VALEDICTORY GATHERING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 8 July 1925, Page 3

VALEDICTORY GATHERING.

POPULAR KAPONGA RESIDENTS

MR. AND MRS. A. GRACE FAREWELLED.

Despite the Inclemency the weather, the Parish Hall, Kaponga, was crowded with friends, and wedwishers on the occasion of the farewell tendered to Mr. and Mrs. A. Grace and Miss Grace on the eve of their departure for New Plymouth, where they intend making their home. After an exceedingly pleasant evening the vicar in charge of the district, the Rev. 0. W. Soloman, having escorted the guests of the evening to the platform, made the following presentations oil behalf of the parishioners of St. Mark’s Church: To Mrs. A. Grace, a hand hag; to Miss Grace, a toilet set-; and to Mr. Grace, a travelling rug. Mr. Soloman then proceeded to pay high tribute to the long and faithful service extending through forty years, rendered by Mr. Grace and his family to the cause of St. Mark’s Church in Kaponga. He fittingly* described Mr. Grace as the father of the church, cheerfully fulfilling throughout a long period the duties attaching to the positions of vestryman, church-warden, lay-reader arid synodsman. Mr. Grace, with his customary modesty, had intimated his desire that any public acknowledgment of his services be dispensed with by his fellow parishioners. However, it was felt impossible to let him leave them without carrying with him some token of their regard for him. Mr. Soloman concluded with eulogistic reference to Mrs. Grace, who for seven years had acted as church organist, makiiicr it difficult, by virtue of her capitaf rendering of the services of the church, to find a successor who could adequately fill the position she had vacated. Mr. Grace, replying on helm If of himself and his family, thanked heartily the vicar and the parishioners of the church for their kindly recognition of his and his family’s services to the cause of St, Marks. He reminded them, however, that the work that he had done personally had been a labour of love, and for that reason, was in itself its own reward. He recalled the early days of the district and the establishment of the. church work in the commyliity, when services were conducted, first in the Methodist Church opposite and later in the school and town hull bv the Rev. W. H. Kay, of Hawera, the pioneer of the Church of England in the district, by whose efforts" the need of a church first made Itself felt, lu 1899, the Speaker continued, a meeting of parishioners was celled; by the generosity of Mr.. Corrigan of "Hawera, money was advanced with which to purchase a section; on November 3, 1900, a pouring wet day, the foundation stone was laid by Bishop Wallace of Wellington; on April 6, 1901—St. Mark’s Day—the church was dedicated, he being one of the first vestrymen. Later, the late Mr. W. Swadling, at his own expense, erected the chancel and advanced £IOO free of interest towards the building of the parish* hall in which they were gathered that night. Mr. Grace then spoke of the devoted work of the succession of vicars, complimenting Mr. Soloman, their present vicar, on the thoroughness of ©very department oi his labours and its splendid results,both in the increase of attendance at divine worship and in the steady growth of the young peoples’ work. Messrs. J. H. Bently, A. \ . Tait, I. Law senr., C. A. Betts and A. Black, early settlers of the district, in turn expressed their regret at Mr. Grace’s decision to leave the district, wishing both him an<j his family linpPy days in their new home. Mr. W. B. Fearon. speaking on behalf of the younger generation of the district and of the commercial men of the town, spoke of the high regard in which Mr. Grace was held by all who had dealings with him, in humorous terms describing his own feelings at the loss of so excellent a. client, but, nevertheless, complimenting Mr. Grace on his decision to enjoy a well-earned vacation.

After Mr. Grace had suitably replied. an appreciated supper was served by the ladies, and the remainder of the evening was spent in dancing.