SOCIAL MEETING AT RIVER TERRACE, ISLINGTON. lower classes of society, entered into and prosperity begin to return, and have, as a lengthened and eloquent explanation I hope, launched forth upon a career of of the great service rendered to Scotland increasing usefulness. It was, I assure you, by the operation of Forbes Mackenzie's with considerable misgivings that I entered Act, and concluded his address as fol- upon this sphere some eight weeks ago. I lows: I am one of the few total absti- felt there was something of rashness in the nence ministers in Edinburgh. I am a experiment. The long rows of empty pews total abstainer on principle; and I am seemed to sound in my ear, "Ichabod," the bound to say it, that I do as much work glory has forsaken this place; and I feared upon water as any man on wine, and far that a few months might indicate that I had more than many of my brethren do on made a great mistake. I begin to be of a wine. I have tried wine, and I have tried different opinion, and that opinion is largely water. I am far healthier on water than I based upon two or three cheering considerawas on wine. (Loud applause.) My adage tions. First, there is the thorough unanimity is, and I want that to be the adage of every and cordial good-will of the existing congreman: "Water, water every where, and not a gation. If the nucleus be not very large, it drop of drink." (Laughter.) Since I be- is at all events very good. There is no came a total abstainer my head is clearer, offending member; but, on the contrary, my health has been stronger, my heart has every one is more hearty than another. been lighter, and my purse has been Let us encourage the social spirit, my heavier; and if these are not four good friends, the spirit which animates such reasons for becoming a total abstainer, I meetings as the present. And the only have not a word more to say on behalf of way to evoke a general glow of the social total abstinence. (Loud cheers.) spirit is to act upon the scriptural maxim, "A man that has friends must show himself friendly." Some people have said to me, "Oh, you Presbyterians are so cold, so stiff-no geniality, no warmth about you. You don't come forward, you don't speak to one." I have asked, "Did you ever make any friendly advance-did you speak?" Oh, no, they had not done that. They expected there was to be no thawing of the ice on their side; it was all to be on the other. That is not the way to promote a social spirit. We must approach each other, get into intercourse, and see whether the touch of a warm hand, the smile of a frank face, will not thaw the ice of chill social reserve. In the second place, there is a growing conviction in my mind, that in London, and especially in Islington, the preaching of the simple Gospel, without The Chairman addressed the meeting as mysticism or affectation, will meet with follows: My dear Christian friends,-I success. If a man sincerely and earnestly have no doubt we all feel this evening that presses the claims of Christ upon the people, we have cause for gratitude and praise- depending, not on the refinements of philo you, that the days of your congregational sophy, not on the brilliancies of rhetoric, widowhood are ended; and I, that I find not upon any form of sensation preaching, myself married to so united and warm- but upon the might of that name, he will hearted a people. I need not say what succeed. It is encouraging that, in this pleasure I feel in meeting you to-night, on quarter, we are not thwarted by an exclusive the occasion of our first social reunion or sectarian spirit. All who believe in the our induction soireé, as we may call it-for Lord Jesus Christ are disposed to rejoice in though it is now two months since the in- the efforts of others to proclaim the truth as duction took place, we have hitherto had no it is in Jesus. Under these circumstances opportunity of meeting one another in this I have good hope that, by the blessing of friendly and social way. It is not without God, the Presbyterian Church of River advantage, however, that this meeting has Terrace will grow. A celebrated Doctor in been postponed, as during the interval we Edinburgh said to me before I crossed the have had the opportunity, in some small border, "Ah, England is the land of measure, of becoming acquainted with each promise!” That seemed encouraging. He other, and, as I trust, of gaining each other's went on, "But Scotland is the land of perconfidence. We have furthermore, under formance." I venture, however, to believe the blessing of God, seen the tide of favour that England may prove, in relation to the A SOCIAL meeting of the congregation of River Terrace Presbyterian Church and friends was held in the lecture-hall beneath the church on Monday evening. The lecture-hall was well filled, there being between 300 and 400 persons present. The chair was taken by the Rev. Mr. Davidson, who has recently been inducted as Presbyterian Minister in River Terrace. After the company had partaken of an excellent service of tea and cake, and had joined in singing a hymn, 典 345 always a successful learner, and that he that watereth is watered himself. In the They will find that the teacher is thing to advance the welfare of the church. third place, let every one of us do someHow we may co-operate it is impossible to say; but each one, guided by observation and discretion, and aided by the Spirit of God, may do somewhat. emerge from the clouds of its comparative blessing of the Most High, will this church