A FAREWELL SOCIAL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 472, 2 April 1909, Page 6

A FAREWELL SOCIAL.

« On Wednesday evening, in Wesley Church, Island Bay, the members of the church tendered .to the Rev. E. P. Blamires, who is leaving the circuit, a farewell social. The meeting which was presided over by Mr. J. W. Copithorne, was 'representative of all parts of the circuit, with a specially largo contingent of visitors from Kilbirnie. In making a presentation of a cheque for a substantial amount, the chairman expressed great hopo for the future of the guest of the evening, and also expressed regret at the absence of Mrs. Blamires. The work of Mr. Blamires in the circ.uit reviewed and eulogised, especially his' endeavours in connection with the building" of the Wesley Church —tho first ferro-concrete church in this Dominion—and also in connection with. the church extension fund scheme. Tho chairman's remarks were supplemented by Mr. C. H. Jones, tho senior circuit steward, and Mr. R. Pearson. Jlr. Blanuros, in replying, 'touched on tho initial difficulties of opening up the new circuit, and explained the.position in which conference had placed him to open up and work entirely new gronnd. The work in Island Bay commenced with ' small meetings, which wcro held at tho residence of Mr. E. Tonks, Avon Street. Afterwards the churchroom was secured, and services held continuously there until the opening of the church. Prom then on there had been a steady increaso of membership and, whilst financial difficulties were still heavy, an increasing congregation should cause these difficulties to disappear. Special mention was (hie to the important and active interest of Mr. Harry Crump, without whose aid and effort the church would not havo been situated on the site it now occupied. At tho conclusion of the main portion of the function games were indulged in, under the direction of. Mr. ,T. E. Pfrost. and songs were contributed by Mesdames Hunter and Harper, and Mr. J. Hood. After supper the singing of "Auld Lang Sync" brought the first farewell social of the Wellington Suburban Circuit to a conclusion.