Page:History of Knox Church Dunedin.djvu/105

Rh 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