Welcome Gathering.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 120, 31 May 1901, Page 3

Welcome Gathering.

RECEPTION OF REV. B. F. AND MRS ROTHAVELL.

A very hearty public welcome to the dis- , tiiet was last night given to the Rev. B. , F. Rothwell, the able minister who was . selected as pastor of AVesley Church, ■f Gisborne. , In- the earlier part of the evening a soiree was held in tho Theatre Royal, ! ’ after which a public meeting took place. A There was a very large attendance at the ". soiree, and the hall presented a bright and animated appearance, the well-laden tables being beautifully set off with flowers. The ladies, as a matter of course, carried , out their part well, and the soiree was in ] every a great success. The followi ing ladies provided and presided at the A tables :—■ J No. I—Mrs Skillicorn, Misses Skillicorn “ (2), and Miss Bull. r No. 2—Mrs Scotter, Misses Scotter, j AVitty (2), and Mrs Granfield. ' No. 3 —Mesdames Chrisp, Harris, and n AVilkinson. No. 4 (Bachelors’ Table) —Misses East, , Reynolds, and Freeman. , No. s—Mrs Oxenham, Misses Oxenham . (2), and Misses Erskine (2). ' No. 6 Misses Havers, Birch, and , Dolman. There was a very large assembl age for r the after meeting, and a very hearty welcome was given to the Rev. B. F. Rothwell and Mrs Rothwell. Prior to tho ini’ door proceedings, the City Band played I several tunes in front of the hall. The indoor proceedings CQipmenced by the . singing of the hymn “ Crown Him Lord of All.” Mr John Tombloson presided, and in his opening speech extended the 1 hand of good fellowship to Mr Rothwell. Heexpressed plcasureatseeingso many re--1 prosentatives of other congregations there, and said that they would all heartily welcome Mr Rothwell to Gisborne. He went on to show that the people of the district were much the same as elsewhere—they were of tho ordinary humanity. Ho added ; that they expected Mr Rothwell to take - an active part in all movements that were i for the good and well-being of tho people ' of the district, and in the name of the s congregation and of the people generally, £ he offered a hearty welcome to Mr and j Mrs Rothwell. (Applause.) i Mr J. East having sung “ Etornal Rest,” ] a specially fino number, tho Rev. Canon r AVcbb, in a humorous speech, extended a y public welcome to Mr and Mrs Rothwell. a In reference to his family connection with e Wesloyanism, he produced an interesting s historic documont, being aletter of condo- i: lenco from John AVesley to tho Canon’s v grandfather on the death of the latter’s t wife. He hoped that Mr Rothwell would s be ablo to do real good work in tho dis- t: trict. He also said he was tho more o pleased to welcomo Mr Rothwell because v ho was a good prohibitionist. s Miss J. Oxenham sang “ The Two o Cities,” which was greatly appreciated. n The Rev. J. Paterson expressed his plea- ii sure and delight in extending a welcome n to Mr Rothwell, and said that lie would a do anything ho could to help Mr Rothwell tl in his work. He specially welcomed Mrs w Rothwell, and jocularly explained that p that lady had gained her early tuition as st a child at his church. Continuing, he said that tho ministers should fight side di by side, shoulder to shoulder’and heart to heart in the work of tho Lord, and there- sc fore ho heartily welcomed Mr Rothwell as C a co-worker. If the Church was to grow £ successfully it must grow through acces- te sions by conversion ; otherwise a church bi would have ungodly people controlling its tl affairs, and tho salt would lose its savor. £ It seemed to him that every year it was tc becoming harder to got people to relinquish a wordly life and give themselves up to bi God. He did not disparage education, but they wanted a mighty outpouring of 1c God’s spirit. Ho concluded with an eloquent plea for diviuo firo in the work of re the church. T Mr Buckingham was given a very cor- p dial reception. Ho sang “Nazareth,” A and had to respond to a very warm en- tl core. C Mrs Captain Hill made an excellent tc and effective speech. She made reference lo to the previous good work of Mr Roth- tr woll, and spoke gratefully of tho deter- ri mined stand Mr Rothwell had made when ai tho Army was being persecuted in a town r< in Otago. She believed that God had tc sent Mr and Mrs Rothwoll to Gisborne to tl help and bless thorn. After a powerful ii: speech doaling with temperance, Mrs Hill ai concluded by a prophetical declaration ai that within twelve months Mr and Mrs n Rothwell would cause a revival in the n work of tho AVesley Church. w Miss Heaney, in sweet voice, sang tho tl “ Star of Bethlehem,” for which she was tl warmly applauded. rr Mr C. A. DeLautour joined in the wcl- p come to Mr and Mrs Rothwell, and urged s( that ho bo given tho cordial co-operation of a the people. Ho counselled Christians to p beware of drift, and said that Christianity h was not given only to the learned—they tl should not mistake intellectuality for ei Christianity, which he dofined as life, the E only Life everlasting. It was, ho said, b life that was wanted. The source and the o; force of that life wero the same—the q Christian’s King. Ho joined his prayers lc with those of others in wishing that Mr tl and Mrs Rotliwell’s work would be blessed.

On coining forward the Rev. Mr Rothwell was very warmly applauded. He said that so many memories had been awakened that ho hardly' knew at what point to commence. Ho returned hearty thanks for the kindness of the friends. He said there was no place in the Church for the grumbler ; they all had a sphere they could take, but must not think that if they did not do their part God would let tho Church go. Ho did not want to persuade people to leave one church to go to another, but he would be glad to welcome all who might be careless. He was fortunate in the fact that Ml-Buckingham was likely to stay in Gisborne, and would assist in the work of the choir. Ho concluded with a fervent reference to his desire to do God’s work, and expressing his hopefulness that Mrs Rothwell and he would be able to do good work in Gisborue for the Lord.

On tho motion of the Chairman, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to all who had contributed to the success of the evening, and on the motion of the Rev. J. G. Paterson a voto of thanks was accorded to the Chairman. The Benediction was then pronouuccd and the meeting closed. Tho committee who so well organised the social gathering ’ were Messrs Scotter, A. Spence, W. Burnand, and J. W. Bull, assisted by other gentlemen. Mr C. J. East played tho accompaniments.