Page:History of Knox Church Dunedin.djvu/109

Rh 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