History of Knox Church Dunedin

Front matter

HISTORY OF KNOX CHURCH DUNEDIN

BY

JOHN HISLOP LL.D., F.R.S.E.

Introduction

INTRODUCTION.

Some forty-seven years ago, leading men among the laity of Scotland realised their obligation to follow with the means of grace the increasing numbers of their fellow-comitrymen who were leaving every year for the colonies, animated with the passion

To rear an independent shed, And get the lips they loved unborrowed bread."

This conviction was widely prevalent in the Free Church of Scotland, and found expression in the labours of her Colonial Committee. Some years ago the Committee wrote asking to be furnished with memoirs of our congregations as a valuable contribution to the Church history of the future; and with the view of furthering the project I put myself in communication with ministers and others in the colony, but, I regret to say, with indifferent success. In prospect of the opening of New Knox Church the subject was brought under consideration, with the result that in 1876 Dr Hislop, one of the elders, undertook at the request of the office-bearers to write a memoir of Knox Church—a work which he performed most satisfactorily.

The prospect of the extinction of the debt on the church at the close of 1891—now happily effected, largely through the labours of Mr Andrew Cameron, one of the elders—being properly regarded as an event of great importance in our congregational history, the office-bearers asked Dr Hislop to recast his memoir and continue it to the present time.

I need scarcely say that Dr Hislop is known to the membership of Knox Church by services stretching over many years, and by his intimate connection with education. His training at the Normal School and the University of Edinburgh and the practical knowledge he acquired as a parish schoolmaster I regard as a providential preparation for the work to which he was called in this colony—the work of shaping and building up the education system of Otago, and afterwards that of the Colony. Educationists of distinction have spoken with approval of the former work, which embraced primary schools, district high schools, secondary schools of a higher grade, and a university. He had, no doubt, the backing of such enthusiastic advocates of education in Otago as Mr James Macandrew, Sir John Richardson, the Cargills, the Gillieses, the Hon. Thomas Dick, Hon. James Fulton, Hon. W. H. Reynolds, Sir F. Dillon Bell, Sir Robert Stout, Sir Julius Vogel, J. Hyde Harris, John McGlashan, Donald Reid, and others; but his practical knowledge was in constant requisition to meet emergencies and overcome difficulties. His able services to education have secured him a permanent page in colonial history; and his work in connection with Knox Church will ever be held in grateful remembrance.

I venture to take advantage of these introductory notes to place on record my abiding sense of the great kindness and encouragement received by me and mine on our arrival in Otago. As soon as our good ship the "Bosworth" dropped anchor in Otago waters (January 1860), a boat was seen leaving Port Chalmers jetty, and making straight for our vessel. Pilot Driver pronounced it to be Captain Thomson's boat, and added that he had with him the Rev. William Johnstone, the minister of the Port. On boarding us they gave us a hearty welcome, wished me comfort and usefulness in the ministry to which I had been called, and presented me with gifts of strawberries and cream, rolls of fresh butter, and a basket of bread—gifts which were as considerate as they were appropriate after our voyage of one hundred and twenty days, and stirred up in an invalid member of my family a pulse of hope. Then began a friendship which in the case of Captain Thomson lasts to this day, and in the case of Mr Johnstone—the faithful in things great and small—continued till he was called to the home above.

At the first opportunity I proceeded to Dunedin to report myself. On stepping ashore, Mr John Gillies (Resident Magistrate) and Mr John Hyde Harris (District Judge) welcomed me with a warmth which secured thenceforward my constant affection. They conducted me to the church and manse, which were then in course of erection, and gave me assurance of hearty assistance in every work I might undertake for the spread of reHgion and the building up of the Church of God. I found my way to the Manse, and received kindness and welcome from Mrs Burns in the absence of her husband, who had left for Invercargill, partly on a visit to his daughter Mrs Ellis, but chiefly to organise into a congregation the scattered settlers of the district. On my leaving, Mrs Burns loaded me with fruits from her garden. These were greatly admired on board the "Bosworth," especially the gooseberries, which were as large as plums and gloriously ripe.

