REV. J. PATERSON.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18107, 24 June 1924, Page 9

REV. J. PATERSON.

FAREWELL SOCIAL GATHERING. PRESENTATIONS FROM ST, PAUL'S CONGREGATION.

In St. Paul's Schoolroom last night tho Rev.. John Paterson, who has been minister of St, Paul's Proshvterian Church for ten years and who has accepted a call to St. Paul's, nui, was tendered a farewell social "bv the congregation. The platform was tastefully decorated with palms and othe# pot plants. M r George Burn session clerk, presided and "on the plait orm with l:ii,-. was the guest or the evening and Mrs Peterson, the church offices, the Rev. N. L I)'"Webster. Rev F. Rule, Rev. "W. J. Williams, and Rev. J. j. x orUl . Thero wa., a large attendance of the congregation. Proceedings opened with the Mining or "0 (!od of Bethel." after wlncn th-> Rev, )<". R„le led in praver. Die chairman said that apologies had been received from Mr D C Burns. Rev. J. D. "Webster 'Rev. Charles Murray, and Rev. A. S. Morrison, of Rakaia. The occasion of the gathering, he said, was to give Mr and Mrs Paterson a very hearty send-off and to oxprcs'j then- regrets at their departure and appreciation of their work He desired to say a. word or two on behalf of the Sunday pchool. Tn ono sense Mr Paleison had put his nest work into the Sunday school and Bible Classes and every one. espwially thc boys and girls, were very soitv that Mi- Pa tin-son was going. There was a, certain amount' of sadness about farewells, but in the present case they recalled that Mr and Mrs. Patcrson were not going far away and that they would still have the benefit of Mr Paterson's advice and influence in Presbyterian circles and in the great philanthropic and humanitarian ivork in which lie had taken a great and active interest.

Mr U. 11. Wilson, speak : ng on beiialf of the Kirk Session, said i.hat. thesession desired publicly to thank Mr Paterson for all the Work in Christchurch during the past ton years. As regards Mr Paterson's pulpit ministry they testified that his sermons and addresses had been .of a very fvne character, being spiritual, inspin!tjional, fervent, scholarly, and 1 eloquent. They had been -productive of mueh good and had been a cheering and stimulating impulse in the lives of the members of the congregation. Mr Paterson had helped to maintain tho cause of Preshyterianism in Canterbury, and its high ideals and traditions of the past. They would miss his friendly brotherliness and his genial presence. They wished him a most satisfactory and fruitful ministry in Wanganui.

Mrs 3>. Boyd, speaking on behalf of the women's organisations, thanked Mr Pa terson and said that he had given not only work but also of his means.

Mr G. Callendor, speaking on behalf of the Board of Management, referred to the times of financial stress experienced by the church during the war period. Mr Paterson, he said, was leaving the church with a clean financial sheet: the Jubilee Fund would clear off all their liabilities. He assured Mr and Mrs Paterson that thoy were leaving benind them many good friends who would follow them, with their thoughts and prayers. Tho Ilev. AV. Tanner spoke on behalf of tho Presbytery, and expressed theregret of that body at Mr Paterson's departure. Mr Paterson had left his mark on the life of the city- On behalf of the Presbytery he wished Mr and Mrs Paterson "God-speed." Mrs W. Maokay, on behalf of the Bible Classes, spoke of tho work, done by Mr Paterson and said that Mrs Paterson,-since she came in their midst, had taken a very warm and kindly interest in the work of the Bible Classes.

Mr Ilaynor White. expressed the regret'of the choir at Mr Paterson';?departure. The Rev. W. J. Williams spoke or. behalf of the Christchureh Ministers' Association, and said he had attended no farewell where such wholly admirable tributes had 'been paid to the departing minister as had been paid to Mi: Paterson that evening. He referred to the vigour - and abandon with which Mr Paterson had thrown himself into the light for Prohibition and into the anti-gambling, campaign. The Hev. J. J. .North spoke on behalf of the Council of Christian Congregations, and said that the general feeling was that Christchureh was losing part of its landscape—Mr Paterson had been very much in the picture. Mr Paterson had been an outstanding illustration of the fact that it was the busiest men who were able to find spare time for additional work. He possessed a vast amount of horse sense and, in connexion with the infamous combination of newspaper proprietors, racing dubs, and Mr Massey to increase gambling facilities, Mr Paterson had been one of the first to give his name as a visitor to secure signatures to the petition protesting against the increase of gambling facilities. The chairman then, on behalf of the congregation, presented Mrs Paterson with a handsome travelling rug, .and Mr Paterson with a gold watch and a framed photograph of the office-bearers. Mr Paterson was received with continued applause at, d sal< * was a verJ ' difficult situation for a minister to be placed in to listen to such speeches as those delivered that evening. He had felt sorry for Mrs Paterson, and he had wondered if she believed all that had been said and how on earth she was foing to live up to the reputation of he" husband. (Laughter.) He appreciated very much the kindliness of spirit that lav behind the addresses and he desired to thank them on Mrs Paterson's and his own behalf for their ,rifts He a'so thanked all those w hosc kindliness had led to the accumulation of a wonderful collection of beautiful presents. He ap-m-eciabd the loyalty of all the officebearers and a" the members of the congregation cf St. Paul's, and he was profoundly thankful that in the time ci stress during the war the church had held its °"' n> Since ho-took up the ministry nine new Presbyterian churches had heen opened in the city, ' he result that St. Paul s was becoming a down town church That 'as not the reaSOU he nT ] f V '"f ; hut, he Ml- that it would be for tho benefit of the church to have a new • V Mr Paterson dealt at- some jS'tii wkh the activities of tho t .:..„], referring especially to the deVelopraent of the missionary ( r L cont'regation. He spoke of the ° 'and consideration extended 1' fnnilv bereavements and m his nl« ;Les Concluding, he said that he if tl'vit it "-as the wiser and bettet , ] -J in v'ew of the very fine rela- ■ ri,; n 'ovstine between the officeKSSlPond' people and himself, to go Xn the congregation was in good jlfrt when the work was prosperous, 1 ,'.lien thev could get a successor a, i lie hoped, would he proud to ■ +-. such a congregation, and who com M carrr out the work to a moro ■rhw "success than it had been pesHe left with the S ' ,e -ante memories of the people of Tlnrinc the evening songs were rendi J?r Mr" Calvert, Mrs Raynor « r i-. 'Aii-sL Rule,' Miss Kathleen B} r ' Mr E. Cropp. Mr Raynor „.L"!l'nlavod the accompaniments. .At ff .'M>et "A^ain." ■\\c * u *- e ~ *,r p a terson leave bv this ' b{T -°t fcrrv steamer for Wel'lihgroute ioWancanui..