History of Knox Church Dunedin/Chapter 19
CHAPTER XIX.
NOTWITHSTANDING the relief from ordinary duty secured to Dr Stuart by his trip to the Home Country, his office-bearers and more intimate friends felt persuaded that the strain put upon him by the carrying on single-handed of the arduous and multifarious labours of so large a pastoral charge, as well as the duties arising out of his position in the community, was much too heavy, and if persisted in would inevitably be attended with most serious results. This opinion was confirmed by the views expressed by Dr Stuart's medical advisers in Dunedin, and by eminent medical gentlemen in London, which were to the effect that, whilst it was desirable that he should not wholly retire from active duty, it was absolutely necessary that undue bodily and mental exertion should be carefully avoided. After much anxious consideration amongst themselves and consultation with the minister, it was resolved to bring the matter under the notice of the congregation, and to ask authority to obtain a suitable colleague for Dr Stuart. The proposal was unanimously agreed to by the congregation, and the sanction of the Presbytery and the Synod most cordially given. At a meeting held on February 7, 1889, it was resolved that the following memorandum should be forwarded to the Commissioners in the Home Country who had been appointed by the office-bearers and members for the purpose of selecting a suitable co-pastor:—
"1. The Rev. Dr Stuart, now in his 69th year, has been sole pastor of Knox Church since 1860, a period of 29 years. In the opinion of the office-bearers and the members of the congregation, and of Dr Stuart's medical advisers, the time has now fully come when permanent assistance in his pulpit and pastoral work ought to be obtained for him with the least possible delay. The office-bearers, with the full concurrence of the congregation and of Dr Stuart himself, have therefore, with the sanction of the Presbytery of the bounds, resolved to take immediate action to that end, and have accordingly agreed to request the following-named gentlemen to act as Commissioners for the purpose of selecting in the Home Country a suitable person for the office of co-pastor and successor to Dr Stuart, viz.:—
- Mr JOHN ROSS, 1 Basinghall street, London;
- Mr ALEXANDER ROBERTS, Selkirk, Scotland;
- Mr THOMAS M. STEWART, Bank of New Zealand, London;
- Mr ROBERT T. TURNBULL, 5 East India avenue, London, E.C.;
- Mr DAVID WATSON, Bullion Field, Dundee; and
- Mr GEORGE YOUNG, Abbotsford Park, Edinburgh.
"2. The Deacons' Court of Knox Church authorises the Commissioners to allow a reasonable sum to defray the cost of passage, and to guarantee the payment of a stipend of six hundred pounds (£600) per annum, inclusive of house rent allowance to the gentleman whom they may select and appoint, the said stipend to begin to be payable from the date of embarkation for New Zealand.
"It will be understood, of course, that Dr Stuart will remain in occupation of the manse.
"3. The Session feels persuaded that from their own knowledge of the qualifications essential to the successful fulfilment of the duties of the oifice in question, the Commissioners scarcely stand in need of specific instructions as to the kind of man whom it is desirable they should select. Nearly all the Commissioners are acquainted with Dr Stuart, and some of them have been members of his congregation, and it seems almost sufficient simply to represent to them that the appointment of a gentleman possessing in a large measure the same qualifications that have rendered Dr Stuart's ministry in Dunedin so eminently successful is devoutly desired and prayed for by the office-bearers and the members of the congregation.
"4. It may be explained that the membership of Knox Church and of the several Presbyterian congregations of Otago is largely composed of persons who in the Home Country were in connection with different Presbyterian and other denominations, and that the choice of the Commissioners is by no means restricted to a clergyman connected with any particular Presbyterian Church. There is less anxiety as to the particular Presbyterian communion to which the object of the Commissioners' choice may belong than that he shall prove himself to be a godly, large-hearted, and zealous minister of the Gospel, catholic in spirit, wise in counsel, prudent in conduct, firm of purpose but conciliatory in manner, and also willing to co-operate heartily with the ministers and laymen of other churches in promoting the religious, educational, and social welfare of the entire community.
