# History of Knox Church Dunedin/Chapter 12

CHAPTER XII.
KNOX CHURCH.
​ to in the land they have left. The congregation yesterday must have comprised many of those whose names are closely identified with the early history of Otago, and who were not unacquainted by practical experience with the trials and difficulties incidental to the establishment of this settlement. They certainly have reason to rejoice that the difficulties of colonisation have been in these cases so successfully overcome, and that in regard to the worship of the Creator, as well as in the matter of education and the other adjuncts of civilisation, they and their children will have no reason to regret their fortunes being cast in this land. It is not a matter of surprise that everything yesterday assumed a most cheerful aspect, and that contentment and mutual congratulations were manifest on every side. The acoustic properties of the building are excellent, and the voices of the officiating ministers could be easily heard throughout the most distant part of the nave and galleries.
"The service was opened by the Rev. Professor Salmond calling upon the congregation to worship God by singing the 100th Psalm. Portions of the Scriptures were then read, and other hymns and psalms sung. Thereafter Dr Salmond preached an able and impressive sermon, taking as his text, 'For though I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid on me: yea, woe is unto me if I preach not the Gospel' (1 Cor. ix. 16). The sermon concluded as follows:—'And now, my brethren, here this day in this remotest corner of the earth are we proclaiming that not in vain did the Apostle utter his testimony. It has come hither also. Regions of the earth which his feet traversed lie waste; great cities among whose populations he moved lie in ruins; the churches which he planted have ceased to exist; but in lands of which he knew not his words live; we echo his voice this hour; and we are the inheritors of his spiritual treasures. You have raised this house, a monument of your faith, in the name of the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us, and laid the gifts that have reared it at the feet of Him who for you poured out His precious blood. You have done well—the Lord accept your sacrifice! Your desire is that His praises may fill this house; that His name may echo through it; that prayer in His name may ascend from it like incense; and that the story of His life and death may be told here to successive generations, and the bread of life dispensed to nourish the souls of men to everlasting life. The Lord ​grant it! May Christ fill this house with His glory, here show forth that He liveth for ever, and prove even to multitudes yet unborn who here shall seek His face that the virtue of His blood and the power of His Spirit last unexhausted through all the lapse of time! Now unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.' The doors and passages are so well arranged that after the service the large congregation very quickly dispersed without the least inconvenience. Pleasing reminiscences will long be entertained of the opening of Knox Church, which will henceforth rank as a red-letter day in the history of the Province of Otago."
The Rev. A. B. Todd, of Oamaru, preached in the afternoon of the opening day to a large number of young people and their friends from Eccles. xii. 1: "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth." The evening service was conducted by the Rev. W. Will, of East Taieri, who preached from 2 Cor. v. 14: "For the love of Christ constraineth us." The singing in the morning and evening was led by the choir in a most creditable manner under the leadership of Mr G. M. Thomson. Some of the hymns were exceedingly well sung, especially "Jerusalem, my happy home." The congregation entered into the spirit of the words very heartily. The singing of the children at the afternoon service was led by Mr Wright, and was also very effective. The amounts of the collections at the different services were as follows:—Morning, £459 10s 9d; afternoon, £38 12s lOd; evening, £63 14s 1d: total, £561 17s 8d.
