MEETINGS, ENTERTAINMENTS, ETC.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 213, 7 September 1900, Page 3

MEETINGS, ENTERTAINMENTS, ETC.

BAPTIST MISSIONS.

FAREWELL TO THE REV. A. NORTH.

In the Tabernacle sclioolrooin last evening a valedictory social wits leuuered, under Liit: auspices oi cue is./,, iinpubt onion, 10 me Key. A. Aofcii and mission, who aye leaving for India. Tiiero was ;i large iiiLfiuliinee, Fascor Clark presiding/ *w Career ottered up prayer, ami a portion of tne Kcnpcure was read, niter wiiicJi Pastoi" ciurji said a lew words as to tne purpose of the meeting. They were there to bid farewell to tne Key. a. Nortii and nis party, including Sirs Keckuigsaie, who was remilling to her nuHßionury duties, her health being restored. Miss lieckmgsale then gave an interesting account oi' mission life in Chandpqre (Jbengal). Jdlie herself was engaged m the medical mission work, which was most important,' as it prepared the way for the Gospel and removed prejudices from the minds of the natives. Besides native superstition, the missionaries hud to contend with evil European exumple and that of Eurasians, who were classed us Christians by the natives. As showing that the native customs were dying, Dr. North, the medical missionary, was now permitted to attend sick native women, and had even performed an operation on one. She and Miss Peters was working among the women in a district where the population was a million. The Rev. A. H. Collins read telegrams, one from Rev. Mr Woolley, and one from Dunedin, wishing the party "Godspeed." Tho chairman then addressed the meeting again, speaking as tho president of. the N.Z. Baptist Union. He wished to testify to the splendid services the Rev. Mr North had rendered to the churches of their order through the colony. He was one of the founders of the union, also of the N.Z. Baptist Foreign Missionary Society, the District Associations and Ministers' Provident Association. Further than this, Mr North was in sympathy with other churches. He then presented Mr North with a purse of sovereigns on behalf of the union, find with! a beautiful album of New Zealand ferns, the covers being made of ornamental woods. On the album was tho following Inscription: — "Presented, together with a purse of sovereigns, to the Rev. Alfred North, on the occasion of his leaving New Zealnnd, as a small oxpressi6n of gratitude and affection for his many and exceptional services so clicprfully rendered to the Bnptist churches of the enlonv. Auckland. N. 7/., September 6th. WOO." The Rpv. A. TVwdnpv, who hnd been intimate with Mr. N^rth for some years, spoke of the loss the denomination would sustain at Mr North's departure. Mr North was enthusi.i«t!cnlly reeeivpfl on rising to acknowledge the presents. After doinir so hfi said that he ivd accented tho onntovate of the Circulnr Ro'ul Church. Calcutta, for three years. TT<» would snend throe years aftev that in mission work, an dthen return to New Zpalind. which was hfs iiome. He was to be <?iven a free hnnd with regard to the Now Bnntist missions at Chandpore-. Lippprnh, and Brahmanhnrla. and he honed to visit thoso station" every three months. He mentioned that Miss WispmsVn, one of the pnvty. was going to be mnrr'ed to his son. Dr. North, of the median! mission, fhandpore. The missionaries would always hare a warm welcome at h's home, in Cnlf«.tta. He had to thank them again fov their .prpoent, which would always remind him of Now Zenlnnfi. T^p sincinc of the. ii.vnin "Povwnrd be Yonr ATatchword" then terminated the proceedings).