"5. It is extremely desirable that the choice of the Commissioners should fall upon one who will take particular interest in securing the hearts and the confidence of the youth of the congregation, and also of 'them that are without,' by his own good example, and by showing due regard to their special circumstances and needs in his pulpit and other ministrations. It is also desirable that he should be a person of active habits, who would take pleasure in visiting the members of his flock, especially the sick and the sorrowful; who would prove easily accessible to the humble and the diffident; and who, by his general culture and bearing, would render himself acceptable to all classes in the congregation and in the community.
"6. It is regarded as indispensable that the person selected should be of a sound, healthy, and vigorous constitution; that he should be of gentlemanly appearance and demeanour, and possessed of a clear and distinct utterance in the pulpit; also that he should not be a very young man, or altogether inexperienced in the work of the ministry. He should not, however, exceed forty years of age; even a younger man, other things being equal, would be very much preferred.
"7. The office-bearers and the congregation are prepared to abide by whatever choice the Commissioners may make, and the gentleman selected by them may rest assured that he will receive a most hearty welcome on his arrival, and cordial support thereafter.
"8. The following information may prove of interest to the Commissioners and those with whom they may place themselves in communication:—Knox Church building, erected in 1876, is an exceedingly handsome structure, and is seated for over 1200 persons, and the enrolled membership is over 1000. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is administered quarterly, the average number of communicants being about 650. Divine service is held in the morning and the evening of every Sabbath; the afternoon being devoted to Sabbath School instruction. There are some out-stations in the neighbourhood of Dunedin connected with the congregation, at which the services as a rule are conducted by lay members, with occasional visits from the minister. The last Annual Report, of which copies are forwarded, furnishes information regarding the various organisations connected with Knox Church congregation. Photographs of the church building are also forwarded. The new church, including the site and the organ, has cost about £20,000. The debt has now been reduced to £3000, and it is hoped that this will be extinguished in the course of a few years."
The Commissioners cordially accepted the difficult and responsible duty imposed upon them, and set about their undertaking with the determination to satisfy to the utmost possible extent the somewhat highly-pitched demands set forth in the memorandum.[1] They spared no labour in their search after the right man, and at length unanimously decided to invite the Rev. Alexander Pringle Davidson, M.A., minister of the Free Church, St. Fergus, Aberdeenshire, to accept the appointment. That gentleman, after full and mature deliberation, intimated his acceptance, and in due course left for Melbourne by the steamer "Britannia" with his newly-wedded bride. After a brief stay in Melbourne, Mr and Mrs Davidson left by the s.s. "Tarawera," landed at the Bluff, and arrived at Dunedin by the South express on April 16, 1890. They were met at Mosgiel by Dr Stuart, Mr John Roberts, C.M.G., and others; and on reaching Dunedin they received a most cordial reception from office-bearers and members of the congregation, of whom there was a large number assembled on the station platform. Until they entered their present residence in Clyde street Mr and Mrs Davidson were the guests of Mr and Mrs R. Glendining, Nithvale, N. E. Valley.
By appointment of the Presbytery Mr Davidson's induction as co-pastor of Knox Church took place on April 30, 1890. Previous to the meeting the members of Presbytery were entertained by the wives of the office-bearers at a repast in the class-room of the Old Church. The Presbytery then met in the New Church, which was crowded by members of the congregation and numerous friends from other congregations and denominations. The service was opened by Dr Stuart (moderator for the occasion), after which the Rev. Professor Watt, D.D., preached an able sermon from 1 Cor. i. 26–29, "For ye see your calling, brethren," &c. Before asking the appointed questions prior to induction, Dr Stuart briefly expressed his indebtedness to the Home Commissioners for their painstaking and conscientious zeal in the selection they had made, concluding his remarks as follows:—"Our belief is that they have been wisely guided, and I trust that for many a day we shall rejoice in their choice, and that we shall have going in and out amongst us a co-worker, a leader worthy of the position which he has been called to occupy, and a man of God whose example we may constantly follow." The appointed questions having been put and answered, Mr Davidson received the right hand of fellowship, the moderator saying, "In the name, my brother, of the Lord Jesus Christ, Head of the Church, and by authority of the Presbytery, I gladly welcome you into the co-pastorship of this congregation, and wish you every blessing necessary for the efficient and complete discharge of the ministry which we have committed unto you."