On the following day we made our way to Dunedin. The day was bright with sunshine, and we greatly enjoyed our passage up the bay, its shores fringed with wooded banks, and showing here and there a clearing with its white cottage and green pasture, and cattle feeding among grass up to their knees. As it had become known that Mrs Stuart was in feeble health, the late Messrs James Paterson and George Hepburn, with kindly forethought, were at the jetty to welcome us, having brought with them an arm-chair, in which they placed our invalid and carried her to our quarters in the house of Mr John Duncan. There she made rapid improvement under the medical care of Dr Purdie and the skilful nursing of Mrs Duncan. The kindness then shown us, and oft repeated afterwards, bound us to the Duncans with cords that death alone can sunder. It was my privilege to visit both Mr Hepburn and Mr Paterson at the time when they were passing through the valley of the shadow of death, and, as I looked on them and prayed with them, their considerate service to the wife of my youth always rose up in my mind, and gave softness to my voice and tenderness to my hand, as I tried by prayer and sympathy to help them in their dying hour. I must not forget that we owed to the late Mr James Wilkie, senior, the occupancy of a pleasant cottage till the manse was ready for us. Then began on the part of Mr Wilkie services to the Gospel and kindness to myself which never failed till life's close. These are continued by Mrs Wilkie, despite advancing years, and I am sure will end only with her departure hence.

In illustration of the spirit of the founders of Knox Church, I may mention that before I was a week in Dunedin Messrs Gillies and Wilkie placed in my hands a purse containing seventy sovereigns, no insignificant sum in those early days of the settlement. When I communicated the fact to my wife she advised me to set apart twenty of them as a contribution to the building fund of the church. This was done, and they found their way to the plate on the opening day.

Our nearest minister to the south was the Rev. William Will, of Taieri. One bright afternoon shortly after our arrival I was summoned away from the preparation of my sermon to speak to him and his wife. On going out there confronted me Mr Will, on a substantial mare, attended by her foal, which was trying its budding teeth on the white clover of the street line. The foal in due time developed into the well-known "Fergus," which carried his owner for a number of years with blithe heart and sure foot through a parish compared with which the parish of to-day may be regarded as no bigger than a cabbage garden. Mrs Will, before dismounting, welcomed us to Otago in words hearty and gracious. Then Mr Will said "Take this basket, which contains samples of the products of our country." When the contents were turned out, they were found to consist of butter, honey, and fruits of various kinds. After rest and refreshment, I saw my friends mounted; and, with the heads of their steeds turned homewards, they cantered away at a seven miles an hour pace, "Fergus" following at their heels and raising aloft now his head and now his hind feet.

The welcome extended to us by the settlers was hearty beyond expression, and assumed many forms. As we talked over the goodness and favour so copiously showered upon us, there sprang up in our souls the resolution to devote ourselves to the ministries of grace and beneficence to which we had been called. I can say of one of the co-partnership that the vow was kept in the letter and in the spirit till the Master called her to His service above. The other is still in the Church militant, and, while his supreme desire is to serve his generation according to the will of God, he has to confess that, owing in part to the lack of fireside counsel, he has in many directions come short of his purposes, and needs the forbearance and forgiveness alike of God and man.

D. M. S.

Chapter 1

History of Knox Church, Dunedin.

CHAPTER I.

The earlier Churches and Ministers of Otago—Resolution to establish a second Presbyterian Church in Dunedin—Preliminary proceedings—Two Committees appointed—Presbytery approves of proposal—Commissioners to select Minister at Home—Instructions to Commissioners—Subscriptions collected—Sites for Church and Manse acquired—Contracts for Buildings—Foundation-stone of Church laid—Church enlarged—Class-room erected—Rev. Mr Stuart appointed Minister of Knox Church—His arrival with his family—New Church opened—Mr Stuart's induction—First communion—First congregational meeting—First election of office-bearers—Summary of principles that have guided office-bearers, and of the work undertaken by them—Annual Report of their proceedings—The Quarterly Statement.

