whom no other clergyman in a British colony had more weight and influence.
Mr Alexander F. Roberts, another of the Commissioners, said they had been allowed to select from among the Established, Free, and U.P. Church ministers, and they had got, he believed, the very best man among them. He had to tender the Commissioners' acknowledgments to the leading men in all the Presbyterian denominations for the help they had received from them in the matter. Very much of the success attending their efforts was because of the readiness with which each one, whether Established, Free, or United Presbyterian had supplied them with the information they asked. He believed Mr Davidson would never regret his choice.
Mr William Buchan, representative elder from St. Fergus congregation, said the delegates from St. Fergus were sorry to have to come to the Presbytery on such an errand. At the same time the Commissioners had done themselves credit in getting such a man as Mr Davidson, because it was not every day that a minister got such a colleague, nor a congregation such a pastor.
Mr Davidson said he could not but accept the cordial and unanimous invitation he had received. He asked the St. Fergus congregation not to be disheartened, as already he had a bundle of letters from candidates for the charge. He already knew what it was to work under an older and better man than himself, and he trusted he should be able to work cordially along with Dr Stuart.
The Rev. Mr Urquhart, of Old Deer, said it was not a light thing to part with such a brother, and certainly for the congregation to lose such a minister was a serious thing indeed. It was very gratifying that Mr Roberts, a member of the Established Church, had taken part in this matter. He earnestly trusted it was an omen of a happier day soon to dawn in Scotland. Across the oceans the Presbyterian brethren found little difficulty in coalescing and taking united action as a Church. During their recent visit to Australia, Dr Rainy and Dr Macgregor had actually been recognised as colleagues. He thought this appointment very suitably followed. They might cherish the hope that all the three great Presbyterian bodies in Scotland would find themselves once more one.
The Presbytery accordingly resolved unanimously to release Mr Davidson from his charge at St. Fergus, with a view to his induction as junior pastor of Knox Church, Dunedin.