On the evening of the Tuesday following the opening of the new church a social meeting to celebrate the event was held in the old building. Tea and other accessories were bountifully provided by the ladies of the congregation, and the following ladies presided at the tables—Mesdames Baird, Blair, Borrie, Burn, Burt, Cargill, Flanagan, Glasgow, G. Grant, J. Hislop, W. Hislop, Kirkpatrick, Lothian, Mackerras, McQueen, G. Matheson, T. Matheson, T. Moodie, Niven, Norrie, Reith, Scoullar, A. Stewart, W. D. Stewart, Sparrow, Street, Turnbull, Wallace, Whitelaw, Whitson, Wilkie, R. Wilson, and Ziele. After tea, the large assembly adjourned to the new church, which was speedily filled. Dr Stuart occupied the chair, and was supported by the Ven. Archdeacon Edwards, the Rev. Drs Copland and Roseby, the ​Rev. Messrs Chisholm, Lindsay Mackie, J. Gow, W. Will, M. Watt, Johnstone, Todd, J. U. Davis, and others. After the singing of the Hundredth Psalm, and prayer by the Rev. W. Johnstone, of Port Chalmers, addresses were delivered by Dr Stuart, Mr W. N. Blair, Archdeacon Edwards, Mr G. Hepburn, Rev. Dr Copland, Rev. J. Chisholm, Mr John Cargill, Rev. Lindsay Mackie, Mr J. L. Gillies, Rev. Dr Roseby, Mr R. A. Lawson, and Rev. M. Watt. The addresses were exceedingly appropriate, and were well received by the audience, but a full report of them here would occupy too much space. As the speeches of Dr Stuart and Mr W. N. Blair are mainly historical in their character, and are full of interesting reminiscences, the following report of them will no doubt be acceptable. It is taken from the Otago Daily Times of November 8, 1876:—
"Dr Stuart said: Dear Friends—I need scarcely say that I feel jubilant this evening. I am glad to stand under this noble roof, and I am especially glad to be surrounded on this platform by friends and brethren whom I respect and whom I love. And I am glad to have so many hearers in this place. I pray that the prayer which Mr Johnstone offered up may be fulfilled to God's glory, and to your and others' happiness. Allow me just a word or two, though there are numerous speakers to address you on this occasion. I would like to say to you that this church had its origin in a most Christian intention. From the very outset it was composed of Christians of various nationalities and denominations; and so far have I been from making an apology for this that I have always spoken of it as a large cause of rejoicing, and I believe it will always lead me to do so. It led me to think more of Christianity than of Presbyterianism.—(Hear, hear). Not, indeed, that I have been ashamed of Presbyterianism. You know that the blue banner has been waved again and again over your heads. I have asked you to admire and respect it, and to pass it forward to those coming after you. 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 know that in the beginning of the ​city we had the Wesleyans worshipping with us, and indeed I found them better Christians than I at one time thought they were. Dr Stuart here referred to the valuable services of the late Mr John Gillies, and to the liberality of Mr Henry Cook in giving the lease of certain sections in Walker street to the Mission Church, and continued: We were prepared to preach the Gospel to thousands who were at that time quartered in tents. The Wesleyans then, like an elderly dame, wanted to get a house for themselves. We said, 'God be with you.' Mr Archibald Barr and another office-bearer left us. Then the Baptists—they also worshipped with us. Old Dr. Purdie used to protest gently against some parts of our service. He was elected a deacon, but he could not accept the office. Mr Dick and others also left us. However, Knox Church had the Divine blessing, and our labours continued to prosper. Church after church was formed around us. The Gospel was preached with warmth, and evermore drew people to its banner. The Gospel without power! Don't believe it! There is nothing in the world that has the power the Gospel has. Its power is increasing, and it will yet be heard from pole to pole. Well, I have so many worthy friends here this evening who will address cheering words to us, and words of counsel, that I will not further occupy your attention. 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. We have had an immense amount of fervour amongst the members. We have had men from the West and South of England, and from various other parts of that country. We found that the result was extremely pleasant. We worked with efficiency. And the Green Isle has always contributed to our membership and to our prosperity. Knox Church, though it has a thoroughly Scotch name—a name that speaks of its Scottish origin—contains in itself many nationalities.