THE Rev. Thomas Burns, the first minister of the Otago Settlement, arrived at Pert Chahners in the ship "Philip Laing" on April 11, 1848, at the head of the second company of immigrants. The ship "John Wycliffe," with Captain William Cargill and the first band of pioneers, had reached Otago on the 23rd of the previous month. For six years Mr (afterwards Dr) Burns was the only Presbyterian minister in Otago, and his charge extended for a considerable distance to the south of Dunedin, and for many miles to the north. In 1854 he was joined by the Rev. William Will and the Rev. William Bannerman, and shortly afterwards the Presbytery of Dunedin was duly constituted. Mr Will was settled in the Taieri district, with a charge extending from Green Island to Waihola inclusive, and as far inland as settlement had reached. To Mr Bannerman was assigned the southern portion of the Otago settlement, and for a number of years his labours embraced the whole of the inhabited districts south of Waihola. In 1858, the Rev. William Johnston was appointed minister of Port Chalmers and the surrounding localities, and in the same year a separate charge was formed at Waihola under the Rev. John McNicol. The Rev. A. B. Todd, now of Oamaru, was inducted to the ministerial charge of Tokomairiro and neighbouring localities in 1859. Although Messrs Bannerman and Will were thus relieved from the oversight of important portions of their original charges, yet, owing to the exten of settlement, their arduous pastoral labours were far from being lessened.

About the year 1857, a number of settlers in Dunedin and neighbourhood, who in the Home Country had been members of Presbyterian, Congregationalist, and other churches, met for public worship on the Sabbath in the Mechanics' Institute, under the ministry of the Rev. Mr Jeffreys, an English clergyman who had taken up his residence in Otago. Mr Jeffreys was a most worthy man, and was held in high esteem. It is believed that he would have been welcomed as a coadjutor by the ministers and office-bearers of the Otago Presbyterian Church had he consented to join them, but the very precarious state of his health prevented him from entering into any engagement of a permanent nature.

The first Church of England clergyman settled in Dunedin was the Rev. (now the Venerable Archdeacon) John A. Fenton, who arrived from Auckland in 1852, and conducted divine service in the Court-house till his people had erected a church of their own. Mr. Fenton continued in the active service of the ministry, first in Dunedin, and afterwards at Waikouaiti, till his return to England in 1863. He proved himself a zealous, faithful, and liberal-minded clergyman; and, there being no other minister in the Waikouaiti district in those days, his ministrations were largely taken advantage of and much appreciated by members of the Presbyterian and other denominations, by whom he was held in very high esteem. He was succeeded in his Dunedin charge, in 1859, by the Rev. (now the Venerable Archdeacon) Edward George Edwards, who has from first to last maintained the most pleasant and friendly relations with the minister and congregation of Knox Church, and has often manifested his sympathy by his presence among them on occasions both of rejoicing and of mourning.

Although Mr Burns had thus been relieved of the spiritual oversight of a large portion of the district originally under his care, and had now the assistance of two fellow-labourers in the work of the ministry in Dunedin and neighbourhood, yet the increasing population and his own advancing years led his people, about the year 1858, to entertain the belief that the time had come when a second Presbyterian minister should be obtained for the town, and several meetings of the office-bearers were held to consider the question. About the same time Mr Jeffreys was compelled by failing health to intimate to those attending his ministrations that he could no longer continue his labours among them. His congregation accordingly held several conferences, which resulted in a resolution to send Home for a minister. These deliberations amongst the members of each of the two separate congregations were at first unknown to those of the other, and, on becoming acquainted with each others' views, they wisely resolved to act in concert in forming a second church and in securing a suitable minister for it.

