Free Presbytery of Ayr - Ordination of the Rev. John Zieglar Huie - The above Presbytery met in Ayr Free Church on 9th September 1846, for the purpose of ordaining the Rev. John Zieglar Huie as missionary minister to Australia. The opening services were conducted by the Rev. Joseph Patrick of Ochiltree, who preached from Psalm xlviii, 12 - 14:

Having proposed the usual questions, he offered up the ordination prayer, and by the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery, Mr. Huie was set apart to the solemn office of the ministry.

The Rev. David Landsborough, of Stevenson, then addrssed the newly-ordained minister, and the Rev. David Buchan Douie, of Largs, tendered the word of exhortation to the congregation. The audience was good; and, besides the members of Presbytery, there were present ministers from the Presbyteries of Irvine, Greenock, Linlithgow, and Glasgow, all of whom were deeply interested in the success of Mr. Huie's mission to Port Phillip.

In the evening there was a public meeting in Ayr Free Church, in connection with the Australian mission. The attendance was very large, and the people seemed deeply interested in the proceedings. The Rev. Joseph Patrick, moderator of the Presbytery, took the chair. After praise, the Rev. James Aitken, one of the Assembly's missionaries from India, engaged in prayer. The chairman, after a few prefatory remarks, then introduced the respective speakers who addressed the meeting - Rev. Ninian Bannatyne, Cumnock; the Rev. John Bonar, Larbert, Convenor of the Assembly's Colonial Committee; the Rev. John Zieglar Huie, the Rev. Thomas Main, Kilmarnock.

The meeting separated at half-past ten o'clock; and sure we are that the statements and appeals made on behalf of missions generally, and the Australian mission in particular, produced an impression which will not soon be effaced. The meeting, both in point of numbers and enthusiasm deserves to be ranked among the most successful missionary meetings ever held in the ancient town of Ayr. Mr. Huie is particularly qualified, both by his high talents and decided piety, for occupying the field of evangelistic labour to which he has devoted himself. The Ayrshire Ladies Colonial Society - a Society in which the Presbyteries of Ayr, and Irvine, and Greenock are equally interested - have been peculiarly fortunate in the man of their choice. Mr. Huie leaves this country for Australia in October 1846. He is the first minister sent out by the Free Church to that important colony. We commend him to the grace of God and the prayers of his people.

On the Sabbath after his ordination, Mr. Huie preached with great acceptance, in the forenoon at Ochiltree, in the afternoon at Cumnock, and in the evening at Catrine. In these and many other parishes in Ayrshire, the messenger and his message will be long remembered with deep and affectionate interest. Many a prayer will be offered in his behalf. We trust that he may feel the answer in the success of his labours of love among our expatriated brethren.