The Rev. Dr Dunlop then addressed the newly-inducted minister in remarkably well-chosen words, after which the Rev. Mr Will addressed the congregation on their privileges and duties. Mr E. B. Cargill, the senior elder of the congregation, then presented Mr Davidson, on behalf of the women of the congregation, with a cassock and gown, accompanying the gift with an expression of their good wishes and hopes. Mr Davidson having replied in feeling terms, the proceedings of a most pleasant and interesting evening were brought to a close by an anthem from the choir and the pronouncing of the benediction by Dr Stuart.[2]
On the following Friday (May 2, 1890) a conversazione was held in the Garrison Hall for the purpose of welcoming Mr Davidson as co-pastor of Knox Church. "The hall was decorated in a manner that was evidently dictated by artistic taste, and the stage was converted for the nonce into a handsomely-appointed drawing room. The Rev. Dr Stuart presided, and was supported by the majority of the office-bearers of Knox Church. There was, besides, a very large and representative gathering, among whom we noticed the Ven. Archdeacon Edwards, the Revs. J. H. Cameron, G. Barclay (Geraldine), D. Dutton, R. R. M. Sutherland, A. Cameron, J. Niven, J. Ryley, G. W. J. Spence, A. North, J. Waters, J. Crewe (Christchurch), and B. Ready, Professors Salmond, Sliand, and Gilray, and the Hon. W. H. Reynolds, M.L.C.
"After praise and prayer, the Chairman said: 'In 1858 many Christian people in Dunedin became convinced that the time had come for starting a second Presbyterian congregation. On taking counsel with each other it came out that, though reared in different churches, they were quite willing that the proposed congregation should be conducted on the lines of the Church of Otago. So great was the unanimity on this matter that fully 90 per cent. of the population contributed to set the movement agoing. The leaders were nobly supported. The First Church aided to provide for the overflow which could not find room in its own homely quarters. The subject was brought before the presbytery by the late Mr John Gillies, Mr James Wilkie, and others, and its sanction was readily obtained. A site was gifted by the late Mr J. Hyde Harris, and plans for church and manse were presented by the late Mr Langlands. An army of collectors took the field, including the Hon. W. H. Reynolds, Mrs John Hill, and others, and funds were readily obtained which justified the committee in commencing the building of church and manse. Many Christians who were not Presbyterians, as Dr Purdie and Messrs Thomas Dick, Charles Henry Street, E. Smith, and Archibald and James Barr readily co-operated. The church was opened in due course and the first minister inducted. The day was bright with sunshine, and the people crowded to the service. Many of the chief men of the city were present. It was a grand sight to witness Captain Cargill (the Moses of the settlement), Messrs James Macandrew (the Superintendent of Otago), John Hyde Harris (the district judge), John Gillies (resident magistrate), George Hepburn, James Brown, John Logan, James Wilkie, Robert Chapman, and others worshipping and listening reverentially to the Rev. Dr Burns—the Aaron of the settlement. The communion—that binding ordinance of the church—was dispensed in June 1860. The minister was assisted by Captain Cargill, Rev. Robert Hood, and Messrs John Gillies, and George Hepburn. The service drew out the hearts of the people in fervent love to God and to each other. From that day it has been the rule in the congregation to help and love each other. The composite character of the congregation was its strength. We met as Christians, and, while living and working under the blue banner, our inspiring motive was the love of Christ. When service was begun among the tents in Stafford street, on ground given by Mr Henry Cooke—a sturdy Wesleyan—I was often accompanied by Major Richardson (Superintendent of the Province) and Mr T. B. Gillies as my helpers. And most willing helpers they were. One would read the lessons and the other would lead in praise or prayer, as directed. Hard things are sometimes said of these times, but I can say that the people were open-hearted and openhanded; neighbours helped neighbours, and were pleased to do so. When we asked the aid of our townspeople in connection with the building of New Knox Church the old liberality was again displayed, and as large a percentage of the people brought their stone to that noble cairn as assisted in building the first Knox Church. I for one can say I have found the people of mine own romantic city ever helpful and generous. The generation which I joined in 1860 is passing over the river, but, blessed be the Lord of all, their sons and daughters follow closely in the footsteps of their liberality and consecration. We are mortal, but Christ brings to His service a succession of servants who know that His church in her comeliness is the peer of all, in her charity the friend of all—too kind to be the enemy, and too affluent in spirit and resources to be the poor relation of any.'—(Applause.)