A meeting of the members of both congregations was accordingly held in October, 1858, when a committee was appointed to ascertain whether the people were willing and able to support a second minister in Dunedin without diminishing the incomes of those already in the field. A second meeting was held about two months afterwards, when the committee were able to report that 157 persons had pledged themselves to contribute towards the Sustentation Fund additional sums to those they were already paying, which would amount in all to £315. These subscriptions soon reached £330, thus proving that, instead of being diminished, the payments to the other ministers would be increased. It was thereupon very heartily resolved to take immediate steps to erect a church in the northern part of the town, and to procure a minister for it. It was agreed to guarantee an income of at least £300 a year with a free manse. At this meeting two committees were appointed to carry out the resolutions which had been agreed to. One committee, consisting of the Rev. Robert Hood, and Messrs John Gillies, James Macandrew, John Mollison, and James Wilkie, was charged with the duty of obtaining the sanction of the Presbytery to the formation of a second ministerial charge in Dunedin, and of securing a suitable minister. The other committee, which was composed of the Rev. Robert Hood, and Messrs Robert Christie, John Gillies, Thomas B. Gillies, John Hyde Harris, George Hepburn, James Macandrew, William Mills, and James Paterson, was appointed to collect subscriptions for the erection of a church and manse, to procure suitable sites and plans, and to proceed with both buildings with the least possible delay. Mr John Gillies was appointed convener of both committees, and he entered on the work entrusted to him with characteristic earnestness and zeal. It is not too much to say that to that gentleman's unwearied efforts and great wisdom is to be attributed, in a large measure, the remarkable success of the undertaking. It is due to the late Dr Burns to state that in all these measures he cordially concurred, and rendered to the promoters of the scheme all the assistance in his power.

On the memorial for the formation of a second charge in Dunedin being laid before the Presbytery, it was warmly supported by the Rev. Dr Burns, and was most readily assented to by the other members. The committee, with the concurrence of the Presbytery, resolved to entrust the selection of a minister to Dr Bonar (the Convener of the Colonial Committee of the Free Church), Dr Thomas Guthrie, and Professor James Miller, of the Edinburgh University. In order to give those gentlemen as correct an idea as possible of all the circumstances of the case, and thereby to enable them to judge the more accurately as to the kind of minister that would prove suitable, Mr Gillies, by appointment of the committee, prepared and transmitted to them a memorial containing a minute and interesting history of the Church in Otago up to that time, and a very able and exhaustive account of the condition of the Province respecting ecclesiastical, social, and other matters. It was mentioned in the memorial that the primitive church building, which had been enlarged from time to time to meet the wants of the ever-increasing number of worshippers, had "now reached the utmost limit which safety would warrant," that it had become much too small for the congregation, and that at the immediately preceding communion about 400 persons had partaken of the Lord's Supper. It was also stated that for the first half year after the Presbytery of Otago was constituted in 1854, the Sustentation Fund had amounted to £201, yielding a half-yearly dividend of £67 to each of the three ministers; that the fund had steadily increased; and that for the last half of the year 1858 it had reached the sum of £521, giang a half-yearly allowance of about £104 to each of the five ministers employed. It was further stated that the town of Dunedin and the surrounding districts, under Dr Burns's care, "contained a scattered population of about 2600."

The following extracts from the memorial are worthy of a place in this record:—"From the peculiar temptations incident to colonial life, it is of the utmost importance that a pious, energetic, godly minister be settled amongst us—one who would take a particular interest in securing the hearts of young men for public good, and who would visit and allure the people to church-going habits. Our population and our church members are composed of those who at Home were members of other churches besides the Free Church, and our minister would therefore require to be large-minded, prudent, affable, gentle, yet firm, and ready for every good work. It is desirable that he be vigorous in health, but not a young man—a man rather of some experience in the ministry and in the business of Church Courts. 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. Our past experience in Otago and our knowledge of the people and of those who will be his co-presbyters, warrant us in assuring to any such minister not only a hearty welcome but a comfortable home in one of the most important positions in which a minister of the Gospel can be placed." As showing their thorough appreciation of the immense importance of a right selection being made, and the great dread which seemed to fill the minds of the founders of Knox Church at the bare idea of an unsuitable minister being sent them, we insert the following extract from Mr Gillies's letter, which accompanied the memorial:—"We really need an able, pious, active, godly minister. We cannot have him too soon, as every day's delay is a great loss; but, at the same time, allow me to add that the appointment of a minister inferior to what we have endeavoured to describe would be an awful calamity to this Church and Province. I pray and trust that you may be rightly directed."

