UNITARIAN CHURCH

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 51, 1 March 1934, Page 15

UNITARIAN CHURCH

WELCOME TO MINISTER

A CORDIAL GATHERING

"This is a unique gathering," said !Mr. E. C. Isaac, when presiding at the welcome given to the Rev. Cyprus Mitchell, Ph.D., M.A., 8.D., who, has arrived in Wellington to take up work for tile Unitarian Church. Mr. Isaac went on to explain that the party was unique in that there were to bo no musical or other items that would distract from the welcome-given, or from the speeches, which were meant to express so much that was appreciative and welcoming to Dr. Mitchell. He had "been assisting Dr. Strong in Melbourne, whose work was so well.known, and in bringing over such a man as Dr. Mitchell it was felt that a' benefit was conferred not only on the church, but on the city generally, for his interests were wide and his qualifications far above the.ordinary. Dr. Mitchell was a Yale scholar, and was born in South Australia, so that Wellington Qould at least claim him as a cousin. Miss Mary Richmond, speaking for the. Federal' Religious Women's organisation, spoke of the wido field of work and study accomplished by the guest of honour-sn: Great Britain, Russia (in 1917. with the Red Cross), in America, and in Australia. ' This part of the world was rather the. latter end of nowhere but not too small to appreciate the. privilege- of ;.having such a worker. Miss Richmond said amusingly that she considered that "pacificism is pugnacious, as it is always fighting something opposed to its own tenets," but the doctor was an envoy of peace, whose favourite saying was '/God. madV us all." She felt that his policy.would be, not a soft, woolly, sentimental peace, but a strong power against1 evil. Mr. G. T. Saker, secretary of the church in Wellington, spoke from the point of view of the work to be done, and was followed by Mr. Stanley | Natuseh, who gaye1 a cordial welcome from the younger, members of the congregation. Rabbi Katz then "gave a welcome, also Mr. L. Greenberg and Professor Gould, the latter welcoming "a seeker after truth," and one who ■would have an influence on the educational forces of the city. Mr. Greenberg spoke of Dr. Mitchell's work on the staff of the T.M.C.A. in Russia, France, and England, and said he had been a lecturer both-for the V.M.C.A. and the Y.W.C.A. Mr. Jolid Howel (Socioty of Friends), the Rev. E. Xewell - (Terrace Congregational Church), and Mr. Saker, all joined in cordial welcome. Dr. Mitchell, in commenting on the kind things paid -of himself, alluded i enthusiastically, to the Rev. Dr. Strong, who was 90 years of age, and who had a record behind him of GO years of hard work, and 'was still going on | splendidly. He told a quaint story of the woman who remarked that there was a difference between hoping and expecting: she hoped that'she might meet her husband in heaven, but she did- not expect to do so. He hoped that he might fulfil all the expectations expressed a"bout himself, but he was afraid to, say that he expected to do 'soT He thanked all for their kindness and said it all helped him to begin work with a good' heart, and he meant to.be of all possible use to everyone who needed him. • • Supper was served after th-» speeches, and all present had a pleasant opportunity- of meeting Dr. Mitchell. Among those present were Miss E. Richmond, Mrs. and Miss Seaton, Mrs. A. R. Stone, Miss Ahem, Miss England, Mr. and Mrs.N Robieson, Mr. Jameson, Mrs. Patterson, Mr. ,and Mrs. Philpot, Mr. Fliteroft, Mrs. and Miss Keddell, Mr. and Mrs. Foster, Mrs. E. J. Moore, J.P., MV. and Mrs. Saker, Mrs. Cowles, Mrs. Greenberg, Miss Bridgman, Miss Frayne, Misses Kennedy (2), Mrs. Katz, Miss Anslow, Mrs. Parkin,; Mrs. Maslin, Mrs. Fraser, Mis. Mudio, Mts. and Miss Morris, Miss A. Kane, Miss D. Isaacs, Mrs. "V. Vinsen, Miss M. Newton, and a number of other church members.