VICAR FAREWELLED

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 30, 4 August 1925, Page 9

VICAR FAREWELLED

TRIBUTES TO THE REV A. W. PAYNE Tho sincere esteem in which the Vicar of St. Michael and All Angels', Kelburn, the Rev. A. W. Payne, M.A., is ' held by his parishioners was. fully .evidenced last night, when upwards of 200 assembled in the Training College gymnasium for the purpose of bidding him farewell on the eve of his departure to take up the appointment of Sub-Warden and Tutor at at. John's College, Auckland. Tho people's church-warden, Mr. H. X Evans, presided; and among those present were the Bishop of the iMocese (the 'Right Rev. Dr. fcjprott), the Yen. Archdeacon of Wellington (the Eev. A. M. Johnson), the Rev. J. C. Davies (Levin), the members •of the vestry, Mrs. Sprott, and Sir John and Lady Luke. ■ The chairman, in paying a high tribute to the work which Mr. Payne had performed among them for over nine years, said that, though the call of service took their vicar away from them, both he and they could look forward with confidence—theirs born of their knowledge of his qualities—the further great service on his part, service calling for gifts which had been bestowed upon few men as richly as upon him. Isext they looked back with deep thankfulness upon something that could never be taken from them—the history of nearly ten years of the first growth of their parochial district, years of leadership, inspired by lofty ideals, and in which the foundations of their parochial life had been well and truly laid. In spite of the often proclaimed falling off in the habit of public worship, they had at Kelburn maintained and increased the numbers who came to Holy Communion. The beauty of their church was due as much to their vicar as to the architect, and the completion ol the east window in a week or two would realise one more of Mr. Payne's cherished projects, and would include his own parting gift to the church. (Applause.) The secret of the loyalty of Mr. Payne's workers lay in his own loyalty to his ideals, his personal example, and his work among , the children and the sick. (Applause.) Mr. H. S. Burns, tho vicar's churchwarden, then read an address to Mr. Payne, which was handsomely illuminated by Mr. G. N. Sturtevant, and was signed by the churchwardens and members of the vestry. Mr. Payne's name, he said, would always be associated with the building of their church, as it was .to his perseverance and faith that they owed their position to-day. When Mr. Payne first' came there in 1915 they had only £60 in hand towards the cost of a new church. That day, however, when he left them they had achurch which was quite large enough for their present needs, and which cost over £7000. Of this large amount over £4500 had actually been raised in cash. The accumulated fund in 1915 stood at £1070; to-day it stood at £6250, an increase of .over £5000. He knew that Mr. Payne was the last person who would like to be measured, by results of that kind, yet he thought it was duo to him that such facts should be made known. (Applause.) Mr. G. N. Sturtevant, until lately vicar's churchwarden, also paid his personal tribute, and then, amid a scene of marked enthusiasm, the chairman presented Mr. Payne with the illuminated address, a handsome Petone rug, and a cheque for a substantial amount, with which to furnish his rooms at St. John's College, and to remind him of the love and esteem of his late parishioners and their best wishes in his new work. The Bishop, speaking for tho whole dioceso, said that fortunately they were not losing Mr. Payne, because in going to St. John's College he would be working tor tho Church of the' Province of New Zealand, of which the Wellington Diocese was a part, and they knew that in recommending graduates he would not overlook the claims of his old diocese. As Bishop, he wished to ex- ' press to Mr. Payne his own gratitude and appreciation of the entire and absolute loyalty which he had always ex-! perienced from him. Mr. Payne showed this specially as his examining chaplain and as the editor of "The Church Chronicle," which he had made the best of the diocesan papers in! New Zealand. (Applause.) He was leaving behind him a most beautiful church, the beauty of which they knew was due chiefly to Mr. Payne's exquisite taste. So much was this the case that he hoped when the church was completed those responsible would take the utmost care to follow out most closely the lines Mr. Payne had laid down, so that the church would retain its great beauty and dignity., (Applause.) Since Mr. Payne was leaving them there was no work which he would sooner see him take up than that to which he was going. So long as St. John's College was under the control and teaching of two such men as Canon Tisdall and Mr. Payne, he would always have perfect confidence in accepting any studonts recommended from there, because they would receive from those in charge a wholesome, sane, healthy, and manly Christian training. (Applause.) They all wished Mr. Payne the richest blessings in the new work for which he was so eminently suited. (Applause.) Tho Yen. Archdeacon Johnson expressed the debt ' which his brother clergy owed Mr. Payne for all he had done, for them, and for his fine example. . Mr. 1 Payne, who on rising to reply was received with cheers, said he was only leaving because he felt that the worki here would not Buffer, and he could do better work for the Church as a whole at St. John's College. He was more than grateful to them for their gifts of love, understanding, and friendship, . and for puch great gif,ts as these from their children. (Applause.) He asked their best support for his successor, the Rev. J. Petrie, and their prayers for blessings on his new work at St. John's.- (Applause.) Supper was then provided by the ladies of the guild, under the presidency of Mrs. H. E. Evans. During the evening songs were sung by Mrs.. C. Nelson and Messrs. Howe and T. R. Lawson.