The editors have decided to draw to a close our articles on the early history of the Hurstville Society. These first appeared in August a year ago as a follow up to our 100th Anniversary on July 11th 2005. In the form of excerpts from Church News in the magazine New Church Life, they have proved to be a rich source of information providing interesting and entertaining reading. It is the desire of the Hurstville Society Archivist, Margaret Heldon, to continue and complete extracting and collating this information into its own volume for future use. Our articles have barely scratched the surface; there is much fascinating reading here. Understanding the history of our forebears, their struggles and achievements can strengthen our own resolve.
Due to unavailability of space in our recent Newsletters the last More History article appeared in May this year. Readers were told to await the arrival of Rev W Cairns Henderson. Cast your mind back to August 8th, 1935 and imagine yourself as one of forty-five persons welcoming Cairns Henderson and his wife Eva at a social evening held in the church building. We read, Dancing, songs, sweets and fruits combined to make a very pleasant time. (NCL October 1935)
Initially Rev Cairns Henderson was assistant to Rev Richard Morse but in January the next year 1936 Mr Morse retired and Mr Henderson became the pastor of the Hurstville Society.
He said of Richard Morse, Thus closes a first and only pastorate, which extended over half a life-time, and which ever received nothing less than a whole engagement of heart and mind from him who served it. (NCL August 1936)
Rev Cairns Henderson and his wife Eva with
Hugo and twins Ian and Bruce taken in 1939
Many important events occurred during the eleven years that Rev Cairns Henderson served the Hurstville Society. Bishop George de Charms came in October 1938, the first visit by a General Church Bishop to Australia which had been long and keenly anticipated. (NCL January 1939). During this auspicious occasion, Bishop and Mrs de Charms were present as guests and witnesses at a marriage solemnized privately between the Rev Richard Morse and Miss Annie Taylor, the pastor [WCH] officiating. (ibid) The Sons of the Academy were formed in July 1938; but overshadowing all was World War II. Five of the Society's young men joined the forces -; the Heldon brothers Norman, Sydney and Lindthman; Tom Taylor and Theo Kirsten. A touching quote from NCL February 1946 reads: A Service of Thanksgiving for the end of World War II was held in our church at 11.00 a.m. on August 16th. With a few changes in the prayers, the service prepared for VE-Day was used. An informal social gathering followed, during which several toasts were proposed and honoured with great feeling; one, of course, being "The Church" another to our men in the forces - this being coupled with gratitude to the Divine Providence that they will all be returning to us.
One other significance event must be noted. Rev Richard Morse passed into the spiritual world in 1944. The February 1945 issue of NCL featured his life. Included were a full page photo, Memorial Address by Rev Cairns Henderson, Autobiography (written in 1938) and the following Memorial Resolution:
Presented by the Pastor at a General Meeting of the Hurstville Society held on October 18, 1944.
WHEREAS the Rev. Richard Morse, Pastor Emeritus of the Hurstville Society of the General Church, entered the spiritual world on October 14, 1944, in his eighty-sixth year,
BE IT RESOLVED, That the members of this Society, now in general meeting assembled, record their deep affection and respect for him, and their lasting appreciation of his long ministry. In 1905 Richard Morse took a leading part in the foundation of the Academy movement in Australia, and the care of the circle then established in Sydney eventually felt to him. In 1913, he was authorized to perform pastoral functions, pending ordination; and, in 1919, he was ordained into the First and Second Degrees of the Priesthood. He resigned his pastorate only at the beginning of 1936 when he was in his seventy-seventh year. Mr. Morse was distinguished for his uncompromising zeal in upholding the Divine Authority of the Writings, and his labours will long be held in affectionate remembrance as those through which were laid the foundations of the General Church in this country And further
BE IT RESOLVED, That this Resolution be inscribed upon the Minutes of this Society; that a copy be handed to Mrs. Morse, with expressions of our affection and sympathy; and that a copy be sent also to the Editor of New Church Life for insertion in that journal.
And so an era was indeed ended but the Hurstville Society was well established. The list below shows all the pastors and leaders that have served up to the present time. There is no doubt that the vibrancy of the Society will continue and the Lord will lead in future paths yet unknown.
Rev Richard and Annie Morse taken around the time of their wedding in 1938