A NONAGENARIAN

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 226, 18 June 1920, Page 6

A NONAGENARIAN

REV. JAMES PATERSON, OF WELLINGTON. An altogether unique gathering in the annals of Presbyterianism in Wellington took place recently, when a dentation from the local presbytery, consisting ot the Revs. W. Day (moderator) W. Shirer, J. A. M'Kenzie. J. K. Elliott, A. B. Todd, and W. J. Comrie, waited on the Rev. - James Paterson, the senior minister of St. John's, Wellington, and the G.O.M. of the ministiy of' the church in the Dominion, to extend to him the congratulations of the presbytery on the attainment of his 90th. birthday. Tho deputation (together with a number of St. John's members) was received by Miss Paterson and her father (who is in splendid health, and. might easily pass for being 20 vears younger than he is) at their homo in Brougham Street, where Mr. Paterson has lived in retirement for the last 16 years, since relinquishing .the mctivo duties of tho ■pastorate of St. John's. The moderator (Rev. W. Day) expressed the felicitations of tho prgsbytory, and he was followed by the Revs. Dr. Elliott (the oldest co-presbyter of Sir. Paterson), W. Shirer, and W. J. Coiuirie. A few words were spoken also, on behalf of St. John s congregation, 'by Captain Johnson (one of the senior elders)' and the Rev. N. W. Burridge, locum teaen? during the absence of Dr. Gibb. Thereafter Mr. Paterson made a most feeling and memorable reply, in which he recalled some of the main incidents of his long life, dwelling especially on ht's vivid memories of the disruption period of 1813, his early ministry in Paisley and Liverpool, his call to New Zealand in 1863, 'his pastor,ate of 35 years in St. John's, and his lonjj journeyings in the days when as far north as Wanganui was included in tlie boundaries of tho presbytery. It was difficult to realise that the speaker, looking so vigorous and plainly still mentally alert, 'had attained the age of manhood when the Duke of Wellington died. M(r. Paterson still makes quite long journeys, and'recently paid a. visit to thfc Wanganui and Pnlmerston districts, during which he made no fewer than 46 pastoral calls, in many cases on those whoso parents he had known in the early days and whom he' liad married yeare a co.' His concluding words were especially memorable, when ho acknowledged that he could say with truth that "goodness and mercy had followed him all the days of liis life.;' After afternoon tea, dispensed by Miss Paterson, the gathering dispersed.