Valedictory to Rev. A.M Dalrymple M.A.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXII, Issue 1997, 20 March 1906, Page 1

Valedictory to Rev. A.M Dalrymple M.A.

The Rev. A. .M. I)nlryi.i|,;.', M.A., Presbyterian minister al I n. run, Contemplates leaving for l|,|. illllllr I uHlllry iliis week on u (rip wh, li will extend over six months, i.c goes \ i tt Australia and tln> Uvil .-,i a rent's and will join tlio .Mcllkmii-,c st.-amer which leaves on Sunday first, at. Ihmedin. Tin; members of tin- t liristian Kndeavour Society at I'uerua tendered tin: Key. .Mr lialrympi.- a tun-well ,;:>- eial on Kridtij evenin.: in the church. 'l'here were nearly llltl pei.-.uis, principally young people, |iresei,i. Mr Irving- l)«nt presided, au<\ suit.inly opened the proceedings. A shoi: programmes of anthems, songs, an i ri-citations was gone through. .Mr . . Morton led a Kinu.lt choir, which contributed several items. Miss I'aterson gave an organ selection- Miss Laimuid, Miss I'aterson, and Miss Mason, and the Missis Seolt gave musical items, which were much appreciated. Miss kentou gave a recitation, as also did Mr Finlnvson.

j .it a* interval in tlio musical programme ami just betore supper, wnich iwis piociueil I))- the Indie.-, Air Irving Weill, llir i-lialiiii.iii, addressing tin: meeting ol lilluw j'.ndeawitirer.-, and ll'lenils, Mllll thai tl|f\ Were there to have a social evening with Air liailAllipte thru- [tr.'.siili'll I prior to leaving lor a nip to lie- Uui l.aii I. Addressing .ilr imlryiuplc, Air Hem went on to sa.\ that tuvy would not say iliey were sorry Mr Hall V mple was piling away on tins trip. He deserved it. It was something like 2d } ears since Air IJulrymple had come to Puerua, and during that time he had discharged all Ins t.uties \ ery faithfully and well, having had but few holidays Huriiig that time. Though tiiey knew (hat they would miss linn gmitly from the church, from the Juideavour meetings, and from the midst of them, yet they felt that this proposed holi'my was more than deserved and icipiircd. lim. it was in (.•oimeclioii with tin; Endeavour Society work that they thought most of Air Dalrymple. .Nearly eight years ago hi) hud organised the, Society in l'uei uu, and those who luid watched its life knew it had not ulwuys been plain sailing. The Society had its ups and downs, lucre were times w hen the at.tendance was large and enthusiastic, and the times came, when many active members, who nad removed from the district, were lo.st to them. There were times when the Society became weak anil the outlook gloomy. .Now it was back to its loriiier strength. All the, time Air Dalrymple had helped them, the Society had done much for llieiii, and each member had been greatly helped in his of lief upward onwaiU course by it, They were banded together under the leadership of Christ, Whom t.iev. accepted as their Lord and Alaster, and by His help and the wise counsel of Air Dalrymple the Society had weathered its times of dill'iculty and weaklies*.. The Society owed flu; deepest debt of gratitude to Air Dalryuipii,:, nnd Ihe .spiritual advice an.i help Iw hud always given would not, be forgotten. Jt was helpful to ul!. They tlu.mk.ed. (iud for the Society, and. for their President, and their earnest hope and prayer was that after an enjoyable and profitable time spent in travelling. Air Dalrymple would come back in the full enjoyment of health ami strength to again taku up his work in I'uerua. lie begged to ask Air Dalryniplc's acceptance from the active and associate members of the society, ol a travelling rug as a smail token of the very high esteem and love in which he was held by them When he encountered a cold and stormy day he hoped it would add to his comfort.—-(Applause). Air Paul Al. ltenton spoke of the good feeling which existed between .Mr Dalrymple and the young people. How Air Dalrymple attended the meetings in very bad weather. Often in cold frosty winter weather, when many of the young folks did not turn up, Air Dalrymple was rarely absent. The nice 1 itTie homely talks and good advice which he always gave helped many. All were glad that he was going to Inivu a holiday, and -visit the scenes of his youth.—(Applause.) Parting greetings were given to Air Dalrymple irom the society, vi/, Numbers "(i-21 -2(>, to which Air Dalrymple replied with (ialatians (>-!!. The whole proceedings ended with tlie benediction by Air Dalrymple, and a very pleasant evening was brought to a close.