POPULAR MINISTER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 210, 17 June 1933, Page 6

POPULAR MINISTER.

FAREWELL TO THE REV. R. S. WATSON. TRIBUTES AT KHANDALLAH. The Rev. Ronald S. Watson, M.C., M.A., who has been called to the pastorage of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, will commence his ministry in Ashburton next week. He was due to arrive in Christchurch from Khandallah this morning, and is expected to reach Ashburton on Tuesday. The induction service will take place on Thursday evening, ,and will be followed by a congregational welcome social to Mr and Mrs Watson.

Members of the congregation of the Khandallah Presbyterian Church, on Wednesday evening, held a valedictory social to farewell Mr and Mrs Watson, who had been there since 1926. Among those present were some ministers and members of sister churches, Anglican, Methodist, and Catholic.

Mr I). G. Clark, who presented Mr Watson with a gold watch and a portable typewriter from the congregation, said that tho congregation had been fortunate in the type of men who had ministered to them, and Mr Watson had upheld the traditions of these men. He could not express the feeling of the congregation better than to say that they were the better for his stay at Khandallah, and they would follow his career with a lively and kindly interest.

The Rev. W. S. Rollings said that Mr Watson had lived his own sermons in practice. He had been watchful for the highest interests of rlie • members of his congregation and their homes, and for the best interests of the communitv.

The' Rev. C. Dickens, of the Ngaio Methodist Church, conveyed to Mr Watson the best wishes of the Ngaio congregation for his future work. Mr J. G. Smith, a member of the session, made special reference to the interest Mr and Mrs Watson had taken in the young people. To both of them, and to their two sons, he conveyed the most affectionate and sincere wishes of the members and adherents of the congregation.

Presentations were made on behalf of the Bible Classes, the Presbyterian Women's Missionary Union, and the Ladies' Association.

In returning his thanks, Mr Watson said" that in many ways he was sorry to be leaving, but he felt that if he did not go he would be rebelling against the declared will 'of God. His aim had always been to be able to keep up the good name of the Church Universal, also to work in the cause of Jesus Christ. He hoped that Mrs Watson and himself would be able to live up to what had been said of them, and be worthy of the appreciation shown.

Mr Watson was faiewellcd by the Wellington Presbytery on Tuesday, and by the League of Nations Union on Thursday. Mrs Watson was farewelled by the ladies of the congregation, who also made a presentation, and by the League of Mothers, Khaiidallah branch, and the Play-reading Circle. Together, Mr and Mrs Watson were farewelled by the Bible classes.