VICAR’S LONG SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 157, 31 March 1937, Page 6

VICAR’S LONG SERVICE

Island Bay Farewells Rev. J. G. C. Blathwayt

IS YEARS AT ST. HILDA’S

Tributes of respect and affection were paid to the Rev. J. G. Calvert Blathwayt and Mrs. Blathwayt, who are leaving Island Bay after 18 years’ service at St. Hilda’s Church, by a large gathering at the Masonic Hall, Island Bay, last night. Mr. E. J. Smith, vicar’s warden, presided. He presented to Mr. Blathwayt the parishioners’ gift of a wallet containing £33, and to Mrs. Blathwayt a handbag containing the same sum. Both gifts were accompanied by a beauti-fully-inscribed card.

Apologies were received from Rev. Father McGrath, Mr. J. R. Smith, formerly vicar’s warden, Mr. H. Hitchins, treasurer of the vestry, and others. Mr. A. N. Palmer, for the parishioners, assured Mr. and Mrs. Blathwayt of the extent to which they would be missed. Mr. Blathwayt’s successor would have a diliicult task to emulate his sterling qualities, which were such as were possessed by only a few. Claiming to have been acquainted with Mr and Mrs. Blathwayt for longer than anyone else present, the lit. Rev. T. 11. Sprott, formerly Bishop of Wellington, said he had always found Mr. Blathwayt to possess qualities which were deemed more valuable the older one grew. He was the soul of loyalty and courtesy, entirely devoted to duty, giving to his work the best liehad to give. He joined with the jreople in wishing Mr. and Mrs. Blathwayt the Divine blessing in their work at Manaia.

The Rev. P. 11. Wainwright, of the Island Bay Presbyterian Church, said it was off honour for the other Christian churches to pay tribute to Mr. Blathwayt’s courage, sense of honour, and undeviating loyalty to Christian truth. "Soul of Loyalty.” Mr. R. McKeen, M.P. for Wellington South, said he had opportunity in hie work for the electorate to judge of the qualities of those who worked in the public interest. He could think of no better tribute to pay to Mr. and Mrs. Blathwayt than the words of Bishop Sprott, “the soul of loyalty.” Both had tremendous courage. He wished them every happiness in their future work. Other speakers were Mr. B. O’Brien, for the Island Bay Municipal Electors’ Association, and Mr. A. Leadsman, for the Returned Soldiers’ Association.

Responding, Mr. Blathwayt said he felt inadequate to the task of thanking the speakers, and the people for their gifts. Any success he had achieved in the parish was due to a happy gift of surrounding hirnsclf with good workers. He recalled that just before his arrival the vestry had been compelled to put the affajrs of the parish before the people, but a meeting- of parishioners decided to carry on. Their decision had been justified not only by the financial progress, but also by the spiritual progress, in working for which he and Mrs. Blathwayt had always been supported by a wonderful band of workers. The church could boast especially of a large number of young people really interested in Christian work. He appealed to the people to give to his successor, the Rev. J. R. Noiid, the same undivided support. The following items wore contributed during the evening: Piano solo, Master Brian Cook; songs, Mr. W. Bridge, Mrs. Bridge, Miss M. Proctor; glee singing, St. Hilda’s choir; xylophone solo, Mr. A. Hutchings.