Then, by the despondency, and, rising like some tall cliff above the storm, show, resting on its brow, the sunlight of Christian prosperity. (Mr. Davidson was listened to with the deepest attention, and with frequent expressions of assent and applause. hearty cheers.) He sat down amid Presbyterian Church, a land, not of promise activities of the congregation. Let them only, but of performance also. In the third become, for example, Sabbath school teachplace, I am confirmed in the favourable ers. view I take in our prospects by the large number of young men who are beginning to flock to our sanctuary. largely inhabited by young men who have Islington is business engagements in London. Some of these are Presbyterian from their early associations in Ireland and Scotland, and it is natural for them to come to a Presbyterian place of worship. young Englishmen in the neighbourhood But intelligent take an interest in the Presbyterian Church, and when the Young Men's Christian Association in connection with the congregation is fully established, it will be an additional instrumentality in attracting young men. In the fourth place, the more I hold intercourse with intelligent Christians, the more I am convinced that Presbyterianism is a system well adapted for England. Mr. Paton then said that he had been people say, "Oh, your Presbyterianism is to Manchester to prosecute the call to Mr. Some one of the deputation which had proceeded well enough for Scotland or the North of Davidson. He had found the task of the Ireland, but it won't do here. The English deputation no easy one. will be either Episcopalians or Congrega- pain that he helped to sever a tie which he tionalists." I do not believe a word of it. saw to be so close and tender as that beIt was with real Presbyterianism I hold to be a system pro- tween Mr. Davidson and his former congrefoundly in harmony with the principles of gation. The affection they bore him was the British constitution, peculiarly English evidently no strained or affected feeling, but because peculiarly representational, and a deep, downright, honest affection of the commending itself to sagacious and moder- heart. When they saw, however, that the ate minds by being equally removed from River Terrace people were to take Mr. oligarchy on the one hand, and democracy Davidson away, and that Mr. Davidson on the other. At the same time, I cannot himself recognised that the claims of the too strongly state, that my mission here is London congregation were paramount, they not to Presbyterianize, but to evangelize. entreated the deputation to perform towards My ambition for this church is not that its Mr. Davidson faithfully and tenderly those members be called Presbyterians, but that, duties which a congregation owe to their like the members of the church of Antioch, pastor. He hoped they would do so, and he they be called Christians. In order that thought that Mr. Davidson would feel that pastor and people may co-operate towards a they welcomed him from the heart. He result of good, I would offer one or two was anxious to say that he looked with the suggestions. In the first place, I would greatest respect upon the gentlemen to ask you to come punctually to church. whom he referred in Manchester, and reThat great divine, Dr. Alexander, of Ame-garded it as natural and honourable that rica, once met a lady of his congregation, they should wish to retain such a minister and thanked her particularly for the support as Mr. Davidson. she had been to him in his ministry. She expressed some surprise, as she was not of a very active or demonstrative disposition, and did not take much part in the work of the congregation. "had she ever supported him in his How," she asked, ministry?" "You have always," he said, "been in your place in church. I was sure, when I looked in your quarter, to have a glimpse of encouragement, and you have thus contributed very much indeed to aid me in my ministry." I assure you, my friends, that you will render me effective practical assistance by being constant and punctual attendants in church. second place, I call upon young men to In the come forward and engage in the Christian 66 (Cheers.) a list of trustees. The motion was seconded by Mr. Nichol son in a very lively and humorous speech, in the course of which he bore warm testimony in favour of Mr. Davidson, whose friendship he had enjoyed since boyhood. Mr. Nicholson was frequently interrupted by the plaudits of the meeting, which unanimously approved of the list of trustees. The Chairman then called upon the Peter-but some far less welcome visitor, who will detain me "only a minute," but who meanwhile startles away for ever the almost netted ideas. (Great applause and laughter.) Congregations did not know how much they deprived themselves of in this way, and he would urge upon the congregation of River Terrace to be considerate in their claims upon their minister. Dr. Hamilton concluded with some admirable practical advice to young men and others, with a view to their rendering themselves useful in promoting the growth of the congregation. On sitting down he was greeted with warm applause. Rev. Dr. Hamilton. He said that he took a special interest in River Terrace congregation, over which, during an interregnum of a year, he had exercised a kind of superintendence. He could not but recollect also, that River Terrace had been the scene of the labours of that man of God, John Macdonald. It was, therefore, with Mr. Peter Bayne, editor of the Weekly