A LONG MINISTRY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3096, 29 May 1917, Page 7

A LONG MINISTRY

KEV. J. PATEBSON'S DIAMOND . JUBILEE. Teslerday tho Wellington Presbytery ontortained the Kev. James Paterson to lujioh at Miss Tondall's Booms, on the occasion of his diamond. jubilee, and on his eighty-eighth birthday. After luuch, which was attended by between forty ajid fifty persons, among whom wore tho wives of members of Presbytery, tho Hcv. Mr. Bcgg, Moderator of Presbytery, explained the special object of Iho meeting, oiirl called upon tho Kov. Dr. Kennedy Elliott, iis the oldest member of Presbytery, to address the gathering. Dr. Elliott spoke with brightness and humour of Mr. Paterson's long years of service and of his intercourse with him. Tub Kev. 1?.. Wood, as ono who had known I[r. Peterson for many years, asked the Moderator to- present to Mr. Paterson tho following address from tho Presbytery:— "The Reverend James Pntei'Eon,

"Dear Sir,—We, members of Wellington Presbytery, convey to your our warmest congratulations on your having reached the diamond jubilee of your ordination to the ministry. Wo recall with thankfulness to God your long and able ministry in St. John's, Wellington, from 1868 to 1903, and the great service you rendered the Church a.t, large as convener of tho Church Extension Committee; we recall the prominent part you took in furthering education as_a. member of theEducation Board, of College Governors, aud of University Senate; we recall also the helpful services you lia.ve rendered to ministers and congregations since youT retirement from the active work of the ministry, and we desire to express fo you the high esteem with which we tpgard you, and ws pray that days of happiness and of usefulness > may hr, granted to yon to the glory of God and tl" comfort of the Church."

■ Mr. Paterson thanked the, brethren for the address and for the gathering. He gave a number of reminiscences, in the course of which he said that he wa.i licensed in 1854. Hip year of the Crimean War; that he was ordained in 1557, in Liverpool, and after labouring there for eleven years, obeyed the call to tome to New Zealand. Ho spoke of the goodness of God (o him during his past, and he believed that it would sustain him lo the ond of life. Tie said that that that day he had reached his eighty-eighth birthday, and he foil well. Warm applause followed Mr. Patcrson'e address, after which the meeting closed.