THE REV. T. TAIT.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14907, 4 March 1914, Page 12

THE REV. T. TAIT.

FAREWELL SOCIAL GATHERING. The accommodation of St. Paul's Presbyterian schoolroom was taxed severely last night owing to tho laige attendance at tiie farewell social to tiie Rev. J. Tait, Mrs Tait, and Miss Ena Tait. The Rer. Dr. Enrin presided. The Chairman said that when a true change in the ministry took place it was a question of a higher hand and a higher call than those of man. While regretting the loss sustained, they must accept tho indications of that higher will. They had enjoyed ten years of Mr Tait's ministry., and those rears had left a mark on the congregational life of St. Paul's. The largo congregations at St Paul's showed that the public of Christchurch appreciated his pulpit eloquence. The speaker referred to the valuable work done "by Mr Tait in the Presbytery. Mr E. Macßao expressed the resrret of the Kirk Session at losing Mr Tait. and conveyed to him tho Session's hearty good wishes. . Mr R. H. Wilson, on behalf of the Board of ?.lanagement, eaid that Mr Tait possessed rare administrative ability, and ho had guided the discussions *on the Board ably and well. The Rev. D. D. Itodgers (Moderator of the Christehnroh Presbytery) said that in connexion with rlelicato matters entrusted to Mr Tait by Presbytery he had brought them to a successful issue. Mr T. AA r . Reese spoke on behalf of the Sunday School and tho Bible classes. The Rev. W. Lee, representing the Ministers' Association, deeply sympathised with the congregation in losing Mr Tait. The loss was not only to St. Paul's, but to the city at large. Mr P. HercuSj as en officer of the ChrtTch, said that he and others trho had been attracted to St. Paul's by Mr Tait's oratory, believed that he was a preacher of no mean order, and one in the very forefront of pulpit oratory in Australasia. On behalf of tho congregation he presented to Mr and Mrs Tait a silver tea and coffee service, on the principal piece of which was a suitable inscription. For Mies Ena Tait he asked Mr Tait to accent a handsome silver handbag. For Mr Tait's personal wear ho presented him with a gold wntch and chain. Mr Hercns added that a special copy of the Jubilee souvenir of St. Paul's would be forwarded to Mr Tait. Mrs Callendar and Mrs Duncan, on behalf of tho Ladies' Association, handed a bouquet to Mr Tait for Mrs Tait. Mr Tait, on rising to re-ply, was received with applause. He "said that ho could not thnnk them too much for the great honour and kindness dono him and Mrs and Miss Tait. Their real reward to him had been tho testimonies he had had from those to whom he had ministered. Ho regretted the eeverance of many ties that would alwaye be counted dear by him. He did not desire to be remembered by reason of any gift that God might have endowed him with, but by those that he bar! been the meane of helping. Ho hated a humdrum job of any kind, and the fact that Chalmers Church, Adelaide, was only a means to an end—that the majority of the South Australian Presbyterian ministers wanted him to help the Church there hnd been a determining factor in deciding him. There wns every chance that ho and they would meet occasionally. (Continued, applanso.) During tho'evening songs were given by Miss Richardson and Mr Hugh MoLeod.