Ordination in Athenry

Source: The Ulster Echo, Friday, October 2, 1874

The little town of Athenry was, this week, the scene of very interesting proceedings in connection with the Presbyterian Church. A considerable number of families from Scotland and the North of Ireland having settled in the neighbourhood, they resolved to form themselves into a congregation, and to have a regularly appointed minister of their own. They secured a temporary preaching room for their services until their church, which they are busily preparing to build, should be ready to receive them. In the selection of a minister their choice fell upon the Rev. Archibald Henderson, an alumnus of the Magee College, and well qualified both by gifts and graces for the important work of organising and building up a Presbyterian congregation in Athenry. The ordination of this young minister took place on Friday at the hands of the Athlone Presbytery, in the presence .of a large and influential meeting. After the usual preliminary services, which were conducted by the Rev. J. C. Moore, Galway, the Rev. S. Brown, of Athlone, delivered a most lucid and masterly exposition of the principles of Presbyterian Church Government and order, which was listened to with marked attention by all present. The usual questions were then ad- dressed to the young candidate, after which he was solemnly set apart to the office of the Christian ministry by prayer and the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery. Rev. J. Whigham, of Ballinasloe, then delivered a most impressive charge to the newly-ordained minister and the congregation. The duties of the Christian ministry on the one hand, and of church membership on the other, were clearly and forcibly enunciated, and affectionately pressed home on both minister and people. After praise and prayer, the meeting was dismissed with the benediction.

At the close of these very interesting and impressive services the Presbytery and a large number of friends were hospitably entertained at dinner by the members of the congregation. James Campbell, Esq .. J.P., occupied the chair, and on the removal of the cloth, proposed, in his usual able and felicitous manner, a number of very appropriate ” sentiments.” After explaining that toast-drinking is no longer customary at Presbytery dinners, he gave as the first sentiment “the newly-ordained minister.” Mr. Henderson responded in an eloquent speech, in the course of which he referred to the difficulties the congregation would still have to contend with, especially in the matter of building their church, but expressed his conviction that, with the blessing of God, success was certain. Mr. Campbell then gave the sentiment of “the Presbytery of Athlone,” and in the course of his speech gave some exceedingly interesting details regarding the increase of Presbyterianism in the province. Rev. S. Brown, the Moderator pro tem., and Rev. J. Whigham, Clerk of the Presbytery. responded. After a very cordial vote of thanks to Mrs. Porteous, of the Farm, Miss Irvine, and the other ladies of the congregation for their kindness and hospitality, the party broke up, having spent a most agreeable evening .- Galway Express.