PRESENTATION TO ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 953, 21 October 1910, Page 9

PRESENTATION TO ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

■- -^At, flio annual social .meeting.'of St. Church':; (Presbyterian) ; on, Wed very.^interesting , presentation was made.', on .behalf 'of. the" family; of;.the late.Mr.- James Smith, of■■ Tβ Aro House, in memory of their- father. If consisted'.of.three'.'Tery beautiful, as well 'as, substantial, ohairs. pulpit. THey are made of . oak' finely, carved and. upholstered'in crimson; velvet. '■•■ Thei ; presentation' -was. made .by?. Mr. ■-: Alicb Smith,, ; who; in asking Dr, ■ Gibb ,to : ao-. eppt jthem, Sspoke of, ; liis / fathers.|i long connection■: with ; the.ohurch, , , and s - the .warm ;plaoe'itrhadVeyer,had iin' his .affections. Ho. hoped .that vwh'en , the. 'chairs were worn out,>though' that'.w.ould'be a' long ■ time. off; 'some. descendant of the Smith.fainily.-might.lie,at' hand ! to.'. feplaceV.them.. "Mr.- Smith"•',further > stated, that-it .v'as , . their Hyish .to' donate' a. y sum of" £s yearly,- as.a : prize..to. the;. Orphanage, .'-.the. sum"': to, be ..expended' py , ■ the" committee., as they. might desire: "'. ,= '•' •/In ■ac'cepting- the gifts, ,Dr.:.Gibb ■said; that:.il;;<hadjbeen the'wish oi 'the;donors that: the. chairs ;miglit- be; quietly ■ placed in the pulpit without remark; but he felt J;hat the presentation-ought; to-lie in public. Who.could eay how many other's; might be 6tirred.jip, on. behalf of other departed'members of: the churob, to emulate, this beneficence?. "He : had .-■ great'ipleasure. in in the name..of -.the arid 'congregation, !these-.very handsome giftsl They, would treasure; them ;for, their intrinsic worth, for, I pious ''.affection 'which ,had : led , this-.fajnily: t.o.icominemorate-their fathers; connection: ; ivjth.; : ;;the!-^^'church' -.in :'this ;fashii)js. i «iidV,;^or>the ; character: of'-the: man iivitlv whose jiain'e the gift was :asso-' 1 ;' Gib'B) ;liad met'him -,only, ■;hinvi^ell'.:.' i Hjs chftiacterl'ahd'single-eyed! devpppiSg.'to' ; fthe : welfare 'of 'the; church; 'had;- : 'a ,: fi)r.ofound;"and;:_lastiiig ■ iim,'pressibn.V'on all.-'^whb : came ; into contact with him,' and' had passed •away,fbeforo,;Br. Gibb.came to.Welling-. ton,"he latteft'badj.-learned.'much; .about ;him from/many sources, !khd everything Kej.gjd .J^ige^Ma^eryed.-.butjto dee'pen J the r -esteem'."in^'.whicn!,- Kelu -his'■'m€im-■

:ory. '/././.-/ : ..:/. :,■ ■■',' "■■••y'-''■ ■• ■■■■•.■"..";■■ ; The.-insqriptipn on the; central'chair.: readsiii'vPresented',,to... St;.''John's-.Church 1 by the.-: family "of .the late. James."Smith' in- memory, of their father, who served the : church'Tittvmany .offices : and. s.for many years, .and in whose heart its'welfare ever held a foremost place.". /..,.