Page:History of Knox Church Dunedin.djvu/112

80

N the course of the year 1877 the opinion gained strength among the office-bearers and members of the church that assistance of a permanent and substantial nature ought to be afforded to Dr Stuart to enable him to overtake with somewhat greater ease and comfort the arduous and multifarious pastoral duties so readily undertaken by him. This matter was cordially taken up by a number of the ladies of the congregation, and in a short time a sum of money was raised sufficient for the purchase of a suitable horse, carriage, and equipments. Dr Stuart was prevailed upon by his friends to accept the gift of the ladies, but it was felt at the same time to be due to the minister that steps should be taken at an early date to procure relief for him from a portion of his ever-increasing pastoral work.

In the beginning of 1878 the minister, with the concurrence of the Session, inaugurated a system of catechetical instruction to the