THE REV. CANON PASCOE.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10862, 11 January 1901, Page 6

THE REV. CANON PASCOE.

AN ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOM... The Rev. Canon Pascoe, vicar ot Holy Trinity, Avon-side, who with Mis Pasv.. tiaa just returned from a visit to Knghu*-, wa. accorded a most cordial welcome hoi.*. kst night. The schoolroom had b.tii tastefully decorated with evergreens and lltgsAt either end was the greeting "VVcicouiHome," while the word- "A th-iit.-.ma v«c_cumes" were displayed on the wall. 111-* vestry received Canon and Mrs Pascoe oi. the platform amid the cheers of the audi«*nce.

At tho suggestion of ilr VV. S. Crichton, Mr F. E. \v right, a very old resident ol Canterbury, awl the oldest parishioner oi Avon-tide, occupied the chair, and with Mi R. Hill Ft-her, the vicar's churchwarden, tendered a very cordial and hearty welcome home to Canon and Mrs Pascoe. Mr beau, tho people's churchwarden, occupied a seat on the platform, and tho vestry was well 1 -prt3.em.ed. Apologies ior noii-atteiid.uic-w«re n-ceivi-d liuin tue Rev. H. C. M. Wat»on, iiev. Pollock, and Mr M. Murphy. Alter an instrumental selection by Sirs Crooke aud a i-*j*ig in Maori by a genileaian, The Rev. Can_.;i Pascoe rose io rc-poud, and waa received with prolongeu apptau... He tsxpre~_.d via extreme pleasure at oeiug buck m hi*** parish once more, and on oehall of lun_.-fclt aud Mr* Pascoe thanked sincerely tlie oiikei- and pai..hioner_ for the splendid wel«>m. they had given them. He could not fc.xp.-__ how v.ry much they appreciated the great kinoness shown to theui. He hsd thought a * eat deal of them all while away, and Uui. u'-.ptiiiti had touched him very deeply. tie iius Ix.ii twenty-two years am.iiijjst them, and in view of such a name coming he could nut but feei that Goa had si ill v work, fur bun to do at Avonsidc (AppUuse.J Vvith tlods help the re_t of Oi. mc would be devoted to Avoiuide, and ->- long as t:.ey wanted him nothing sUouid tvtr u*;e him away. The .peaker went on tn ;i-;_r to tho woi__ that lay belore them as -i p.iij'h, and u_k_d lor their earnt.t and pmyeriul co-opt.ia.ion. He thanked them lor tue .work uone during his absence. Reports oi how thing., wire going on hail been _*tit hnu regularly, and had cheered him greutAy whi.e a_u>, m.d he had frequently held up little Awii-sido ill far off Sow Zea-i-tiid iv. iui example ot liberality to some of the English audiences he aouiessed. He urged hi. hearuis to keep on working, and t-xpn-jtstd tx hope that at the Jubilee of the parish—Christinas Day, 1905—some progrtss would be made towards the completion of tho church. Ho specially thanked Mr Wright for his haiiosome donation towards this object, and the ladies for their exertions whicli had maele possible the purchase of the beautiful lectern. He had .can-hed ail over London before eventually deciding on this handsome 'piece of work. The speaker specially regretted the ab.enco of the Rev. Mr Pollock, his locum ten.n., who had just left the parish as Canon Pascoe arrived. His services to the church and parish deserved their deepest thiuiks. (Loud applause) They trusteu to see him frequently in their midst. (Applause.)" Mr Bean, on behalf of the vestry and ■parish, cordially welcomed back Canon and Mrs Pascoe, and spoke of the extreme pleasure all felt at having them back. He briefly referred to the splendid work done in the parish during the absence of the vicar, enumerated a number of mutters claiming immediate attention, urged the workers not to let their energy and enthusiasm dwindle, but to rally round their pastor now they had him iack with them,, and to push on with the completion of the church until they made Avdiiside, wliich was the most beautiful paii-h in Christehurch, a model one also. < m behalf of Mm Pascoe the speaker thanked the parishioners most cordially for their re-ceji-tion. (Applause.) Tin. Rev. A. W. Averill, St. Michael's, on behalf of the clergy, welcomed Canon and Mrs Pascoo. The clergy had missed him greatly during his absence. They had especially missed him at the Synod, on the Standing Committee, and elsewhere, and they wore glad to sea him back. (Applause.) During the evening songs were sung by Mr T. VV. Dwy, Mr Collier, Air Sapsford, and Canon Pascoe. Miss R. Edgar played the accompanimente. Refre__oi_.nt- provided by the ladies wero handed round.