Page:History of Knox Church Dunedin.djvu/107

Rh 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.