Presbytery of Southland met in the church at. 2.30 p.in. There were present: Revs Mr Davifcfeon, Moderator (filal.auia), Mr Patterson (Invercargill), Mr Stevens (Wallaeefcown), Mr Ewing (lamestone Plains and Wainu). The Rev Mr JO wing preached an appropriate and impressive discourse from I John, v—2, “ And this is the record, that God hath given to ns eternal life ; and this life is His Hon.” Mr Ewing then narrated the stops that nad been taken in the matter, and put to Mr Cameron the questions appointed to be put to probationers at their ordination. Mr Cameron was then solemnly set apart and ordained by prayer and laying of hands by the Presbytery to be the pastor of the congregation, and received the right hand of fellowship from the other members of Presbytery, Thereafter Mr Davidson addressed the newly-ordained minister and the congregation on their respective duties, and stated that the congregation as they retired would here an opportunity of welcoming their minister. After the close of the service the Presbytery met, and Messrs Fullarton and Jas. Gumming were appointed assessors to Air Ewing to enable him to form a session.

THE SOIREE. This was held in the Oddfellows’ Hall and may be chronicled as one of the most, successful—if not the most successful soiree that has taken p ace in Riverton, aud as such it must be highly gratifying to the Rev. Mr Cameron, as shewing the great interest and satisfaction with which the event of the day was regarded. The weather was most unsuitable, a fierce gale raging the wholeday, with alternate showers of rain and hail, Matters did not mend in the evening, and it was difficult at times to hoar the speakers owin'* to the noise made by the hailstorms. Notwithstanding these circumstances, there were over <IOO people present. The attendance of people from the country was very large, and included representatives from Grummio’s Rush, Groper’s Rush. Limestone 'Plains, Jflint’s Lush, &c. Mr D. Bolvine wes the caterer for the edibles, and we are only giving vent to a remark frequently made that lie provided a most creditable “ spread,” which was dispensed by the ladies of the congregation with unsparing hand. About an hour and a ball" was consumed in this social manner, when “each for each ithor kindly spoored.” During (he deliver}' of the addresses, great annoyance was frequently experienced by the noise of children—particularly iu the gallery and about the door, and notwithstanding the chairman’s remonstrance on several occasions, died- rude auduoisy conduct was persisted in, ami several of (.lie speeches w.-u-o lost to a great portion of the audience through this cause. At intervals t.lie choir of the church rendered a. choice scle -lion of sacred music, and i ney w, a ue.-.-nva 1,1.3 hear!,, vote of thanks accorded Ij.cm at ttie close of the proceedings. Alter every one had been satisfied with the good things placed hr fore them, the Ui‘airmail called upon the choir for a hymn , after which The Chairman said he hoped all present w'.-ul 1 enjoy themselves heartih, and with profit. The

1 event of the day was of a nature which deeply . impressed him, and ho felt in no humour to | make a'a ctions speed!. Tie was pleased to see so many happy faces before him, and ho wished i he cmild always see them so happy, and that they : would carry the same expression through life. lie would be glad to see them have tho same I look to {heir neighbors as they bad that night. : -lie had a very high opinion of the people of Riverton and tho district; they had a kind hearty lecling, and were full of sympathy. Ho looked upon himself as married to iris congregation, and hoped the same relation would exist between himself and his congregation as that which existed

he! ween a man and Ins wife ; and. while he thought ho had the best wile in the wo: Id, lie wished tho congregation (o think (bey had a good husband, although ho himself did not think so. Ho had only b'” 1 ’i a sliort time in the distiiet. an..] lie believed limy would get on well together when they know each other better. .Is showing the '•steem in which the congregation was hold by a former pastor of the church ho read an extract from a. letter he bad received from tho Rev. Mr Ross, apologising for his inability to bo present at tho mooting on account of ill-health. The extract read as follows : ' 1 am quite sure that yon will not find a congregation in all fie face of the land so full of sympathy and kindn ss of heart, and possessed of such high-toned thought and Christian feeling.” That (Mr Cameron continued) was a character to ho proud of, and lie was thankful to Mr Ross for the expression of his good opinion. Mr Cameron sat down after wishing that God would bless them ail, and that they would enjoy themsslves.

