Presentation to the Rev. Paterson.

Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 31, 8 February 1888, Page 2

Presentation to the Rev. Paterson.

; Occasion was taken at the annual meeting ! of St. John's parishioners, held last evening, ' to present the Rev. J. Paterson, who is 1 about to take a holiday, with an address and 1 purae of sovereigns. Mr. J. G. W. Aitken j occupied the chair, and in bringing tho • matter before the congregation he remarked 1 that most of those Dresent worn awn.ro that ' the Rev. Mr. Paterson had been labouring amongst them for over 20 years, and during i thatperiodheneverhada lengthened holiday, i Several members of the church had put their i heads together and considered this fact, and i they had come to the conclusion that it , would be graceful on their part to ; suggest to the rev. gentleman that ho , take a prolonged holiday— one from which i he would derive entire rest. He had i much pleasure in moving a resolution to that effect. The motion was seconded by Mr. W. Allon. Mr. J. M'Kerrow said that . the same meeting whioh had decided that ; i'.e Rev. Mr. Paterson shonld have a holiday had also decided to present him with ' an address. (Applause.) He then read the ' following address:— "To the Rev. James Paterson. Dear Sir— We, members and ad- ' herents of St. John's Presbyterian Church, Wellington, on the occasion of your going 1 on furlough for a short time, wish to express to you, our minister and pastor, the high , appreciation we have of the ability and devotion which has characterised your ministry in our midst ; the wise counsel and the active sympathy rendered by you in our times 1 of joy and sorrow, for the long period of nearly 20 yeara. We are pleased to ob- , serve that in addition to these, your pastoral ; and ministerial duties, you have taken an • aotive interest in public work, espeoially in , connection with education, a snbject whioh • our Presbyterian Church has always held to ' be only second in importance to religions • training in the advancement aud develop- ; ment of a nation. We rejoice in the good measure of health and strength which has been vouchsafed you, and trust that by the blessing of God you may long continue to go out and in amongst us in the exercise of ' your sacred office. We hope that the rest of a few months, which you are soon to enjoy, will so refresh and invigorate you as to prolong yonr dayß of aotive service to the l Church. With the assurance of our loving • regard, we remain your affectionate people." i The speaker said that another idea had origii nated in connection with the address, and I that was the presentation of some substantial i gift, showing the appreciation in whioh , they held their pastor's services. No one i had been asked to contribute, and everything had been given voluntarily. The result had , exceeded their expectations. It was there1 fore now his pleasing duty to present the ' rev. gentleman with a purse of sovereigns, 1 which he hoped he would accept as a token ' of tho estimation in which they held him. (Applause.) The Rev. Mr. Paterson, in [ replying, said that it was a difficult thing . for him to find words in whioh to express his t feelings. There was nothing bo precious to . a minister as the goodwill and combined . affection of the people amongst whom he had ! laboured, and ho took their expression of kindness as showing that his 20 years' ser- [ vices had been appreciated. The gift was , entirely unexpected. He was gratified by , the allusion contained in the address i to the part he had taken in public affairs i and the interest he had taken in [ publio education. It would have been ¦ indeed strange if he, as a Presbyterian ¦ minister, did not take an interest in i the education of the people. It was the ; glory of the Church and land from which I most of them had come, to promote the edu- • cation of the people. (Applause.) He had ; thought that he was giving too much time to these matters, but was glad that his congregation had thought otherwise. He ap- ' predated their kindness in suggesting that ' he should take a lengthened furlough, and 1 he would fall in with it. He thought that 1 by their conduct they were setting a good 1 example to other congregations, and he was ! proud of them for this. There were many • ministers in the colony who were in far ' more need of rest than he was. His first • thought on being asked to take a holiday 1 was how the pulpit was to be filled during his absence. He had, however, much pleasure in announcing that Mr. William i Grant, who had recently returned from i Scotland, would fill the vacancy. The rev. . speaker said that on his return he hoped to , be able to throw fresh energy into hiß work. ; (Applause.) We understand that the Rev. Mr. Paterson will leave New Zealand for his vacation at an early date.