feelings of deepest thankfulness to God Review, then made a few remarks on Presthat he saw a minister so devoted, so able, byterianism and the position of the Presand so experienced as Mr. Davidson in-byterian Church in England. He said that stalled as pastor of River Terrace Church. he did not find in the New Testament any He would bespeak for him the co-operation sharp-cut model of Church government and of his flock, and in particular he would discipline, and that the Spirit of God had, in urge them not to impede him in his work of various states of society, made use of an sermon preparation. Intellectual labour Episcopalian, a Presbyterian, or a Congrewas the severest of all forms of toil, and the gationalist instrumentality, in order to bring composition of a sermon entailed not only the truth of God to bear on the souls of intellectual exertion, but drew upon all the men. At the same time the grand characenergies of the soul-upon the whole man. teristics of Presbyterianism appeared to be A congregation, he urged, ought to leave its clearly indicated in their principles, in the pastor three days in every week, during Word of God. The chief of these characwhich he was not to be taken out to meet- teristics were the equality of all Christian ings or disturbed with calls. Persons were pastors, the institution of ruling elders in apt, in a thoughtless, unintentional way, to addition to those who ministered in word look in upon their minister, one after and doctrine, and the recognition of a another, until the best hours of his day Church unity in the body of congregations were past, and he was indisposed for further as well as in the individual congregation. exertion. "I shall stay only one minute," Without casting any slur upon Episcopacy they all said; but he (Dr. Hamilton) had on the one hand, or Congregationalism on never known an instance in which this the other, Presbyterians might maintain estimate of time proved correct. Nor was that their system, conformable in its great it only the time that was taken up. The outlines to Scripture, approved itself to comtrain of ideas was broken, often irrecoverably mon sense as being that mean between exbroken, by those visits. The case corres-tremes which, from the days of Aristotle, ponded precisely to what happened some- had been reckoned golden. As for the times to the fowler. He arranged his net Presbyterian Church in England, the specin the vicinity of some ditch or hedge, and tacle it presented was, in some sense, lay concealed, looking out for game. At melancholy. Two hundred years ago, length, on the far horizon, he saw the flut- Presbyterianism had suffered a defeat in tering wings, and gradually they drew England-it had been hurled from the nearer, and now the bright feathered crea- Established Church. But its defeated and tures were sporting on the very edge of the shattered forces were greater then than its net. Suddenly, some ill-starred clodhopper, united force now. Two thousand Presbyor rollicking miscreant, stepped upon the terian ministers witnessed for their principles scene, and in a moment they were all on the in 1662-and where could we count 2,000 wing, and the fowler could only watch them Presbyterian ministers now in England? hopelessly as they sped away to distant An influential paper-the Saturday Review fields. So he had often seen the coy ideas said the other day, that Presbyterianism flutter, half-seen, half-guessed, into the was absolutely extinct in England. That sphere of mental vision. His net was was not true. Presbyterianism had lately arranged, his every faculty was on the made rapid strides in England. But it was watch: now, he thought, give me but half- a partly excusable statement, as Presbyan-hour, and they will be secured. Lo! terianism had not made itself visible; it there is a ring at the door. The Rhoda of had no place, for instance, until very lately, the pastoral hermitage answers the sum- in the newspaper press. Congregationalists, mons, and with fatal facility admits-not Wesleyans, Romanists, Unitarians, had been plause.) (Great ap represented in the press-Presbyterians had the Presbyterian Church. The Chairman here observed that all the office-bearers in River Terrace Church, except one, were Englishmen. The Rev. Mr. Hastie, Presbyterian Minister of Victoria, being invited by the Chairman to make a few remarks, expressed the satisfaction he felt in being witness to the prosperity of the church of John Mac The congregational choir now sung a hymn with great effect. Mr. Carruthers next spoke upon the establishment of a Young Men's Christian Association at River Terrace, enlarging in an able manner on the benefit of such a society in calling forth the independence and the intellectual activity of young men, and contrasting the listlessness of young men of sincere piety with the strange and melancholy zeal of profligate youths in drawing away their younger comrades into the ways of vice and ruin. donald. In the distant land from which he came, society was thrown out of its con- The Mr. Hill having given an interesting account of the state of the Sabbath school, in which, he said, there were 290 scholars and twenty-nine teachers, and read a clever and humorous poem, introducing the names of all the gentlemen who teach in the school, Mr. Watson proposed a vote of thanks to Dr. Hamilton for his kindness in being present, and for the active interest he had ever taken in River Terrace congregation. Mr. Lamont said that he had accompanied Mr. Paton to