WIDER CALL

Evening Star, Issue 21994, 2 April 1935, Page 13

WIDER CALL

REV. E. T. COX’S MESSAGE PROSPERITY FOR MORE THAN PRIVILEGED “ I have a message for this age,” de dared the Rev. E. T. Cox at a large gathering of the congregation of the Moruington Methodist Church last night on the eve of his retirement from the ministry of the circuit. “ That message,” he said, “ has been presented to the citizens of Dunedin, 1 have yet to present it to the people of New Zealand, and I am confident that they will receive it with enthusiasm.

“ My leave from the church will be reconsidered annually,” said Mr Cox, “ because 1 am in no way dissatisfied with the church as an institution or with the ministry as a vocation. 1 was never more convinced of the importance of that institution than to-day. The ministry of the church is a calling that all good and great men honour and always must honour, because the church and its ministry stand for good living, for the proclamation amongst men of two fundamental truths about life, the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man. The Methodist Church stands with other sections of the Christian Church for the Saviourhood of Jesus Christ, which to me is the greatest truth revealed to man. I am retiring temporarily from the active ministry because we live in one of the most needy and critical generations in history. A shaken civilisation is striving desperately to get on its feet again after the terrible catastrophies of war, pestilence, and famine. 1 have a message for this age. That message has been presented to the citizens of Dunedin. with the result that I occupy the mayoral chair, a place of-unique opportunity and privilege. I have yet to present this message to the dominion, and I am just as confident that when it is presented to my fellow-countrymen it will bo received as enthusiastically as it was in Dunedin. The message is that the welfare of the people must take priority in the scheme of things, that we are inter-related in our lives, and the prosperity of all is the business of the community and not of the privileged few. (Applause.) When that happy state is achieved, most of the suffering and distress of mankind will have passed from life, and the world will be for us all a happy and a most holy place.” In conclusion, Mr Cox thanked the congregation for its good wishes and foi its support of him in his work. In presenting Mr and Mrs Cox with a wallet of notes and Mrs Cox with a bouquet, Mr F. G. Marshall, circuit steward, who occupied the chair, began by referring to the public position Mr Cox had taken up shortly after his arrival in Dunedin. Ho had made a sensational and successful entry into local politics in the face of strong opposition, which had continued since the election, but, despite this, he had continued his success and had filled with credit the difficult position of Mayor of Dunedin. The speaker referred to the many civic receptions which, he said, Mr Cox had performed with grace and dignity. Apart from that, no one knew the amount of work Mr Cox had done privately. Some had objected to one man filling two offices, but ho was satisfied that Mr Cox had done ample justice to both positions. He was respected and honoured not only by the Mornington Methodist Church, but by the Methodist Church of New Zealand. There was no doubt that both Mr and Mrs Cox would be missed. Mrs Cox was loved for her brightness and gentleness. and Mr Cox was always cheerful and full of sympathy for young and old and for all who were in distress. He prayed that they might continue with success, and ho assured Mr Cox that his progress would be followed with interest by a largo body of friends in Mornington.

Mr G. A. Lamb, also a circuit steward, endorsed the chairman’s remarks and paid a tribute to Mr Cox’s work in the pulpit. His services Had been enjoyed to the full, and they had proved him to be a man of intelligence and ability. The congregation wished him success in his endeavour to exercise those faculties in a broader sphere. He concluded by presenting Master Lloyd Cox with a fountain pen. On behalf of the young men’s Bible class, Mr H. Annan thanked Mr Cox for his work as leader, and presented him with a pocket book as a token of the honour in which his class held him. , , Mr J. Torrance, on behalf of the congregation. Mr 11. 6. Simpson, choirmaster, Mr J. Dickson, on behalf of the Morniugton Relief Committee, the Rev. W. W. Avery of tho Roslyn Methodist Church, and the Rev. A. Watson, Mornington Presbyterian Church, also referred to the many ways in which Mr Cox had distinguished himself in his various capacities, and wished him success.

Preceding tho presentation ceremony, a brief musical programme was presented, items being contributed by Mrs C. L. Mark, Mrs Searlo, Miss M'Kce, Mr Smith, Mr J. Simpson, and Mr R. G. Simpson (solos), Miss Paccy (elocutionary items), and Mr Backhand (banjo solos). . ■ Tho accompanists were Miss 1 icKaiu, Mrs J. Simpson, and Mr Pitts.