John Hislop

“ I remember one occasion, when, speaking of the old banner to Mr Justice Richmond, who was sitting beside me, he said, 'I like to see you waving it over me so long as you keep it waving under the glorious banner of the Gospel.' I replied, 'That is what I will always do.' The church has been carried on in that spirit. We have envied nobody. We have not spoken evil of anybody. And we glory when in other instances the Gospel has been carried to the regions beyond. ”

“ I am hoping that you will institute an annual festival in order to testify your gratitude to its members who add so much to the beauty of the service of praise in the congregation. I for one bless God for our choir and their Christian labours.
"The Sabbath Morning Fellowship Meeting has my goodwill and sympathy. When I enter the pulpit the thought is to me inspiring that in an adjoining vestry several of our young men give a part of their hour of prayer to supplication to God for a blessing on my presentation of the Gospel. ”

“ The minister and his office-bearers have ever attached the utmost importance to the Bible Class, regarding it as the connecting link between the Sabbath School and full communion with the church, and as calculated under the blessing of God to be a powerful means of preserving the young of both sexes from yielding to the temptations and snares of the world on which they are just entering, besides training them for future usefulness both in the church and in the community. ”

“ The remit to the Building Committee was as vague as its date was ominous. Construed into ordinary language, it was simply, 'Build a church.' Never did a general go forth to conquer a nation more untrammelled than we did. The Deacons' Court did not even burden us with money. The laconic instruction, 'Build us a church,' was all we had to go upon. Well, we have carried out these instructions and built a church which we hand over to-night. I trust our labours will give satisfaction to the congregation. ”

“ Mr Douglas obtained employment in Dunedin for a time, and his amiable disposition and his consistent Christian life gained for him the respect and esteem of those who knew him intimately. So high an opinion was formed of him by his fellow members of Knox Church that he was elected an elder of the congregation in April 1884. But in the course of two years his health failed him to such an extent as to lay him aside from active duty; and, after an illness of fully five years, which he bore with exemplary patience and resignation, he at last found release in death. ”

“ I felt somewhat humiliated that a seemingly united people could be so readily turned round to approve of a proposition so contrary to my expectations. It is but fair to state that the people of Cromwell subsequently built a commodious church, paid their way, and took the Gospel to a very scattered outfield. It is their desire and that of the Church that Wanaka may soon have a settled ministry, and the Christian ordinances administered in faith, love, and simplicity. ”

“ This History of Knox Church may be appropriately concluded by pressing upon the consideration of members and adherents the following words taken from a former year's report by the office-bearers:—"We desire to express our sense of the deep responsibility under which we lie, from the importance of the work to which we have put our hands, and from the place we occupy among the Christian congregations of the colony. May every individual and every family of the congregation realise in an ever-increasing degree their share of this responsibility, and strive to live from day to day under its power. ”

“ It is remarkable that, throughout a career practically coeval with the existence of Dunedin as a city, Dr Stuart, while by no means addicted to concessions where essentials are involved, and ever giving full credit for good intentions and conscientious conduct to those from whom on dogmatic points he materially differed, has kept himself clear of the bitterness of controversy, and has been content to do his own duty according to his convictions. ”

“ Mr Stuart was instructed, in his village school, in Gaelic, English, Latin, Greek, and mathematics; and, with a view to acquiring fluency in speaking English, he was sent for two summers into the Lowlands. Like other young Highlanders who had set their hearts on getting to college, he, when a mere boy, took to school-teaching, a calling which then yielded little pay, but which afforded opportunities for reading and study. In order to keep himself abreast of the doings in the great world, he now resolved to get a newspaper. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Some years ago I was sent to Cromwell to preach and to recommend earnest action with the view of having a man of God settled in the district. I had a meeting with the people, and at the close of the service I proceeded to ascertain their minds on the matter of getting a minister for Cromwell and its outfield. When all were apparently on the point of deciding in favour of procuring a minister, the mayor—who was also chairman of a committee appointed to get a weekly newspaper established for the town and district—came on the scene. ”

“ We ever pray that the members and families of the congregation may exemplify at home and in their daily life the love, meekness, and holiness of Christ the Lord, 'Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in Thy sight, Lord, our Strength and our Redeemer.' 'Let Thy work appear unto Thy servants, and Thy glory unto their children. ”

“ Accept my thanks—my earnest, heartfelt thanks— for your prayers, for your kindness in the past and to-day, and for all that is in your heart to do for me and for the Gospel.'— (Applause.) "
Mr Donald M. Stuart, after a long and painful illness, was called away on Saturday, January 12, 1889—forty days after his father's return to Dunedin. The greatest sympathy was felt for Dr Stuart in the sad bereavement which thus befell him, and the deep sorrow which filled the manse was shared by all the congregation, whose prayers were heartily offered up for the bereaved father, widow, and children. ”

