GATHERING AT ST. ANDREW’S

Evening Star, Issue 22327, 1 May 1936, Page 10

GATHERING AT ST. ANDREW’S

FAREWELL TO MISS ANHIE JAMES PRESENTATION TO DEACONESS SISTER ANNIE A very large and representative gathering of members of the congregations of St. Andrew s Presbjterian Church and the Kensington Presbyterian Church (which is a subbranch of St. Andrew’s) was held last evening in the Waddell Hall, Carroll afreet, some 240 people being present. The main object of the gathering was to farewell Miss Annie James, who is returning shortly to China, where she has represented the St. Andrew s congregation as a missionary for 24 years. The occasion also marked the twentyfifth anniversary of the ordination of Sister Annie, who has been deaconess at St. Andrew’s during the past to years. Ample evidence of the esteem m which she is held was shown by the fact that there was a full muster of the “ mothers ” who come to her meeting every Friday. . By a rather ingenious method the arrivals were allocated to one of 10 groups, each group being under the control of a leader, whose job it was to see that everyone in the group met. All members had previously been circulated and asked to bring limericks about Miss Annie James or Sister Annie, and much amusement was caused during the initial period of selecting the best of the limericks from each group. At a given time, the group leaders read the best two or three limericks from their group, and some of these were very good indeed, bringing forth loud applause and much merriment. The Bev. Hubert Ryburn then welcomed the visitors and expressed his delight at the very representative gathering. His remarks were followed by a musical item from Miss M’Elroy, and songs from Miss Dorothy M.‘Kay. The Rev. H. .Ryburn said that although the gathering was ostensibly to bid farewell to Miss James, it also marked tl** occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the ordination of Sister Annie, and the members of the congregation felt they could not aljow the occasion to pass without giving her some tangible expression of their esteem. In glowing terms he referred to the devoted service given by Sister Annie over a period of 16 years. Few knew just how much she did, or how much her work was appreciated by the poorer members of the congregation. She had been a tower of strength to him and to the congregation. He then presented her with a purse containing £22, with the instructions that she use the money for her own personal needs. Mrs H. Ryburn then presented Sister Annie, with a bouquet, those present standing and singing ‘ For She’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” Amid applause, Sister Annie rose and expressed her gratitude for the remarks made by Mr Ryburn, and for the presentation. She referred to the happy nature of her work among the people of St. Andrew’s and to the assistance she had received from others, and especially from Mr and Mrs Ryburn. After supper Mr Inglis gave a song. Rev. H. Ryburn then introduced speakers from the various church organisations. Mr A. 0. Cameron (convener of the Foreign Missions Committee) said that they were met that evening to wish Miss James farewell. He had looked up the early minutes of the Foreign Missions Committee and he found that it was just 31 years since St. Andrew's had decided to support its own missionary. Later, they decided to support two, and then three. Miss James had been appointed about 1910, when she went into training as a missionary, and there had been some doubt expressed by some of the _ elders as _to whether they were wise in appointing a young (possibly flighty) woman before she had qualified and proved herself to be in earnest. However, the step was taken and Miss James was appointed as missionary-designate. She fulfilled highest expectations by qualifying successfully. Twenty-four years ago she had gone out to China as missionary, and she held the unique record of having carried on under exceptionally trying conditions without ever having had a day’s illness. For instance, during the last two or three years, she had been in charge of a maternity and child welfare hospital in an isolated area, where there was only one other white woman. Tiber missionaries in China had paid wonderful tributes to her energy and to the quality of the work she was doing. St. Andrew’s was justly proud of her. She had a personality and qualities which endeared her to all, and they looked forward to her visits on furlough with great pleasure. (Applause.) The Foreign Missions Committee wanted her to know that she went forth again to China with the congregation behind her, and that she would be supported by their prayers and by their activities. On behalf ot the committee he asked her to accent an order for the purchase of books to take away with her. He wished her “ God speed.” Mr James Farquharson spoke on behalf of , the session and deacons’ court. Mrs John Wilson, president. St. Andrew’s P.W.M.U.. expressed _the delight of the members at having Miss James in their midst during the last few months. Miss Hope Blair spoke on behalf of the St. Andrew’s “Go Forward” Society and presented a bouquet. Miss Mary Park spoke on behalf of the St. Andrew’s “Busy Bee» ” On behalf of the Kensington congregation, Mrs Moore spoke, and assured Miss James that the women of that congregation would ever have her in mind in their pr;.. rs end that they would also work to assist her in China. Before calling on Miss James to speak. Rev. H. Ryburn asked her to * accept- his own personal good wishes. A huge basket of presents was then brought forward to Miss James, and she was asked to accept them from the various members and organisations of the church. Miss James, who received an ovation, said that she could not express all that was in her heart. She had loved the months she had snent among the people of St. Andrew’s and felt she had got closer to them on this occasion than ever before. It was a great privilege to represent such a church in China. She had been wonderfully sustained in her work there, a ltd felt many times that it was only the prayers of the members. of the congregation that upheld her through her difficulties. She gave several vivid accounts of dangers and difficulties which had been surmounted only by the knowledge Tat Christ was with her. She thanked all present for the expressions of goodwill which she had received that evening. She would go forth to China with the knowlr-’ e that they were all supporting her and upholding her. T'-«. meeting eoneluded with the r'w'i’T- from Psalms, a prayer from Rev. H. Ryburn, and the singing of a hymn.