# History of Knox Church Dunedin

HISTORY OF KNOX CHURCH DUNEDIN
BY
JOHN HISLOP LL.D., F.R.S.E.
ONE OF THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH
PREPARED BY REQUEST OF THE OFFICE-BEARERS
WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY
The REV. D. M. STUART D.D.
FIRST MINISTER OF THE CHURCH
Dunedin
J. WILKIE & CO., PRINCES STREET
1892
DUNEDIN:
J. WILKIE & CO., PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS.
PRINCES STREET.
REV. D. M. STUART, D.D.
To the
Ministers, Office-bearers, Members,
and Adherents
of
Knox Church, Dunedin,
This Volume
is affectionately dedicated by
The Author.
PREFACE.
In the preparation of this "History of Knox Church" I have been indebted to the following sources of information:—The carefully kept minutes of the Session and of the Deacons' Court, the office-bearers' Annual Reports, Knox Church Quarterly Statement, The New Zealand Presbyterian, The Otago Daily Times, The Otago Witness, and the Rev. C. S. Ross's Story of the Otago Church and Settlement, and his Otago Education and Educationists.
I have been greatly encouraged and helped in my work by kindly words and hints from Dr Stuart, whose interesting introduction, notes, and reminiscences add largely to the value of the book.
I wish also to express my obligation to the Revision and Publication Committee appointed at my request by the office-bearers of the church. My warmest thanks are due to the Rev. Mr Davidson for the valuable assistance he so readily gave me in the revision of the proofs.
J. H.
Tweed Bank, Dunedin, June 1892.
CONTENTS
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 | 1–9 |
| CHAPTER II. ||
| Biographical Sketch of the Rev. Dr Stuart up to the date of his leaving Home for Dunedin | 10–12 |
| CHAPTER III. ||
| In Memoriam: Captain William Cargill—Mrs Jessie Stuart—Mr C. H. Kettle | 13–19 |
| CHAPTER IV. ||
| Bible Classes—The Minister's Sabbath Morning Class—Mr Reith's (now Mr Chishohn's) Sabbath Afternoon Class—Appeal by the Session—Mrs Burn's Saturday Morning Class—Miss Fitzgerald's Advanced Class—The Weekly Prayer Meeting in Class-room—Prayer Meetings in former years | 20–22 |
| CHAPTER V. ||
| The Sabbath School—The Church School Superintendents: Mr J. Gillies (1860); Mr C. H. Street (1860–75); Mr Duncan Wright (1875–80); Dr Macdonald and Mr W. B. Harlow (1880–83); Mr J. Reith (1884–1890); and Mr W. T. Todd (1890)—Juvenile Industrial Exhibition (1884)—Annual Gift-Day, begun in 1885—Schools at Wakari, N. E. Valley, Ravensbourne, Pine Hill, Mount Cargill, and Leith Valley—Pelichet Bay School: Messrs J. Grant, R. Dalgleish, and W. G. Jenkins—Sabbath School Missionary Boxes | 23–30 ​ |
| CHAPTER VI. ||
| The Sustentation Fund—Its highest point reached in 1875— Collections for the Poor—Ladies' Association—Mrs Welsh, Bible-woman—Collections for Benevolent Institution and Patients' and Prisoners' Aid Society—Other Special Collections | 31–33 |
| CHAPTER VII. ||
| Presbytery enjoins Ministers to visit Goldfields—Dr Stuart and members of Knox Church visit Gabriel's Gully—Mr Bruard's Mission—Canvas Church, Stafford street—Formation of St. Andrew's Congregation, Walker street—Rev. Mr Glasgow—Deacons' Courts of First Church and Knox Church combine to render assistance | 34–36 |
| CHAPTER VIII. ||
| Dr Stuart's Goldfields Reminiscences | 37–47 |
| CHAPTER IX. ||
| Chronological narrative resumed—Collection in aid of Taranaki Settlers—Administration of Baptism—Session protests against some drinking customs—Wesleyans obtain use of church on Sabbath evenings—Assistance to Port Chalmers congregation—Mr H. Gilbert, catechist or missionary—Services at North-East Valley—Session recommends formation of Bible Society—Extract from Annual Report for 1864—Rev. R. Anderson, congregational missionary—Formation of Young Men's Christian Association—Evening Classes for Youths—Congregational Library formed—Collections for neighbouring congregations—Chinese Missionary advocated by Office-bearers—Congregational Debt extinguished in 1867—Rev. J. Chisholm appointed congregational missionary—Kaikorai Church constituted—Rev. R. Hood—Formation of Congregational Missionary Association—Scholarship for Divinity Students established | 48–58 |
| CHAPTER X. ||
| In Memoriam: Mr John Gillles; Mr James Wilkie, senior | 59–63 |
| CHAPTER XI. ||