“ But as our Missionary Association has Mr Edmund Smith, the son of a missionary, for its president, we may feel confident that the greatest object of a church's existence will not be allowed to drift out of sight. ”

“ The Young Womens' Society has now been in existence for four years, and is carrying on a useful work, especially in the direction of looking after the wants, temporal and spiritual, of the children of families in the neighbourhood. It combines in itself the duties of a Dorcas and of a visiting society, and its members have done good work in seeking to stir up an interest among those who have lapsed from Church attendance. To this Society much of the success of the Sabbath evening service in the class-room is due. ”

“ He was undoubtedly the principal founder of Knox Church, in which he held continuously the offices of elder and Session clerk from its foundation till his death. As a member of the general community the services rendered by him were most abundant and valuable, and indeed beyond all praise. "He was one of the best known of our early settlers, and the tried friend of education and religion. During the nineteen years of his residence in Otago, every measure and institution for the general good had his earnest sympathy and hearty support. ”

“ As already stated Mr and Mrs Stuart and their children reached Dunedin early in January, 1860, and after a time were settled in Knox Church Manse. Mrs Stuart's many excellent qualities, her good example, and her earnest desire to prove useful, soon gained for her the esteem and confidence of the members of the congregation and of the general community, and to all appearance she seemed destined, like her husband, to become a great power for good. ”

“ They are convinced that if more men and women of piety and intelligence, and who are at the same time gifted with the power of teaching, would come forward to assist in this work, they would greatly encourage those who are doing their best to impart religious instruction to the young of the congregation, while at the same time they would render great service in building up the Church in our land. ”

“ 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 humbly and earnestly hope that the Great Head of the Church may direct you to a proper choice, as the enlargement and prosperity of our Church and the implanting and maintaining of religious principles both in the town of Dunedin and throughout the whole Province will much depend on your choice. We are far less anxious about the particular denomination to which the minister may belong at Home than we are to have a heavenly-minded, experienced, able, and godly minister; only he must, of course, be one who will heartily join and co-operate with the Presbytery. ”

“ The school continued to prosper, and in 1870, the tenth year of its existence, the attendance had increased to 330 scholars, with 52 teachers. Mr Street's tact and his courtesy towards the teachers, combined with, his regularity and punctuality of attendance and his admirable administrative ability enabled him to carry on the work of the school with remarkable smoothness and success. After nearly fifteen years of zealous devotion to his duties as superintendent, Mr Street—in view of his contemplated visit to the Home Country—resigned his charge at the close of the year 1874. ”

“ I will only say that, if I had a spark of the spirit of bigotry and of exclusiveness, I have always had men around me as office-bearers who would speedily exorcise it by their prayers and practice. The church, composite in its origin, has worked harmoniously. ”

“ Unless when interrupted by circumstances over which he has had no control, Dr Stuart continued the catechetical lessons with such success as to fulfil in a measure the purpose for which they were begun, affording as they did opportunity for more simple and familiar teaching of the young, while at the same time they were not unacceptable to the congregation generally. The attendance of young people able to handle their Bibles might have been improved, but parents too readily yielded to their wishes in not requiring them to occupy the space in the church set apart for them. ”

“ Give this, the youngest of our congregational institutions, a place in your prayers.
"For the Literary and Debating Society of the congregation I ask your sympathy. It was founded long ago by the late Mr Robert Gillies, as was also the Congregational Library, which I deem valuable, and deserving of a more generous support than it has of late received. I am glad to be able to say that the society is rendering excellent service to an important branch of education. An evening in its rooms is as enjoyable as it is instructive. ”

“ The Young Women's Society, under the presidency of Mrs Hoodie, has scarcely had time to make good its claim to your sympathy. It started with a double function. It seeks the personal culture of its members, but specially their training in works of faith and labours of love. Your goodwill is secured when I tell you that it looks out for those children who are left to play on the streets on Sabbath afternoon, in order to place them under the influence of the Sabbath School. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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." ”

“ Having married a sister of the late Mr James Wilkie, sen., Mr Rennie took up his residence at his farm on the banks of the Taieri River, near West Taieri, which he improved and cultivated with considerable success. In 1866 he let his farm and left for the Home Country with his wife and daughters. He returned to Otago after an absence of three years, and, having sold his farm, settled down in Dunedin, and began that course of active benevolence for which he was so much distinguished, and in which he continued until his last illness laid him aside. In temperance work he was an enthusiast. ”

“ Although Dr Stuart derived some benefit from his rest, yet it was felt by his office-bearers and people that the strain upon his strength by his manifold and abundant labours was beyond what he could be expected to bear, and in July 1881 the Session again submitted proposals to the congregation to the effect that the services of a properly-qualified probationer or ordained minister should be provided without delay as assistant to Dr Stuart in his pulpit and pastoral work; that the terms of the engagement should be for two years; that a suitable salary should be offered ”