VALEDICTORY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 19 March 1926, Page 8

VALEDICTORY.

REV. AND MRS. ORANGE. (From Our Eltham Correspondent.) After a most successful term of 4) years in Eltham in charge of Knox Church, the Rev. E. J. Orange has accepted a call to Kilbirnie, Wellington, and leaves on Monday for his new appointment. He and Mrs. Orange were tendered a farewell last evening in the Oddfellows’ Hall, when the large crowd of church members and citizens that had assembled for the purpose was an eloquent testimony the very high esteem in which Mr. and Mrs. Orange are held. Mr. Tarrant was in the chair, and, after a very enjoyable programme of musical items, he called upon the Mayor (Mr 1. J. Bridger) to speajc on behalf of the. citizens. The Mayor said that he had had the privilege of working with ,Mr. Orange on many local institutions, and as a citizen he had done excellent work. He congratulated Mr. Orange upon his new appointment, and hoped that he would continue to be successful in the great work' that he had set himself as a life-work. It was quite evident that the church had made definite progress under Mr. Orange. Mr. Lambie, of Mangatoki, represented the country districts and stressed the energetic attention that their departing minister had always shown toward them. The interests of the members in the outlying parts had not been neglected, but had 1 shown considerable development during Mr. Orange’s term in Eltham. He expressed deep regret at the fact that he was saying goodbye, and that Mr. Orange could be assured that he was carrying away with him the very best wishes of the members of the church. Mr. S. Prosser, on behalf of the hoard of managers, spoke in similar strain, and stated that Mr. Orange had displayed considerable business ability in connection with the affairs of tlie church.

Mr P. B. Frank spoke on behalf of the Young People’s and Bible Class work, and assured Mr. Orange that his worlc on their behalf had 1 been deeply appreciated. Mr'Ure Murray was then called upon to make a presentation on behalf of the congregation, which consisted of a very handsome “grandfather” clock which stood about five feet high and had a beautiful chime system. The Rev. Mr Aver y also spoke on behalf of the other local church, and the Rev. R. E. Evans, of Hawera, and J. D. Smith, of Manaia, represented the Presbytery of Taranaki. Partieulrr mention was made of the fact that the Rev. Mr Orange, in addition to his local work and responsibility, was the chosen Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Taranaki and had done excellent work for the whole district.

Mr Orange, on rising to speak, was received with prolonged applause and was obviously affected by the general signs and tokens of love and appreciation shown towards himself and . Mrs Orange. Eltham had been his first charge in his ministry, he said, and he had great satisfaction in realising that his work had been successful and had been appreciated. He thanked all the speakers for their words of encouragement and the' members, of the church for the handsome gift. BIBLE CLASS GATHERING. A minister is not always shown the appreciation that his work warrants, but the members of the Bible Class conducted by Mr Orange in Eltham was not to be found wanting in this connection, for some 40 of them assembled unannounced at the manse the other evening and expressed the deep appreciaof his Avork on their behalf, and presented him with a substantial token of their esteem. The act was greatly appreciated by Mr Orange.