History of Knox Church Dunedin/Chapter 9
CHAPTER IX.
HAVING given in a somewhat connected form up to the present time an account of each of the more important agencies or schemes of usefulness brought into operation by the minister and his first office-bearers soon after their appointment, the writer will now narrate in chronological order some of the more notable events in the history of Knox Church. Although devoting a large share of their attention to the organisation and building up of their own church and congregation, yet the office-bearers soon gave evidence of their earnest desire to yield practical obedience to the apostolic injunction, "Not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others."
The first special church-door collection at Knox Church (September 16, 1860) was in aid of the unfortunate Taranaki settlers, who had been driven from their homes and cultivations by the Maori war then carried on in the North Island, The amount of the collection was £70 10s. 6d., a comparatively large sum in those days.
At a meeting of the Session in September 1860 the minister stated that he had been applied to by members of the church for the baptism of their children at their own residences, and he asked the Session to lay down a rule for his direction. After consideration it was resolved that "on account of the distance of the residences of many from the church, the state of the roads, and other causes, it is necessary that baptism be sometimes dispensed in private families, and therefore authorise the minister in the present circumstances of the congregation to dispense the ordinance of baptism in private when he considers this necessary or prudent, on his being fully satisfied that the circumstances of the family require it." Fear has been expressed by the minister "that a relaxation designed for exceptional circumstances has become almost the rule, to the grief of some, and the regret of many."
About the year 1861 somewhat lax views and equally lax practices seem to have prevailed in Dunedin, even among men of position and influence, in regard to the selling and purchasing of intoxicating drinks in houses and stores not duly licensed by law. A very vigorous protest against these practices is embodied in the following minute of the Session:—"The Session having proceeded to take into consideration the great evils which are arising from the prevalence of the sin of intemperance, and from the baneful practice of selling spirits in unlicensed houses, and whether anything should be done to prevent or diminish these evils; and after long reasoning and consultation with the deacons, resolved—That they are bound to use every lawful means to suppress the evils arising from intemperance, and, believing that the practice of selling and purchasing intoxicating drinks at houses and stores not authorised by law not only greatly facilitates the immoderate use of these drinks, but is an open breach of the rule of God's Word, which is binding on every member of the church, inasmuch as that Word specially enjoins every disciple of Christ to be submissive and obedient to the civil authorities in all matters not contrary thereto. See Romans xiii. 1, 'Let every soul be subject to the higher powers; for there is no power but of God; whosoever, therefore, resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God;' 1 Peter ii. 13, 'Submit yourself to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether it be unto the king as supreme, or unto the governors, as unto them that are sent for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the praise of them that do well.' Further resolved, that it is the duty of every member of the church not only to discountenance intemperance in every shape and form, but especially to discountenance the breach of that law which forbids the sale of intoxicating drinks at houses and stores not licensed for their sale in terms of law; and instruct the minister to read these resolutions from the pulpit, and request him more fully to explain the obligations, and to enforce the grounds of these resolutions. The Session instructed the clerk to send a copy of these resolutions to the Session of the First Church for their information, in the hope that they may see cause to co-operate with this Session."
We have it on reliable authority that this action on the part of the Session had no small effect in diminishing the evil referred to. The following resolution was passed by the Session a few years later:—"The Session, considering the many and great evils arising from the sin of intemperance, earnestly request the minister to preach on the subject at an early day." In those days the Session sometimes showed in a very practical manner the strong views held by them on the subject. The minute-book has the following among other similar entries:—"December 9, 1861. was suspended on account of a fama being abroad that he had been guilty of the sin of drunkenness."
In April 1862 the Session agreed to grant the use of the church every Sabbath evening for a number of months to the Wesleyan Methodist congregation that had been formed in Duuedin about that time.