The Rev. Mr JEwen congral ulated Mr Cameron on Ins settlement at River: on, and was glad that lie was favoiably impressed with the town and district. The congregation was also to be congratulate! upon having secured Mr Cameron for a, pastor. After some humorous remarks at the expense of Mr Cameron, and an assurance that lie could not make a soiree speech, Mr Ewen enjoined regular attendance at church. For bis own part lie could not imagine where all the people of Riverton went to on Sunday, and considered it would be easy to more than GU the present church, and then a new one would ho built which was very much needed. He wished success to the ministry just begun.

The Rev. T. fi. Ash next addressed the meeting. He was glad they had at last got a clergyman settled amongst them. For his own part he loved all men who spoke but broken English and stood upon a barrel and preached Christ crucified. The rev. gentleman facetiously claimed to be a Scotchman, on the ground that a very distant relative of his was of nationality ; he had visited E linburgh an 1 conversed with some of the theological giants with which the city abounds. -In his young cays, if a Church of England Minister was seen conversing with one of any other denomination, it was said ho was going over to the Chinch of Romo or somewhere else. There was great talk about unity in regard-, to religions matters, bu‘ tl.e speaker drew a happy illustration from an array which as a whole would do battle for the king ; but he pointed out that that, army was composed of many different arms—artillery, rillos, horses, &c., and.even the uniform differed gnatly. At one time he was led to believe Roman Catholics the worst people in the world, hut he had been in live or six count ries ruled by this body and he had learned to think differently of thorn. If such people had a-little light lie did not believe in depriving them of it; if they only possessed a rush light he would not take that from them unless ho could give them a greater. Ho was no dostructinnist, and recommended travelling to rub clown people’s prejudices. The Rev. Mr Patterson gave a characteristic address. lie wis pleased that the congregation had got Air Cameron for a minister. Ho knew Air Cameron in the old country, and thought ho was entitled to the thank’s of the congregation as being in some measure the means of inducing t hat gentleman to come out to New Zealand. He enjoined a regular attendance at church on Sundays, as nothing so discouraged a minister as, after a wc»k of hard study on a subject, to find perhaps only a few to listen to him ; such treatment was enough to break a minister's heart. Mr Patterson told an appropriate anecdote of an old woman who said that even from the worst minister she always heard more than she could remember, and put in practice. He was glad to see Mr Ash present. It was a grand tiling to see ministers of different denominations mingling together on an occasion like that. He for one did not go about with a bundle of Westminster catechisms under Ins arm, neither did Air Ash ask I,hem to swallow the Thirty-nine articles. — (Laughter.)

The Rev. Mr Stevens said lie was no soiree man, and that was only t he second time in Ids lifV that he had been present at one. lie would not then trouble them with bis reasons for his conduct in this respect, but lie wonl 1 say that he was delighted to be present on that occasion. When he first came to Southland there were only three members of Presbytery-—the Revs. Stobo, Clark, and Alexander. He regretted that the Presbytery had lost by removal Rev. Mr Ross, who was beloved by his brethren, an I who still maintained a warm place in the affections of the people of the district. Mr Stevens welcomed heartily the addition to (he Presbytery of Messrs Ewell and Cameron. As moderator of the session ho was pleased to bo relieved of the responsibility attached to the office.

The Rev. Mr Davidson also offered Ids congratulations to all concerned on the events of the day, and hoped that the union that day formed would be long, useful and happy. He believed that f.lic prosperity of a congregation depends ureally upon each member trying to advance its interests; there was work to do* for every order of: talent in its midst. He hoped the blessing or God would rest upon the work that day begun. ,

Mr Cr. Robertson had a few remarks to make. They might not be quite so pleasant as some of those they had listened to, but it was necessary nevertheless that they should be made. He referred to the financial position of the Church. There was a want in respect of every person gj ring a stated amount for the support of the (Jhurch. It would be admitted, he thought, that the church was a iv-'cessary of their religious life —not the only one perhaps, -but one of the most useful. They wore all able to p ovide the necessaries of life, and most of them enjoyed if 3 luxuries. Therefore it was a duly devolving upon them to provide in a liberal manner moans for the support of the church, and, instead of having to he run after for their snhwr.ptions, they should esteem it a privilege to give regularly. Alt’ R. Tlohor!son proposed a vole of thanks to “The Speakers Mr J. W. Hamilton to j ‘■The Choir,” to which Mr Huiey responded ; I

| and ilr M'Phoeto “The Ladies and Committee.” 1 Apologies for non-attendance were made for the Revs. Stobo and Somers. The Benediction, pronounced by the Rev. Mr Stevens, brought the proceedings to a close.