"Mr W. N. Blair, on being called on, was received with applause. He said: I suppose, as I am convener of the Building Committee, there is no getting out of saying something on this auspicious occasion. The Building Committee have to-night to pronounce their labours at an end, and present you with the result in this handsome edifice, of which they are very proud. I am sure this feeling will be ​shared by every member of the congregation. You are all familiar with the history of the movement for building a new church, so I will only refer to it by stating that, although the movement was begun in 1869 or 1870, the numerous difficulties inseparable from such a large undertaking delayed the actual work till 1874. The present Building Committee was appointed on the 1st April, 1873—a very ominous day. I wonder if the Deacons' Court intended it as a left-handed compliment. If so, we returned the compliment by accepting the first contract on the anniversary of that day, and handed them the church to be opened on the 5th of November—a day of equally happy memory! 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. Although the committee have not been disturbed by internal commotions, yet our course has not been altogether a smooth one. We have had to do continued battle with an enemy that I can only designate in a negative way—his name is, Want of Faith. The enemy met us at every turn. 'You will never build that church; you'll never get in half your subscriptions; you won't get a shilling from the Synod; the bazaar will be a failure.' These were the notes that frequently cheered us on our way. However, all the evil prophecies came to nought; we have built the church, and succeeded in all the minor schemes connected therewith, far beyond our most sanguine expectations. I can, therefore, without peering far into the future, see the church free of debt, and provided with everything befitting the first ecclesiastical edifice and the most prosperous congregation in the colony. The Building Committee and the congregation generally are frequently charged with extravagance in the matter of this church. But if the question is fully considered it will be found that the building is not too grand nor too costly for our requirements, and that we have got full value for our money. It must be remembered that Dunedin has long ceased to be a mere collection of tents and band-boxes that gave indifferent shelter to a race of wanderers, here to-day and gone to-morrow. ​Every place of business and every private house now betokens permanency, and why should our churches not bear the same character? I must confess to having a great veneration for the monks of old, who spent as much in decorating a pillar or an altar as we have done on the whole church. It may be something like sedition to say so here, but I have somewhat of a 'down' on our own peculiar patron, John Knox, for smashing up so many of those fine edifices. In all probability he did what under the circumstances was right, but that does not detract from the depth of feeling that originally called into existence those grand old structures, fit mansions for the Great King. We in Otago have been raising structures for our personal glory and delectation; let us now build up the House of God in a manner befitting the times. I think it was Dr Roseby who happily designated Knox Church as a 'national institution.' It is, therefore, incumbent on us to sustain this high character by erecting a building that will be a credit to the congregation, an ornament to the city, and an example to the whole colony. Now, as to the price we have paid for our church, I frankly confess that it has exceeded my utmost limits, but I am convinced that we have had full value for our money, and there is some satisfaction in knowing that the contractors and workmen have been fully paid for their labour. After raising the structure, the next thing to be done is to 'raise the wind' and pay off the debt. I see no difficulty in doing so if all will put their shoulders to the wheel. In admiring this building—which, I hold, is the finest piece of architecture in New Zealand—we must not lose sight of the architect, Mr Lawson, to whose taste it is entirely due. He deserves the thanks not only of the congregation, but of the whole community, for giving the city such a handsome structure—one in which every line bears the impress of genius and study, and in which a single eyesore or misproportion cannot be detected. I have now, Dr Stuart, on behalf of the Building Committee, to present you with the key of the new church, and in doing so I wish that you may be long spared to occupy its pulpit, and be the mainspring in the machinery that makes Knox Church a national institution for the diffusion of good. I do not say that this key will open the front door, but it is typical of the event. Dr Stuart made a suitable reply. The key, which is a very handsome gold one, was manufactured by Mr George Young, of Princes street. ​It bears the inscription:—'Knox Church, Dunedin, 5th November, 1876. D. M. Stuart, from the Building Committee.'"
After the delivery of the addresses, and music by the choir, the following resolution was carried amid loud applause:—"That a hearty vote of thanks be tendered to the ladies of the congregation who so bountifully provided for our wants in the Old Church; to the speakers and other friends who surround the chairman on the platform this evening; to Mr Thomson and his choir, who have contributed so much to the harmony of the evening's proceedings; to the committee, to whose able and eflficient services we are so much indebted for the admirable arrangements of the evening; and last though not least, to the Building Committee, who had charge of the erection of the church, and who are deserving of hearty congratulations upon the completion of their labours." A vote of thanks to the chairman, Dr Stuart, was carried by acclamation.
A bazaar in aid of the building fund was held in the University Hall (now the Colonial Bank) on March 21st, 1876, and the four following days. It was formally opened by the Hon. Sir John Richardson, and was remarkably successful, the result being that the large sum ot £2405 14s 7d was added to the building fund. The unprecedented success of the bazaar was undoubtedly due to the enthusiastic energy of the ladies in charge of the stalls, and the generous sympathy of the people of Dunedin and of the numerous visitors who were in town at the time. The Synod of Otago and Southland voted the sum of £2000 in aid of the building fund.
At the first meeting of the Session after the opening of the new church the following resolution was adopted:—"The Session deem it right and becoming that they should place on record their devout thankfulness to Almighty God, the Giver of all good, for the highly favourable and gratifying circumstances under which the new church was opened for Divine service on the 5th inst. They desire to recognise the kind hand of God in the favourable weather; the very friendly feeling manifested to the congregation by their Christian brethren of other churches and denominations; the liberality of the people; and the highly appropriate services which were conducted by the Revs. Professor Salmond, A. B. Todd, and W. Will. The Session ​desire also to acknowledge the full notices of the proceedings by the newspapers of the city, and instruct the clerk to insert in the minute-book copies of the Otago Daily Times reports of the opening of the church, and of the social meeting which was held on the following Tuesday."
