Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ according to the faith of God’s elect, wrote to Titus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Cretians, concerning the very weighty matters of Christ’s glorious kingdom. So we find him touching on the qualifications of a bishop and his conduct. He would have him to be “blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children” and “a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; holding fast the faithful word.” He warns about “unruly and vain talkers and deceivers” and advises to “rebuke them sharply”. He has words of counsel for the aged men and aged women as well as the young men and young women. His short epistle covers aspects of doctrine and practice and amongst the last the greeting to “them that love us in the faith”.
When the Rev. D. Campbell, convenor of the Dominions and Overseas Committee, visited the congregations of our denomination in New Zealand and Australia recently to preach the gospel and convey the greetings of the church in Scotland, he continued a well established and fruitful apostolic practice. It was refreshing to have his presence amongst us and we appreciate his assurance that the church courts in Scotland have the interests of the congregations in these distant parts at heart.
This interest of course has been evident for many years but especially since 1935 when deputies commenced their visits to this part of the vineyard, invariably involving themselves in lengthy absences from home. Thus, in some particulars about the church recorded by the late Mrs M. MacPherson, she wrote as follows:—
“From 1935 to 1955. In order to give some idea of how there came to be a Free Presbyterian Church in Gisborne, it was thought necessary to give the following short particulars:— In April 1935 Rev. J.P. MacQueen, the first F.P. minister to visit N.Z., preached in Auckland when he called there on his way to Australia. In December of the same year he returned on his way homeward from Australia and spent some weeks preaching in Auckland, Matiere and Tokomaru Bay in the home of Mr MacPherson who had been in the habit of reading sermons to members of his family and friends. A collection was taken and money sent periodically to the funds of the F.P. Church in Scotland. In 1940 Rev. D. Beaton of Oban, Scotland, and Editor of the F.P. Magazine, spent some time in N.Z., preaching in different places, and after spending some months in Australia, intended returning to N.Z., but owing to war conditions was not able to do so. Rev. F. MacLeod was the next to come to N.Z. early in 1948. He spent about three months in N.Z., including a month in Gisborne and Tokomaru Bay. While in Gisborne, he stayed with Mrs Harvey, who had sermons read in her home, since she came to Gisborne and held a collection each Sabbath. Her children were baptised by Rev. F. MacLeod at this time. After being nine months in Australia, Rev. F. MacLeod returned to N.Z. for another three months, and held services in Gisborne and Tokomaru Bay on five Sabbaths. Mr MacPherson, who acted as treasurer, paid him a part of his travelling expenses to N.Z. and Australia out of the money collected, and also sent money from time to time to the different funds of the church in Scotland. When Rev. F. MacLeod accompanied by Mrs MacLeod visited N.Z. again in 1955, he was received with much pleasure by the people in Gisborne who had heard him previously. Mr and Mrs MacPherson had now come to reside in Gisborne and they gladly welcomed Mr and Mrs MacLeod into their home. Some Dutch families, who had in the meantime settled in Gisborne, also attended his services. On his previous visit the services were held in the Oddfellows Hall, Childers Road, but on this occasion they were held in the Old Folks Assn. Hall, Bright Street, on Sabbaths and Wednesdays. The services were well attended and the collections good, so that we were well able to give Mr MacLeod our share of the costs of his travelling expenses and payment for his labours among us.”
That these evangelistic labours have borne fruit abundantly has been evident in developments since 1955. Consequently the picture now is vastly different from what it was then. The doctrines have remained the same; the change is in those that were then young men and young women. They now show grey hairs and other signs of advancement towards the “aged men and aged women” stage. Their off-spring, many of them now at the “young men and young women” stage, fill the pews. Some have entered upon circumstances of family responsibilities themselves. “One generation passeth away and another generation cometh”. When such fruits have appeared it is evident that those that remained at home in Scotland accompanied the deputies with their prayers at the throne of grace. The Lord of the harvest gave the blessing. Your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
With so many young people growing up in our congregations and the distances being so great, the Auckland vacancy is keenly felt. Visits from our Scottish brethren — Rev. D. MacLean last year and Rev Wm. MacLean and Rev. D. Campbell this year, are much appreciated. A warm welcome awaits those that come to bring apostolic doctrine and practice and the greetings of the Church in Scotland.
“Look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” “Other men laboured and ye are entered into their labours.”
JOHANNES VAN DORP.