It may interest the present generation to know the spirit which animated the founders of the congregation. They were wont to meet weekly to ask God to extend His direction to the commissioners for selecting a minister. The late Messrs J. Gillies, J. Hyde Harris, T. B. Gillies, C. H. Kettle, and C. H. Street, are said to have taken part in these meetings.

Meanwhile, the Church and Manse Building Committee had not been idle; for, in the course of a few weeks, a sum exceeding £900 was subscribed—a comparatively large amount in those early days. Mr W. H. Reynolds is described as having been "particularly active in obtaining subscriptions." Mr J. Hyde Harris presented the Committee with the two quarter-acre sections at the corner of Great King street and Frederick street as a site for the church. There was at first some difficulty experienced in obtaining a site for the Manse. The Committee recognised the hand of Divine Providence in the circumstance that the three quarter-acre sections on which the Manse stands had been for many years withheld from sale, on account of a road which then passed through them, and that, just at the time when a site at a considerable distance was about to be purchased, the reserve was removed from the sections, which were then secured for the Manse, at the upset price of £37 10s. for the whole.

Mr W. Langlands, architect, prepared plans and specifications for both church and manse, free of charge; and in August, 1859, the Committee accepted Messrs Monson's offer to erect the church for £1997 10s. The church was calculated to contain 578 sittings, with provision for enlargement when found necessary. In November, 1859, Messrs J. & W. Somerville's offer to erect the manse for £625 was accepted. The foundation-stone of the church was laid by Mr J. Hyde Harris on November 3, 1859, with the customary ceremonial. The Rev. Dr Burns also assisted on the occasion. On the suggestion of Mr Hyde Harris the building was named "Knox Church." In connection with the interesting event of the day a social meeting was. held in the First Church in the evening, at which there was a large attendance. After a suitable address by Mr James Macandrew, wha occupied the chair, Mr John Gillies, as convener, read a report of the various steps that had been taken by the two committees. The meeting was afterwards addressed by the Rev. E. G. Edwards and Messrs T. B. Gillies, C. H. Kettle, and Thomas Dick.

OLD KNOX CHURCH.

In November, 1859, information was received from Dr Bonar that the Rev. Donald McNaughton Stuart, minister of the Presbyterian Church, Falstone, Northumberlandshire, had been selected as minister. On the 27th of January, 1860, Mr Stuart, with his wife and three children arrived at Port Chalmers on board the ship "Bosworth." They were kindly entertained as guests for three weeks in the family of Mr John Duncan, now of Corner Bush. They then removed to a house given rent-free by the late Mr J. Wilkie, which they occupied till they entered the manse on the 3rd of April, 1860. Mr Stuart lost no time in beginning to visit the people and to perform other pastoral work. About that time Dr Burns was deputed by the Presbytery to visit the southern parts of the Province, and during his absence the services in the First Church were conducted by Mr Stuart.

The new church was opened for divine service on the 6th of May, 1860. The Rev. Dr Burns preached in the forenoon from the text, Mark viii. 36 and 37, "What shall it profit," &c. The afternoon service was conducted by Mr Stuart, his text being John xi. 26 and 27, "Whosoever liveth and beheveth in me," &c. The Rev. Mr Will preached in the evening from 2 Corinthians viii. 9, "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ," &c. The collection at the three services amounted to £169 15s. lOd. The collection at the First Church on the same day was in aid of Knox Church building fund, and it amounted to £22 2s. 8d., the total collection for the day thus reaching the sum of £191 18s. 6d.