At a meeting of the Session held in the same month the minister reported that the Rev. W. Johnstone of Port Chalmers was ordered by his medical adviser to take a health furlough in Sydney during the winter. The Session expressed its sympathy with Mr Johnstone, and appointed the following persons to conduct Divine service at Port Chalmers every alternate Sabbath during Mr Johnstone's absence, viz., the Rev. R. Hood, Messrs J. Gillies, Gilbert, Kettle, E. B. Cargill, T. B. Gillies, C. H. Street, J. H. Harris, G. Hepburn, and J. Brown.
Mr H. Gilbert, who had rendered valuable services on the Diggings in the early days, and had been subsequently elected to the eldership in the congregation, was unanimously appointed by the Session, in May 1862, to be congregational missionary or catechist, with a view to enable the church to overtake evangelistic and outfield work. He did excellent service under the direction of the minister, including occasional Sabbath visits to Blueskin in the summer months, and the holding of evening prayer meetings in various places. Mr Gilbert continued his labours till November 1863, when he was invited by the committee of the Bethel Union Mission to become their missionary at Port Chalmers. The Session, though greatly regretting the prospect of losing Mr Gilbert's services, resolved to relieve him from his engagement with Knox Church because of the great importance of the field he was called on to occupy and his fitness for the work. "The Session commended him to God in prayer, and wished him God-speed as Bethel missionary." It will be gratifying to his friends to know that he is still a worker in the vineyard at Lovell's Flat and in neighbouring localities. It may be mentioned that for a considerable time a collection, usually amounting to about £20, was annually made by Knox Church congregation in aid of the Bethel mission.
In January 1863 a resolution was passed by the Session and Deacons' Court to the effect that there existed a necessity for making further provision for the spiritual wants of the district occupied by the church, and that this could best be done by the erection of a church in the neighbourhood of North-East Valley, under the charge of a minister who might for a time co-operate as far as practicable with the minister of Knox Church. In the following year the Session obtained the use of the North-East Valley District School-house for Sabbath evening services and for a weekly prayer meeting.
In August 1863 the Session and Deacons' Court, "taking into consideration the state of the population in respect to the want of a sufficient supply of the Word of God, were of opinion that a Bible Society should be formed, and with that view recommended the minister to make arrangements with the other clergymen of the town for the formation of such a society."[1]
The following is an extract from the Annual Report for the year 1864:—"We rejoice that so many additional churches have been erected in this city, where the Gospel of the grace of God is proclaimed from Sabbath to Sabbath. These several churches necessarily withdrew from us those of their own communion who formerly worshipped with us, yet we are glad to be able to report that their places have been so filled up by others that at present there are only three unlet sittings in the church, while several families want seats which we are unable to provide. Notwithstanding the many additional Sabbath Schools opened in the city by our co-operating Christian brethren, in the success of which we do rejoice, we are glad to be able to say that the number attending the various schools under the care of this church has not diminished. At Wakari, North-East Valley, Pelichet Bay, and this church are congregated an aggregate number of scholars averaging about 300."
It having again been resolved to employ the services of a congregational missionary, the Rev. Peter Anderson was engaged in April 1865, He laboured with much acceptability and success till his last illness. He died in January 1868. The following is the minute of the Session in reference to Mr Anderson's decease:—"The Session record with deep regret the death of the Rev. Peter Anderson, who has. been employed by this congregation as missionary since April 1865, and who departed this life on the 5th inst., deeply regretted by all who knew him. His calm resting in the simplicity of faith on the finished work of Christ was refreshing to those who had the pleasure of listening to him. His last articulated words were those which had been frequently on his lips, 'Blessed Lamb of God!' He was twenty years a missionary in Jamaica. After his health had compelled him to leave that field, he acted as missionary to the cabmen of Glasgow till he left for Otago, where he arrived in September 1864. In connection with this congregation Mr Anderson preached alternately at North-East Valley and Wakari on Sabbaths, besides officiating weekly at prayer meetings, and visiting from house to house, especially in North-East Valley, Pine Hill, and the northern part of the city. His labours were highly appreciated."
