Page:History of Knox Church Dunedin.djvu/29

Rh had now the assistance of two fellow-labourers in the work of the ministry in Dunedin and neighbourhood, yet the increasing population and his own advancing years led his people, about the year 1858, to entertain the belief that the time had come when a second Presbyterian minister should be obtained for the town, and several meetings of the office-bearers were held to consider the question. About the same time Mr Jeffreys was compelled by failing health to intimate to those attending his ministrations that he could no longer continue his labours among them. His congregation accordingly held several conferences, which resulted in a resolution to send Home for a minister. These deliberations amongst the members of each of the two separate congregations were at first unknown to those of the other, and, on becoming acquainted with each others' views, they wisely resolved to act in concert in forming a second church and in securing a suitable minister for it.

A meeting of the members of both congregations was accordingly held in October, 1858, when a committee was appointed to ascertain whether the people were willing and able to support a second minister in Dunedin without diminishing the incomes of those already in the field. A second meeting was held about two months afterwards, when the committee were able to report that 157 persons had pledged themselves to contribute towards the Sustentation Fund additional sums to those they were already paying, which would amount in all to £315. These subscriptions soon reached £330, thus proving that, instead of being diminished, the payments to the other ministers would be increased. It was thereupon very heartily resolved to take immediate steps to erect a church in the northern part of the town, and to procure a minister for it. It was agreed to guarantee an income of at least £300 a year with a free manse. At this meeting two committees were appointed to carry out the resolutions which had been agreed to. One committee, consisting of the Rev. Robert Hood, and Messrs John Gillies, James Macandrew, John Mollison, and James Wilkie, was charged with the duty of obtaining the sanction of the Presbytery to the formation of a second ministerial charge in Dunedin, and of securing a suitable minister. The other committee, which was composed of the Rev. Robert Hood, and Messrs Robert Christie, John Gillies, Thomas B. Gillies, John Hyde Harris, George Hepburn, James Macandrew, William Mills, and James Paterson, was appointed to