The following is a summary of the church Building Accounts as at the close of 1876:—
| Total Expenditure on New Church | Total Expenditure on New Church | Total Expenditure on New Church | Total Expenditure on New Church | Total Expenditure on New Church | £17,757 | 18 | 4 |
| Receipts— | Subscriptions paid | £8721 | 8 | 0 |
| | First moiety of Synod grant | 1000 | 0 | 0 |
| | Ordinary church revenue | 500 | 0 | 0 |
| | Proceeds of two soirees | 183 | 16 | 9 |
| | Proceeds of bazaar | 2405 | 14 | 7 |
| | Collection on opening day | 561 | 17 | 8 |
| | Total Receipts | £8372 | 17 | 0 |
| | Liabilities | 9385 | 1 | 4 |
| | | | | | £17,757 | 18 | 4 |
| PARTICULARS OF LIABLITIES. ||||||||
| Mortgage on Old Church | Mortgage on Old Church | Mortgage on Old Church | Mortgage on Old Church | Mortgage on Old Church | £1500 | 0 | 0 |
| Mortgage on New Church | Mortgage on New Church | Mortgage on New Church | Mortgage on New Church | Mortgage on New Church | 5000 | 0 | 0 |
| Debentures issued | Debentures issued | Debentures issued | Debentures issued | Debentures issued | 1465 | 0 | 0 |
| Due banking account | Due banking account | Due banking account | Due banking account | Due banking account | 1420 | 1 | 4 |
| | Total liabilities as above | Total liabilities as above | Total liabilities as above | Total liabilities as above | £9385 | 1 | 4 |
At the annual congregational meeting in February 1878 it was shown that the debt on the new church had been reduced by the sum of £676 16s, and that the total liabilities of the congregation stood at £8701 8s 8d, while the total cost of the church, including walls, railing, lamps, architect's fees, &c., was £18,332 18s 7d. After full discussion it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Robert Wilson, that a committee should be appointed to make an effort during the year to reduce the debt on the church by at least £3000. Mr Wilson was appointed convener, and it was mainly through his indefatigable exertions that the labours of the committee were attended with a large measure of success. At the next annual meeting Mr Wilson reported that £1800 3s 7d had been collected by his committee, and that a further sum of £601 3s had been promised. The balance-sheet of the Deacons' Court for the year ending December 31, 1878, showed the debt of the congregation to be £6811 13s 5d, being a reduction of ​£2573 7s 11d in two years, although during the same period a further amount of £2389 8s 8d had been paid for interest, stone wall, iron railing, lamps, architects' commission, laying off grounds, &c. At the close of the financial year ending 30th Sept., 1890, the liabilities of the congregation were reduced to £2704 6s 6d. This gratifying reduction was greatly helped by the handsome legacy of £500 bequeathed to the church fund by the late Mrs John Gillies. It may be interesting to know that from the date of the opening of the new church till September 30, 1890, the sum of £5831 6s 9d was paid by the Deacons' Court for interest on the debt for the new church.
The appointment of the Rev. Mr Davidson as colleague to Dr Stuart greatly quickened the desire of the office-bearers to relieve the church fund of the whole of the remaining debt, and early in 1890 Mr Andrew Cameron, a member of the Session, undertook to initiate and carry through a scheme for the total extinction of the debt by the end of the year 1891. In this arduous undertaking Mr Cameron laboured most zealously and unweariedly; and through the gratifying liberality of the members and friends of Knox Church he was able to report that at the beginning of the present year (1892) £2800—fully the amount of the congregation's indebtedness on September 30, 1890—had been subscribed and paid. The Deacons' Court, at a meeting held on January 5, 1892, cordially adopted the following resolution regarding Mr Cameron's work:—"The Deacons' Court record their deep sense of gratitude to Mr Andrew Cameron, one of their number, for his indefatigable labours in successfully raising by subscriptions the sum of £2800 during the past two years for the purpose of paying off the debt on Knox Church. The Court also record their thanks to those members of the congregation and others who subscribed the amount raised, and their recognition of the goodness of the Great Head of the Church in the success that has attended Mr Cameron's efforts." Knox Church may therefore be regarded as now virtually free of debt.