In July 1865 the Deacons' Court appointed Messrs W. T. Glasgow, R. Chisholm, and R. Gillies a committee to take the preliminary steps for the formation of a Young Men's Christian Association in connection with the church and congregation. A month afterwards it was reported to the Court that an Association had been organised with every reasonable prospect of success. This Association, which is now merged in the Knox Church Literary and Debating Society, has been maintained in fairly vigorous operation, and has been of service in developing and strengthening the literary tastes of a number of the young men of the congregation. The Society meets fortnightly during six months of the year, in Old Knox Church, and visitors are always welcome. The Society is deserving of the hearty support of the congregation. It was mainly owing to the personal efforts and liberality of the earlier members of the society that the congregational library was formed in 1866.
The Deacons' Court, considering that there were in Dunedin a number of youths in various employments during the day, resolved in July 1865 to open an evening school for their benefit, and appointed a committee, consisting of the minister, Messrs R. Gillies and J. (now Dr) Hislop, to give effect to this resolution. In the course of a few weeks the committee reported that the use of the North Dunedin Public School had been obtained, and that evening classes had been successfully established by them under Mr (now Sir) Robert Stout and Mr D. Ross as teachers, and that about 70 pupils had been enrolled, with the prospect of a considerable increase. It may fairly be claimed that this evening school was the precursor of the largely-attended evening classes so successfully carried on by the Caledonian Society for a number of years, in which Dr Stuart and several members of his church took a warm and active interest.
In June 1866 a Library Committee, composed of Messrs W. T. Glasgow, R. Gillies, and Dr Hislop, was authorised by the Deacons' Court to procure from the Home Country suitable books to the value of £100, to form the nucleus of a congregational library. One half of this amount was contributed by the Young Men's Society, the other half by the Deacons' Court. It was resolved that the library should be open free of charge to the members and adherents of the congregation and their families. In November 1867 the committee was authorised to procure another supply of books to the value of £50. Since that period several valuable additions have been made to the library, which now comprises over one thousand volumes in history, biography, science, theology, travels and adventures, poetry, fiction, and other departments of literature. In the beginning of 1890 the library received a thorough overhaul, and the books were classified and re-numbered. On May 29th the library was re-opened, and by the end of September 60 volumes were in circulation, showing a satisfactory increase in the number of readers. The circulation is now (October 1891) about 150 volumes, an increasing number of the younger members of the congregation availing themselves of the books.
In addition to fresh purchases at Home, donations of books have been made to the library by friends; among these have been Dr Stuart, Mrs Whitelaw, and Mr George Grant. In 1888 Mr A. M. Braik presented the handsome gift of £25 for the purchase of books, being half of the proceeds of a concert that had been given by him with the assistance of pupils and friends. Mr W. T. Glasgow rendered valuable service as honorary librarian for a number of years. As far as can be ascertained, the librarians since his retirement have been—Messrs E. Dalgleish, D. M. Stuart, jun., Christie, Stephenson, J. Kirkpatrick, R. Forsyth, Manly, Paul, C. White, and J. Campbell.
In January 1867 a collection amounting to £25 was made in aid of the Kaikorai Church, and in March of the following year a collection of the same amount was taken up in aid of the Blueskin Church fund. Some years previously a collection had been made for Anderson's Bay manse building fund. As early as 1862 the Session resolved that a half-yearly collection should be taken for foreign missions.
The Session and Deacons' Court, in September 1867, requested the minister to "move the Synod on the subject of obtaining a missionary for the Chinese now resident in the province." The Synod took up the matter most heartily. For a time Ah Chinn, a Chinese Christian, laboured in Lawrence under the direction of the Rev. Dr Copland, with zeal and devotion. Mr R. S. Gardner, one of the elders of Knox Church, formed a Chinese class, which met for a time in the class-room. This hopeful effort was interrupted by Mr Gardner's departure for Scotland. The Synod in course of time saw its way to appoint Mr (now the Rev.) A. Don to be its missionary, and sent him to Canton to acquire the language, and gain some familiarity with the best methods of presenting the Gospel to the Chinese. Mr Don still labours diligently in his difficult ministry.
