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
