METHODIST ITINERACY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 80, 3 April 1906, Page 3

METHODIST ITINERACY.

FAREWELL .TO REVS. C. H. GARLAND AND J. J. LEWIS.

I. - - __— There was- a very large attendance of i Methodists of the Auckland circuit at I the Pitt-street'schoolroom last evening for tlie purpose Of according faref wells to the* Revs. C. H. Garland and IJ. J. L-ewis, who • are severing their .connection with the Pitt-street Church Ito take up other appointments under the itinerary scale. Mr J. W. ShackelIford, circuit steward, presided. I The Rev. J. Euxford, who was coridially welcomed as the incoming superintendent, of the circuit, spoke on hehalf of.himself and his colleagues of the | good work done hy the Revs. Garland ! and 'Lewis, and of the good feeling that had always existed between these gentlemen and.their brother ministers. Mr J. H. Muldoon briefly spoke on behalf of the local preachers, referring to the kindly feeling that existed . between the retiring ministers and their, brethren. Mr George Winstone, superintendent of the Pitt-street Sunday-school, referred to the interest Mr Garland had taken in the Sunday-school, and Mr McMasters, who for five years was circuit steward and invited Mr Garland to the circuit, said all his expectations had been realised. He also referred to the good influence that (Mrs Garland had exercised in the congregation. Air McMasters spoke ou .behalf of the Ponsonby church, and he was supported ,'by Mr A. Thome. I-Mr R. Hobbs (Bayfield), while regretting the removal of the reverend j gentlemen, said that notwithstanding [the loss the circuit had thus sustained, ihe believed tbe itinerary system was J working in the best interests of the Church. J Mr Caughcy (Mount Albert), in the 'course of his remarks, referred to the .progress of Methodism in Auckland. •During the past 25 .years, to his knowledge, no less than 15 Methodist j Churches had been built in the city ' within a radius of four miles. Mr J. \V. Bridgman spoke on behalf of the Kingsland Church, Mr A. Buttle on behalf of the Mount Eden Church, and Mr Walters on behalf of the Graf-ton-road Church. Sister Howard, representing theyoung people, read a short address, and presented a pocketbook and silver pencil-case to Mr Garland and a small handbag to Mrs Garland. On behalf !of the Young Men's Institute Mr R. Gunson presented Mr Garland with a | very handsome carriage clock. In presenting Mr Garland with a well-filled purse, of sovereigns, subi scribed by the members of the circuit, the chairman said they must all feel proud of the. faithful manner in which Mr Garland had carried out his duties during the five years he had been attached to the circuit. Mr Shackelford then went on to say that Mr Garland would be greatly missed by the congregation, as a proof of which he stated that he had not bad to go round collecting money for the presentation, but the officials of the church came to him with it and told him tliey wanted to have it presented to Mr Garland to mark their appreciation of his labours. Mr Garland made a feeling reply, referring in a friendly manner to various incidents connected with his term of office, remarking that the relations between himself and his people had always been of the most cordial and amicable nature. For whatever good he had been able to accomplish in the parish he .was to a considerable extent indebted to the influonce of his wife, who had been a tower of strength to him in the arduous duties which such a large circuit as Pitt-street entailed. During the evening solos were rendered hy (Messrs R. Jannes and W. Astley. Mr Garland, who has been appointed to a church at Nelson, left Onehunga in the Rarawa to-day. He < was accompanied by bis wife and Mr Lewis had only been connected with the Pitt-street Church for a year, having come over to the church at the time of the Grafton-road Church ami alga-ma-ted with Pitt-street. Mr Lewis 'was at the Grafton-road Church for four years, and in appreciation of his services the brethren of that church made him a. presentation last Wednesday. Mr Lewis leaves for Pahnerstoii North next Friday, I ' — FAREWELL TO REV. MR. PINFOLD. On Sunday night the Hamilton Methodist Church was crowded to hear the farewell sermon of the Rev. J. T. Pinfold, M.A. The text chosen by the rev. gentleman was Phil i. 27: "Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ, that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs that," etc. Mr' Pinfold expressed his thanks to all the representatives of different departments of church work that had so generously and successfully helped him during Ms , ministry. The address was an able exposition of the and included exhortations to the members of the church to steadfast unity among themselves and continued effort in defensive and I aggressive labour to extend the kingdom of Jesus Christ. They might encourage themselves by remembering they were on the winning side, and should extend to their new minister, the Rev. Thos.-Fee, their sympathy, assistance, and prayers. At the close of the Sacrament service Mr P. Knight, J.P., senior circuit steward, expressed the church's high appreciation of the 'good work Mr Pinfold had done j throughout the circuit, and on behalf lof the officials and members wished him much success in his new circuit, | ora, Canterbury. Mr Pinfold has been I three years stationed at Hamilton, and during that time the parsonage has I been enlarged, several brick shops built, 1 the church improved, a new Sundayschool erected, a successful Mutual Improvement Society started, the membership of the church increased, and the cause generally has prospered. Services have been started at Kirikiriroa, Frankton, and arrangements have been made to commence them at Te Rapa; while sections of land on which to,build new churches have been promised at Frankton and Karamu.