Manchester to prosecute the call from River Terrace to Mr. Davidson, and he could say also that his heart smote him in taking Mr. Davidson from a people who valued him so highly and who loved him so well. The deputation had been as meek and conciliatory in their demeanour as possible, but they could get only a niggard forgiveness from the men of Manchester. Really," said Mr. Paton, to one tough, wiry Scotchman, "we did not covet your minister." "I was not saying you did," was the reply, "but your own conscience seems to have convicted you." (Laughter.) We saw it was useless to plead with that man. Having brought Mr. Davidson from Salford, the congregation of River Terrace were virtually pledged to treat him Christianly and kindly. As for Presbyterianism, he might mention that an intelli- Dr. Hamilton expressed the warm feelings gent Independent had said to him that the with which he reciprocated the affection and tyranny sometimes exercised by coarse, regard of the River Terrace congregation. uneducated, heartless men on Congrega- He took occasion to say that, whereas Prestionalist ministers was "scarifying." The byterianism in England had been for hunprinciples of common justice required that, dreds of years unrepresented in the press, in cases of this sort, there should be some it was now represented by the Weekly court of appeal where the oppressed minister Review, a paper which he characterised in and his oppressor might be heard by im- terms of the highest approbation. partial third parties. One thing he would pointed out the importance of such a paper strongly say that Presbyterianism was no in making Presbyterianism felt and known Scotch institution. Presbytery was known in England, and declared that not only in the history of England. He, as an Presbyterianism, but politics, art, and literaEnglishman, felt that there was nothing ture, were treated in its columns in a masun-English, nothing peculiarly Scotch, in terly manner. He very earnestly pressed The vote was carried by acclamation. He upon the denomination the duty and benefit of supporting the Weekly Review. One part of the proceedings of the evening was the presentation of a handsome pulpit Bible to Mr. Davidson. A vote of thanks to him for his conduct in the chair, and another to the ladies for their services on the occasion, having been carried by acclamation, the meeting was dismissed with the benediction. Dr. Edmond, of Highbury United Presbyterian Church, intended to have been present, but was unavoidably prevented. Correspondence. To the Editor of the English Presbyterian Messenger. DEAR SIR,-I am sorry Mr. Reid has obliged me again to trouble you. My statements respecting the Hexham case were made with great caution, and with a full conviction of their truth. Mr. Reid, however, denies their correctness, and apparently with great confidence. Well, Mr. Editor, you and your readers shall judge whose version of the Hexham case is the correct one. from Mr. James Meston, an elder of the church, in which it was stated that on Sabbath, the sixteenth day of February, a portion of our congregation, in conjunction with the United Presbyterian congregation at Hexham, had taken actual possession of the English Presbyterian Church there, and that the adherents of the English Presbyterian Church were thus extended." Then follows their deliverance on the case, and the whole signed "John Reid, Presbytery Clerk." Well then, according to Mr. Reid's own showing, the union has existed over two Sabbaths before the case came to their presbytery. 1. Under number one, Mr. Reid quotes my statement that the Presbyteries on neither side was apprized of what was going to take place till the union was over, and then he says, "Not at all. The Presbyteries on both sides were apprized of what was Their deliverance was laid before going to take place;" and further, our Presbytery on the 4th of March. that the union was not entered on This was the first official intimation till after our Presbytery had appointed which we had received on the subject a committee to consider the whole from any quarter, and by this time case, and repert." Well, I shall adduce Mr. Reid as a witness against himself, and shall prove by his evidence the correctness of my own statements. Here is an extract from the document which Mr. Reid, as Clerk to the sister Presbytery, transmitted to our Presbytery : three Sabbaths have passed over, and the union has continued, the parties regularly worshipping together. Our Presbytery, on the 4th of March, appointed a Committee to consider the whole case. Mr. Reid says, in the October MESSENGER, "The union was subsequent to the appointment of this Committee," whilst the official document of his Presbytery which he, as Clerk, transmitted, says that they went together on the 16th of February, and his letter admits that the "Basis of Union" was in existence John Knox Church, Newcastle-onTyne, 24th day of February, 1862, which time and place the Presbytery of Newcastle, &c., &c., being met and duly constituted, and presented to them on the 24th of "The Clerk, as Convener of the February, and I don't think that he Committee appointed at last would deny the existence of the meeting to ascertain the number" Basis of Union" prior to the 16th of adherents to our church at of February, or that said basis was Hexham, reported that he had substantially agreed to prior to the communicated with parties there, junction of the two congregations on and laid on the table a letter the 16th February. |