| Degree of D.D. conferred on the Rev. Mr Stuart—Deacons to hold office for three years—Hymn Book introduced into the Service of Praise—Mr Adam Johnstone—Rev. Dr Paton of New Hebrides visits Dunedin—Messrs Chisholm and Scoullar begin Sabbath Services at Whare Flat in 1874—Ravensbourne Church opened by Drs Stuart and Copland in 1876—Services held there under auspices of Knox Church—The New Church: Preliminary Steps—Site acquired—Contracts let—Completion of the work—Description of the Building | 64–69 ​ |
| CHAPTER XII. ||
| Opening of the New Church—Services by Dr Salmond and Messrs Todd and Will—Social Meeting—Speeches by Dr Stuart and Mr W. N. Blair—Votes of thanks—Bazaar in aid of Building Fund—Minute of the Session—Summary of Building Accounts, December 31, 1876—Efforts to Reduce and Extinguish the Debt on the Church—Mr Robert Wilson—Mr Andrew Cameron | 70–79 |
| CHAPTER XIII. ||
| Ladies of the congregation present the Minister with horse, carriage, and equipments—Minister's Catechetical Service for the Young—Dr Hislop—The Outfield: Mount Cargill, Pine Hill, Leith Valley—Appeal by Session on behalf of Outfield work | 80–83 |
| CHAPTER XIV. ||
| Loss of Office-bearers by removal from Dunedin or other causes—Mr W. T. Glasgow, 1879—Mr J. Borrie, 1880—Mr A. Scoullar, 1883—Mr R. Short, 1885—Mr J. Reith, 1891—Mr Duncan Wright, 1892 | 84–87 |
| CHAPTER XV. ||
| In Memoriam: Mr A. T. Stuart—Mr G. Hepburn—Dr Stuart's Tablet in memory of first elders—Mr E. Gillies | 88–93 |
| CHAPTER XVI. ||
| Introduction of Instrumental Music—Memorial in its favour from members and adherents—Vote of the congregation taken—Sanction of Presbytery obtained—Organ Committee appointed—Subscriptions sought—Mr J. Ross purchases organ in England—Its arrival and erection—Mr A. J. Barth appointed organist—Bazaar in aid of Organ Fund—Abstract of accounts—Valuable services of Mr J. Roberts, and of the Organ Committee—The Choir—Mr A. M. Braik—List of Precentors from the outset | 94–98 |
| CHAPTER XVII. ||
| Assistance to Dr Stuart—Mr H. Gilbert and other Congregational Missionaries—Committee appointed in 1879 to consider question of permanent assistance—Dr Stuart takes a short leave of absence in 1880—Resolution to procure an assistant from Home—Failure to obtain assistant—Pulpit Supply Committee—Mr D. Wright employed for short time—Dr Stuart takes a short holiday at Queenstown—Rev. Mr Treadwell takes charge—Dr Stuart persuaded to visit the Home Country—Generous offer of Messrs Ross and Glendining—Dr Stuart's departure—Pastoral Address—News from Home—Mr Donald Stuart's illness | 99–109 ​ |
| CHAPTER XVIII. ||
| Dr Stuart's return to Dunedin—Meeting of the congregation to welcome him—-Address presented by the Office-bearers—Dr Stuart's reply—Death of Mr Donald Stuart—The Otago Daily Times on Dr Stuart's return and reception | 110–116 |
| CHAPTER XIX. ||
| Office-bearers and congregation resolve to procure a co-pastor for Dr Stuart—Presbytery approves—Commissioners in Home Country appointed to select suitable minister—Memorandum of information—Rev. Mr Davidson appointed—Mr Davidson's arrival and induction—Conversazione to welcome him—Session thank Mr E. Smith and Pulpit Supply Committee, and Dr Dunlop | 117–127 |
| CHAPTER XX. ||
| Biographical Sketch of the Rev. Mr Davidson up to the time of his leaving the Home Country for Dunedin | 128–132 |
| CHAPTER XXI. ||
| In Memoriam: Mr A. Rennie—Dr W. Macdonald—Mr J. Wilkie, jun.—Mr W. N. Blair—Mr H. Kirkpatrick—Mr W. Douglas | 133–145 |
| CHAPTER XXII. ||
| Recently established congregational agencies—Welcome-All Total Abstinence Society—Band of Hope—Young Women's Society—Young Men's Fellowship Union—Miss Smith's evening sewing-class for girls—Sabbath evening services in Old Church Class-room for non-churchgoers—Monthly Musical Entertainment—Conclusion | 146–152 |
| List of Communicants present at the First Communion | 153–154 |
| List of Elders since the constitution of the Session | 155–156 |
| List of Deacons since the constitution of the Deacons' Court | 157–158 |
| Tables | 159–160 |
| Appendix:—Knox Church Annual Report for year ending 30th September, 1891. ||
ILLUSTRATIONS.
| Rev. Dr Stuart | Frontispiece |
| Old Knox Church | To face page 7 |
| The Manse | {{{1}}}„ 16 |
| New Knox Church | {{{1}}}„ 70 |
| Dr Hislop | {{{1}}}„ 81 |
| Rev. A. P. Davidson | {{{1}}}„128 |
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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