Mr Stuart was inducted by the Presbytery on the 16th of May, 1860. The Rev. Dr Burns presided, and preached from 2 Kings v. 14. The Presbytery appointed Mr George Hepburn and the Rev. Robert Hood, elders in the First Church, to assist in forming a temporary session for Knox Church. Shortly after his induction, the ladies of the congregation presented their mniister with a communion service, pulpit gown, &c. The first meeting of the temporary session was held on May 29, 1860, and the first communion was celebrated on the 17th of the following month, on which occasion Captain Cargill and Mr. John Gillies assisted as elders. The number that communicated was about 300. The first congregational meeting was held on the 28th of June in the same year. On that occasion the Building Committee submitted a report of their proceedings. They showed that their liabilities for manse site, building of church and manse, minister's passage-money, fencing, &c., were about £2030, and that their receipts were—from Church Trustees, for the manse, £225; subscriptions and collections, £1037; total, £1262; thus leaving a deficiency of about £1668. The unpaid subscriptions amounted to £310, of which only about £100 were afterwards recovered. The meeting very heartily resolved to clear off the debt with as little delay as possible, and 87 of the members present subscribed on the spot £614 towards that object. At the same meeting the following resolutions were severally adopted:—That the sittings in the church should be let at such rate or rates as might be fixed by the Deacons' Court; that six elders and six deacons should be elected by the votes of the congregation; that a congregational prayer meeting should be held weekly; that Mr William McLelland should be elected precentor; and that the minister, Messrs J. Hyde Harris, E. B. Cargill, T. B. Gillies, and T. Dick should be appointed Trustees of the Church property.

Mr William Gowans acted as church officer till his appointment as attendant of the Supreme Court. He was succeeded in Oct., 1860, by Mr Thomas Park, who has ever since faithfully performed the duties of his office, with scarcely a day's intermission, except when he obtained leave of absence for a short time in 1881, on account of weak health.

The first election of office-bearers took place in July, 1860, with the following result:—Elders elected: Capt. William Cargill, Messrs John Gillies, John Hyde Harris, George Hepburn, James Wilkie, and the Rev. Robert Hood. Deacons elected: Messrs Edward Bowes Cargill, Thomas Bannatyne Gillies, Charles Henry Kettle, John Logan, Robert Short, and Charles Henry Street. Between the date of the election and the day fixed for the induction of the elders-elect. Captain Cargill was called away to his rest (August 6th, 1860), at the age of 76 years.

At the first meeting of the newly-appointed elders, Mr John Gillies was elected Session Clerk. He held the office continuously till his lamented death in July, 1871; when he was succeeded by Mr John Borrie, a member of the Session, who ably discharged the duties of the office till his removal to Invercargill in September, 1880. Mr Colin McKenzie Gordon was appointed his successor; and the duties of Session Clerk have ever since been fulfilled by him in a most efficient and satisfactory manner. The first meeting of the Deacons' Court was held on August 23, 1860, when Mr. Robert Short was appointed Clerk, and Mr C. H. Street, Treasurer to the Court. Since Mr Short's resignation in 1864, the office of Clerk to the Deacons' Court has been held successively by Messrs Edmund Smith, C. McK. Gordon, W, T. Glasgow, George M. Thomson, and P. G. Pryde. Mr Street rendered valuable service to the Church as its Treasurer for upwards of fourteen years—up to the time of his leaving for England, in the beginning of 1875. He was succeeded in the Treasurership by Mr Walter Hislop, who still holds the office.

The elders and deacons, soon after their appointment, resolved to meet at least once a month; and the matters that have engaged their attention have been numerous and varied. While they have ever given careful consideration to strictly congregational affairs, they have also from the outset manifested much interest in the welfare of the general community. They have been hearty and liberal in their support of missionary and other schemes of Christian usefulness in which their own church has been engaged; while their relations with other denominations have been of a friendly and satisfactory nature. They have also taken an interest in those questions of ecclesiastical polity that have from time to time engaged the consideration of the Church Courts, and have always been in favour of reasonable progress.

The office-bearers submit to the congregation at each annual meeting a report for the preceding year of their own proceedings and of the work accomplished by the several agencies and schemes connected with the church. The annual report contains also the names of the elders, deacons, Sabbath School teachers, and office-bearers of the different committees and societies engaged in the church work. Abstracts of the congregational accounts are also furnished. For some years past a quarterly statement relating to the affairs of the congregation has also been placed in the hands of members and adherents.