In the Annual Report for 1867 the office-bearers were able to announce that Knox Church congregation was now wholly free of debt. The following is an extract from the report:—"Very soon after the church was opened it was found to be too small, and a large addition was made to it. Some alterations were also made on the original church; the manse and church-grounds have been enclosed, a classroom has been erected, and sundry other improvements have been made. These things cost upwards of £2000, so that the congregation has paid upwards of £3500 for the church and manse since the first congregational meeting was held, and that over and above maintaining a missionary for several years, making numerous collections for objects not connected with the congregation, and paying all other expenses connected with the church; and now, in seven and a half years, we are free to start anew in the work of our Lord. May He give us His grace to be faithful!"
In April 1868 Mr James Chisholm, now the esteemed minister of Tokomairiro Church, was appointed congregational missionary. Among his duties were those of officiating at the North-East Valley. School-house on Sabbath evenings, assisting occasionally at the weekly prayer meeting there, and giving one day in the week to household visitation in that district. Mr Chisholm resigned his office as congregational missionary in January 1869, but offered to continue his services gratuitously in North-East Valley until his place could be otherwise supplied. At this time a committee was appointed to consider the circumstances of the North-East Valley, and to inquire as to what should be done for continuing the services of a congregational missionary. The efforts of the minister and his office-bearers on behalf of the North-East Valley district continued unabated until no longer required to the same extent, the settlers having in 1869 succeeded in forming a separate congregation, which met at first in the volunteers' drillshed at the Water of Leith, and afterwards at North Dunedin Church, under the ministry of the Rev. Dr Copland.
In 1868 the Rev. Robert Hood and some other members of Knox Church resident in the district joined the newly-formed congregation at Kaikorai, which had been constituted a settled charge under the ministry of the Rev. W. Alves, now deceased. Robert Hood was born in the parish of Innerwick, Haddingtonshire, in 1801. After receiving a substantial education at the parish school, he studied for the ministry at the University of Edinburgh, and in due course was licensed by the Presbytery of Dunbar as a preacher of the Church of Scotland. He joined the party in the Church that seceded in 1843. He came to Otago in 1852, and fixed his residence at Half-way Bush. He connected himself with the First Church, and was soon elected to the eldership. He proved of much service to Dr Burns and the Church in those early days, and on urgent occasions conducted public worship at Dunedin, Port Chalmers, East Taieri, &c. He joined those who took the first steps for obtaining a second minister for Dunedin, partly in the interests of the city, and specially for the benefit of the suburban districts, which were becoming somewhat rapidly settled. He was selected along with Mr George Hepburn to form the temporary Session of Knox Church, with which both of them had connected themselves. Mr Hood was a man of few words, but he could be relied on for wise counsel and action. When the minister was sent to the country in the interests of Church Extension, Mr Hood, notwithstanding his retiring habits, was ready to provide the preaching with assistance from his fellow-elders in the devotional part of the service. When it was decided to form the Kaikorai congregation, Mr Hood and his household, from a sense of duty, identified themselves with it, and the surviving members are still on its roll, and are its earnest supporters. Mr Hood was called to his rest in March 1871.[2]
At a congregational meeting held on July 22, 1869, the Knox Church Missionary Association was formed for the following objects:—"To excite a spirit of greater earnestness and prayer on behalf of Christian missionary enterprise; to diffuse missionary intelligence among members of the congregation; and to raise funds in aid of the missionary schemes of the Presbyterian Church of Otago." The first ofiice-bearers were—Mr E. Smith, president; Mrs Glasgow, treasurer; Mrs J. Brown, Mrs Mackerras, Mrs J. Hislop, and Messrs J. Gillies, Gunn, and Rennie, members of committee. The Association is still in active operation, and has done a large amount of good work. Within the last year or two very vigorous and successful exertions have been made by the committee of the Association to promote more general interest among the members of the congregation in the mission schemes of the Church, with the result that a marked increase in the number and amount of the contributions