FAREWELL TO MINISTER

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 98, 27 April 1932, Page 8

FAREWELL TO MINISTER

REV. LIONEL B. 'FLETCHER.

PROGRESS AT BERESFORD STREET.

At a farewell meeting held in the Beresford Street Congregational Church last evening, several presentations were made to the Rev. Lionel B. Fletcher, Mr. Fletcher, who has been in charge of the church since 1024, will leave for England shortly to take up a position as "Empire evangelist" under the World Evangelisation Trust, of London. A welcome was also given to the new minister, the Rev. A. V. Whiting.

Sir Gecre Fowlds, who presided over a large attendance, said that for 20 years before Mr. Fletcher's arrival the average congregation was no larger than the number of new members received last Sunday, namely, 53. He paid a high tribute to the work of the retiring minister.

The Rev. R. C. Roberts spoke on behalf of the Congregational Union, while the Rev. G. Heighway presented a resolution from the district committee congratulating Mr. Fletcher on his new position. A similar resolution was also received from the Council of Christian Congregations. Mr. C. E. Campbell, the senior deacon, who expressed the regret of the congregation at losing Mr. Fletcher's services, presented the minister with an insurance policy taken out on hie life when he came to Auckland, and with a New Zealand-made overcoat, and Mrs. Fletcher with an inscribed wristlet watch. Mr. G. Grey Campbell, Sunday school superintendent, presented Mrs. Fletcher with a handbag, while she was also given an umbrella by Mrs. Edmonds on behalf of the ladies' guild. Mr. A. T. Vinson pressnted Mr. Fletcher with a pair of brushes from the Christian Endeavour societies, the junior societies making another presentation. Returning thanks, Mr. Fletcher expressed his confidence in the church's future. He mentioned that when he held his first communion service, 96 persons attended, while there were 600 communis its at last Sunday's service. The church >><*= the largest European Congregational church in the Southern Hemisphere, and tlje Sunday school was