"The anthem 'Lift up your heads' was then sung by the united choirs of Knox and First Churches.
"Mr Colin McK. Gordon read the following, address of welcome to Mr Davidson:—'We, the office-bearers of Knox Church, in our own names, and we believe as representing the feeling of the entire congregation, embrace the present opportunity for assuring you that we welcome you as our junior pastor with unreserved cordiality. You have shown a generous confidence in us in leaving your old home and an attached congregation, that in response to our call you might minister to us in sacred things, and by so doing you have laid us under obligation to receive you with loving trustfulness. We assure you that you will have our sincere sympathy and active support in the arduous and manifold duties which devolve on you as one of our pastors. We are specially anxious that the very beginning of your ministry among us should be brightened by the feeling that we regard you with enthusiastic friendliness. It greatly delights us to tell you that you have no hostility of any kind to overcome before you can win your way to our affections. You begin your ministry among us supported by the hearty goodwill and, we believe, the prayers of the flock. We need hardly say that we will always be ready to welcome you in our homes both as our pastor and as a friend, and we will try so to welcome you that you will find it easy and pleasant to discharge your pastoral duties. May we also take the liberty of saying that we will not overlook your partner in our endeavours to make you happy and successful in your new home and new sphere of labour.
'Dated at Dunedin this 2nd day of May, 1890,
'D. M. Stuart, D.D., Senior Minister.
'Colin McK. Gordon, Session Clerk.
'P. G. Pryde, Clerk of Deacons' Court.'
"The Rev. A. P. Davidson said he thanked them from the bottom of his heart for the remarkable proof of their goodwill which they afforded him by that large gathering and by the address which Mr Gordon had just read. His acquaintance with Dunedin was short, but it had been most pleasant; for during the sixteen days that had passed since he first set foot in this beautiful city he had received the heartiest greetings from many members and friends of the congregation. It was a very pleasant thing indeed to have such a kind welcome extended to him. He was very much afraid that their generosity was leading them to form expectations which he could but imperfectly fulfil. Still it was a great thing for a man to be trusted, as it stimulated him to do his best; it encouraged him to put forth every effort in his power; and he assured them that he should try to do his best.—(Applause.) When he was asked to come to Dunedin the invitation was a surprise to him, and it was some time before he could make up his mind to take part in so great a work as that which Dr Stuart and his congregation had carried on here for so many years. The yearly reports of Knox Church showed him the great extent of its Christian activity, but it was not till he came here, and sat down in the pews of the church and took part in the worship, that he understood what a great institution Knox Church was, and what a great opportunity its pulpit afforded for doing good. He was much struck by the fact that so many members of the congregation had all along taken part in the work. It was a great strength to a congregation when its work was shared by a large number of its people; and he had been long enough connected with Christian work to see this plainly: that it was just the people who were the heartiest in giving their own time, money, or labour, who were the readiest to see good in the work of others, and to appreciate the efforts of their ministers. He did not think he should say much then, as if God spared him and they were willing to listen to him his voice would soon be familiar enough to many there; but he would like just to say that it was a great gratification to one coming from Home to be a Presbyterian minister in this colony to find that, while the Presbyterian Church in Scotland was split into three great fragments, here it was perfectly united.—(Applause.) Every lover of Scotland longed to see the day when those three fragments should be united in organisation and everything else, as they already were, almost entirely, in spirit; and every lover of the church prayed that the time might come quickly. Now he believed that here in Otago they had anticipated the history of the church in Scotland. Here the words U.P., Free, and Established Church were not to be named—they were to be forgotten—and he must say that that was one reason which influenced him greatly in making up his mind to accept the offer to come and be a Presbyterian minister in Otago.—(Applause.) He believed that the Presbyterian system, as instituted by John Knox and other reformers in Scotland, was admirably fitted for the preservation of Christian liberty, and at the same time for the preservation of due deference to constituted authority, and was admirably suited to the spirit of democratic institutions. While he was a Presbyterian by conviction, he would not belong to the Presbyterian Church unless he felt that he belonged to a church that was infinitely wider and more comprehensive than the Presbyterian Church—the great catholic church that included every human soul that believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, and recognised the truth of Christ's own words—'One is your Master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren.'—(Loud applause.)
