POPULAR MINISTER RETIRES

Evening Star, Issue 21656, 27 February 1934, Page 6

POPULAR MINISTER RETIRES

REV. «. MILLER FAREWELLED TRIBUTE FROM CONGREGATION The high esteem in which the Eev. George Miller is held by the congregation of the North-east Valley Presbyterian Church was strikingly shown at a farewell function tendered to him and Mrs Miller in the church last evening. The session clerk (Mr R. H. Robertson) presided over an attendance which filled the building to capacity. Mr Miller is retiring after ton years as minister ol the North-east Valley Presbyterian Church. The Presbytery’s sympathy with the congregation in the loss sustained by the departure of Mr Miller was expressed by the Moderator (Dr blunter), who extended to him their wishes for a happy future. The resignation of a minister always left a certain disarrangement, he said, but they knew that the work would go on under the guidance of Dr Merrington until they had a minister. The Presbytery was fully confident that they would carry on the traditions in their loyalty to all the church, stood for. They did not feel happy about Mr Miller’s removal because there had been such bonds of friendship among them, and his capacity for friendship had been one of the secrets of his success. Ho hoped that Mr and Mrs Miller and their family would find when they wont to their new homo friends such as they had made in Dunedin. The Eev. A. Anstice, representing the local Ministers’ Association, said that he esteemed it a great honour to take part in that gathering to express their appreciation of the services of such a man as Mr Miller, and to represent his brother ministers on that occasion. Mr Miller was the father of the North End Ministers’ Association, and they would feel his loss very keenly. The first time he had heard him was on the occasion of the death of Mr Massey. Dir Miller was at that time Moderator of the Assembly, and his name came into prominence. Circumstances had brought him that duty of laying to rest the remains of one of the foremost statesmen New Zealand had known. Dr Merrington, Acting Moderator, spoke of the valuable work Mr Miller had done in the service of the Presbyterian Church. His thoughts went back ten years ago, he said, when Mr Miller was inducted and the speaker was asked to preach the serinon. He took as his text on that occasion “Ye are God’s husbandry.” Ho was sure they all felt, that they had not only been in God’s husbandry, but that they had had a very true and faithful husbandman. He had been tending all portions of God’s agriculture in that district, that farm of God. Once the husbandman went, however, tho husbandry still went on, and he was confident that there was no need to ask them to continue as they had done in the past. Professor Collie also expressed the Presbytery’s appreciation of Mr Miller’s services, both in the congregation and the Presbytery. He could Speak with a good deal of knowledge of Mr Miller’s work, for he had known him for over forty years. Those who were follow-students with Mr Miller knew that their confidence in him was well deserved, and he had the goodwill of all with whom he had come in contact. . Mr R. H. Robertson, for the session, said that Mr Miller’s ,ten years of ministry had been complete and comprehensive". and he would be missed very much in every department of his work. It had been a great privilege to sit under his pulpit, and they would all remember the helpful prayer meetings and not forget tho kindly visitations in their homes. As Moderator of session Mr Miller had been an ideal chairman, and they would miss his wisdom and guidance. The speaker concluded by conveying the sincere thanks of tho congregation to Mr Miller for his unsparl ing labour and to his wife and family for their able and loyal support. On behalf of the Deacons’ Court, Mr G. D. Cameron referred to the harmonious relations that had always existed between Mr Miller and the court, and he spoke also of Air Miller’s capacity for work. Dir Cameron also paid a tribute to the valuable work done by Mrs Miller as president of tho P.W.M.U. and in other branches of church activities, and by Miss Winnie Miller and- other, members of the family.

Miss Ross, representing the missionary organisations, said that Mr Miller’s interest in missions was well known to them all, and be had been ever ready to help those who had obeyed the command. i! Go ye forth into all the world.” She made reference to Miss Miller’s work in the Maori mission field as the result of her home training, and added that Mrs Miller had endeared herself to them all. Mr A. Vivian, on behalf of the youth organisations, expressed their appreciation of Mr Miller and his family. MiMiller, ho said, had always made a point of getting into personal contact with the young people of the church. Mr G. Manson, on behalf of the Parents’ League, expressed deep regret at losing Mr and Mrs Miller and their family, and said that bo hoped they would see Mr Miller many times yet in the pulpit. (Applause.) Other speakers were Mr R. K. Macfio (on behalf of the choir), Principal Dickie, Sister Lysboth, and Miss M'Ncnr, and the Rev. Scott Allen.

Mr D. S. M.‘Death, in presenting Mr Miller with a cheque, said that the gift was representative of the whole congregation. After the presentation several small girls representing the various children’s organisations in the church presented Mrs Miller with bouquets and Mr Miller with buttonholes. Mr Miller, on rising to speak, was greeted with prolonged applause. He said that he found great difficult* in saying what was in his mind and in thanking them for their kind remarks. Any minister might be proud to be minister of that congregation when he heard his office-bearers speak as they had spoken that night. He added that he owed a great deal to Sister Lysbeth for the helm and support she had given. She had been a hard and earnest worker. The office-bearers, too, had been men who had done their duty to the best of their ability, and their ability had been very high. He appreciated the work that had been done in the session. The Sunday School in the North-east Valley was, he thought, an ideal school, while all the other departments also worked well together. The sneaker also paid a warm tribute to Miss Moss, Mr Maefie, and the ehoir. Mr Miller made special reference to the work in the day school, and expressed Ills annreciation of the way in which Mr Miller, of the North-east Valley School, had assisted in the Sunday school. Tn thanking the congregation on behalf of himself and his wife, Mr Miller expressed the hope that they would get the minister they needed to carry on the work and give the help that was required. Mr Miller then pronounced the benediction, and supper was served.