POPULAR MINISTER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 241, 25 July 1935, Page 9

POPULAR MINISTER

REV. D. D. MACLACHLAN. WAIKAKA VALLEY FAREWELL No more eloquent testimony could have been afforded to the esteem in which they are held by the Waikaka Valley people than the representative gathering which taxed the accommodation of tiie Church Hall to capacity on the recent occasion of a farewell social to the Rev. D. D. MacLachlan, Mrs MacLachlan and family, on the eye of their departure to the Tinwald parish. Visitors were present from all the adjoining parishes and from as far away as Invercargill. The ltey. T. D. Campbell, interim Moderator, presided and the meeting , opened with devotions, followed by a programme of vocal, instrumental and elocutionary items, the performers being Misses Mavis Smith, M. G. Smith, F. Bain and Messrs C. Craigie, J. S. Smith and Master E. McJSwan. Acting on behalf of the congregation the Session Clerk (Mr Henry Smith) referred to the Key. Mr MacLachlan’s successful ministry of nearly six years, during which the membership had reached its highest point, and the energy and organising ability displayed by Mr MacLachlan had assisted materially in the establishment of the new church at Merino Downs. In presenting an envelope containing a substantial sum, the speaker echoed the sentiments of the givers in wishing God-speed and continued success in his new sphere of labour. Mrs Adam Nichol, in handing Mrs MacLachlan a silver tea-pot as a token of high esteem, referred appreciatively to Mrs MacLachlan’s deep interest in the P.W.M.U. and other district organisations. Mr A. R. Johnston suitably presented to the bairns, Dorothy, Betty and June, small reminders of their stay in the district. Miss Joyce Smith, representing the Bible Classes, Mr R. Rutherford (Bible Class District Committee), Lieutenant A. Donaldl (Boys’ Brigade) and the » Rev, \y. G. Hannah on behalf of anonymous friends at Qpoho, presented suitable books as small mementoes of Mr MacLachlan’s associations with the various named organisations. Others who spoke in a eulogistic strain were Mesdames T. McPhail and Henry Smith and Messrs J. P. Thayer, J. E. White, J. S. Paterson, G. Small and J. Howden. The Revs. H. C. Orchard, R. D. McEwan, S. Nixon, W. H. Norton, and Captain Collins also added their meed of praise, as did Messrs Boyd and! Selwyn (Invercargill). Mr MacLachlan, in his response, feelingly thanked those who had done honour to Mrs MacLachlan, himself and family, and expressed his gratitude to, those who had loyally and whole-heartedly supported him during his ministry in the district. He ma e reference to the commencement of tins ministry and paid a tribute to the he p andi encouragement he had received in this, his first settled charge. In conclusion lie paid a striking compliment to the sterling worth of Mrs MacLachlan, whose quiet advice and guidance, he said, had been a deep inspiration and a contributing factor to any success he had achieved during his sojourn in the Waikaka Valley parish.

The Rev. D. D, MacLachlan was inducted to the Tinwald charge, undei the Ashburton Presbytery, this afternoon.