Page:History of Knox Church Dunedin.djvu/170

134 Few things seemed to him of more importance than the spread of total abstinence principles, and he devoted himself most earnestly and untiringly to their advocacy. Mr Rennie took a very active part in the management of the Otago Benevolent Institution, of which he was chairman for many years. During the latter years of his life this Institution absorbed a large part of his time and thought, and was the one to which he chiefly devoted his energies. On the occasion of Mr Rennie's retirement, the present chairman of the Institution bore the following testimony:—"He has done his work with a degree of care, vigour, and conscientiousness that I can find no language strong enough to describe. During the last few years it has been my privilege to work side by side with Mr Rennie, and I have always found him ready to do any quantity of work, and to sacrifice any amount of time in order that the affairs of the Institution might be judiciously and economically managed, and justice done to the poor who needed to ask for charitable aid."

To Mr Rennie's valuable services as an office-bearer of Knox Church the following minute of the Session bears emphatic testimony:—"The Session record their high appreciation of the many valuable services rendered to the congregation by the late Mr Alexander Rennie, who departed this life on the 2nd day of June, 1889. As a member from his admission in 1869, as a deacon elected the same year, and as an elder chosen in 1871, he took a personal and active interest in every department of congregational work, and specially in the weekly prayer meeting, the outfield, the advocacy of Christian temperance, and the ministry to the poor and afflicted. He did good work as a member of Synod, and served for many years as joint-convener of the committee having charge of the Synod's Widows' and Orphans' Fund and its Aged and Infirm Ministers' Fund. The Session further recognise his Christian and patriotic conduct as a settler, and as an advocate of education, temperance, and religion, and also his services as a member or chairman of the committee of the Benevolent Institution for twenty years. The Session assure Mrs Rennie and the family of their prayers, and commend them to the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ."

Following upon Mr Rennie's removal by death was that of Dr