to the cause has taken place. The following extract is taken from the report of the committee submitted to the annual meeting in 1890:—"Your committee have to report that they have been enabled to carry on the year's operations with a gratifying measure of success. At the outset it was resolved to reorganise the districts, making them co-terminous with the Sustentation Fund districts, and appointing a collector to each; and to render the work of collecting as complete as possible, a full list of the members and adherents was prepared, so that each might be called on and have an opportunity of contributing. This has led to a satisfactory increase in the number of subscribers." The number of subscribing members for the year was 285, while for the previous year it was only 169. The total amount raised for missions for the year ending September 30, 1890, was—
| Sabbath School Boxes | £76 | 15 | 9 |
| Missionary Association | 101 | 4 | 0 |
| Mr Chisholm's Class | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Legacy by a member | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | £209 | 19 | 9 |
In the year 1870, the quarter-acre section in King street adjoining the original church site was offered for sale. With a view to keep the church isolated as much as possible from the other buildings, the Deacons' Court purchased the section, with the house upon it, for £240. At an additional cost of £80 the section was suitably fenced, and the house enlarged and fitted up as a residence for the church officer.
Through the efforts of the late Mr Robert Gillies, and the liberality of that gentleman and other members of the congregation, a scholarship of the annual value of £30, tenable for three years, was established in 1871 for the benefit of young men intending to study for the ministry in connection with the Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland.[3] The successful competitor for the scholarship was Mr John Ferguson, of Tokomairiro, now the esteemed pastor of the First Church, Invercargill, who passed through his university course with distinguished success, and took a high place in several of the classes. The example set in this direction by members of Knox Church was followed by the churches of Invercargill, Riverton, and Tokomairiro. On the expiry of the term of Mr Ferguson's scholarship, the matter was taken up by a committee of the Dunedin Presbytery, and Knox Church Deacons' Court offered to contribute £10 a-year for three years towards the maintenance of a scholarship. For several years past the Court has paid £5 annually in aid of the Dunedin Presbytery Scholarship Fund now maintained by the congregations within the bounds of the Presbytery.
- ↑ Shortly after the diggings broke out, and people flocked to them from all quarters, I reported that the demand for the Scriptures was increasing, and far ahead of the supply. On its becoming known that the Provrncial Government had some five hundred copies on hand that had been procured for school use, an application for a number of them was favourably entertained, and these were supplied at wholesale price. The Testaments, with Psalms and Paraphrases, were speedily sold. In this experiment we have the genesis of the Otago Bible Society, which has been the means of putting 88,966 copies, in whole or in part, into circulation. The National Bible Society of Scotland offered, through the late Mr John McGlashan, of Balmacewan, to supply our wants on the most liberal terms.—D.M.S.
- ↑ The Wakari prayer meeting had a place in his heart, for whoever was absent, he and Mr Hepburn were ever in their places. Recalling now and again the prayer meetings of those early days, we find ourselves remarking that in point of attendance, life, and spirit, they "bore the gree." In those days the minister saw much of Mr Hood, and learned to hold him in the highest esteem for his strengthening sympathy and his meek and holy life. He was indeed a man without guile. He died after a brief illness, in the faith of the glorious Gospel. His name is inscribed on the tablet which the minister has placed in the new church in memory of the first elders of the congregation, who supported him by their counsel and their active cooperation.—D.M.S.
- ↑ A day or two after it was made known from the pulpit that there was a strong desire expressed by several members, under Mr R. Gillies's leadership, to establish a scholarship for the assistance of young men intending to study for the ministry, I happened to visit a family of the congregation. Materfamilias asked me about the scholarship, and as my explanation proved satisfactory she said: "My father in Germany used to encourage two students by invitmg them to supper twice a-week," and she added, "Please take a pound from me for the scholarship." This was the first contribution towards it. The incident became known, and gave an impetus to the good object.—D.M.S.