"Refreshments, which were provided in great abundance, were then handed round. Upon tables in the centre of the hall were exhibited a number of photographic views, Indian and Japanese curiosities, and other objects of interest, lent by members of the congregation. The furniture was supplied by Messrs Scoullar and Chishohu, and the plants, which imparted a very pleasing effect, by Mr George Matthews. During the evening solos were contributed by Misses Gillies, McQueen, and Campbell, and Messrs A. H. Crawford and Hugh Wright. Mrs W. Hislop and Miss I. Matheson sang the duet, "I waited for the Lord" (Mendelssohn), with chorus by the combined choir. Messrs Timson and Barth played a selection by Auber as a pianoforte duet, and the Garrison Band, who were stationed in the band-room, performed a number of pleasing selections.
"Before the proceedings were brought to a close, the chairman stated that a bird had just whispered in his ear that of the £2800 which they owed on the new kirk, the sum of £2000 had now been subscribed.—(Loud applause.) He congratulated Mr Cameron upon his successful efforts in connection with raising a fund towards the extinction of the debt, and expressed the hope that he might be authorised to announce some day that the debt had been subscribed, that the church was free, and that the seat rents were reduced. On the motion of Mr W. Downie Stewart, M.H.R., seconded by Mr E. B. Cargill, a vote of thanks was passed to the united choir, the ladies who had provided the refreshments, and the other persons who who had contributed to the entertainment."[3]
On the morning of the following Sabbath (May 4th), Mr Davidson was introduced to the congregation by Dr Stuart.
In the evening the pulpit was occupied by Mr Davidson, who took for his text the first 13 verses of the 26th chapter of St. Matthew, in which reference is made to the anointing of Jesus by Mary of Bethany.
The settlement of the Rev. Mr Davidson having now been happily accomplished, the Session on June 3, 1890, unanimously and heartily adopted the following resolution:—"The Session desire to put on record their grateful sense of the services rendered to the congregation by the Pulpit Supply Committee, especially by Mr Edmund Smith, the convener, in providing suitable supply for Knox Church pulpit during the period which elapsed from the return of Dr Stuart from the Old Country up to the present time—a period during a portion of which Dr Stuart was called upon to pass through sore bereavement and much bodily weakness, but under which he had the deepest sympathy of every member of the congregation. In thanking the brethren for the interest taken in, and the time devoted to the duty entrusted to them—a duty now happily ended—the Session would further express their indebtedness to Dr Dunlop for his many self-denying services; and also their devout thankfulness to the Great Head of the Church for the restoration of Dr Stuart to a gratifying measure of health and strength, and for the harmony that has characterised Mr Davidson's settlement amongst the people."
- ↑ Several persons, on reading the memorandum, expressed the belief that Knox Church was demanding a combination of high qualifications which it would be difficult if not impossible for the Commissioners to secure. The wife of one of the office-bearers said to her husband, "What length of time have you given the Commissioners to get a man specially made for you?"—J.H.
- ↑ Knox Church Quarterly Statement.
- ↑ Otago Daily Times, May 3, 1890.