THE REV. P. BARCLAY.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 11, Issue 827, 16 February 1867, Page 2

THE REV. P. BARCLAY.

Whe:*, a few weeks ago, 'the approachiug departure . from the; colony of the Rev. P. Barclay of St. Paul's (Presbyterian; Church, l after,#^fsidehce in Napier, of nearly ejg|t*^|ars, became generally known, a feeling arose—which was by no means confined to the congregation over which he had been pastor ■ — that the reverend gentleman should not be allowed to leave New Zealand without some public recognition of the earnestness with which he had carried on the ministerial work entrusted to him, and the high estimation in which he was personally held. To carry out the idea, a subscription list was opened, and a sum of £160 raised within a comparatively short time. It so happened , that, with the view of celebrating the arrival of the new harmonium for the church, a concert of sacred music had been for some time in preparation under the direction of Mr. Martin, the efficient leader of the choir ; aud -a suggestion was made and acted upon to the effect that, as the practice was in a forward state, the concert should be given without waiting for the new instrumentthus affording an appropriate occasion of presenting Mr. Barclay with the farewell address in contemplation, accompanied by the testimonial subscribed for. Accordingly, Monday, the 11th inst., was fixed upon as a suitable day, and, although the weather was wet in the morning and somewhat threatening in the evening, the church was well filled by eight o'clock, the hour named for the commencement of THE CONCERT. The choir, which we were pleased to see derive a great part of its strength from members of another denomination, then sang several choruses, varied by a few airs and duetts, which werexeudered with pleasing effect j and Mr. Martin, through us, returns his warmest thanks to the ladies and gentlemen who lent their able assistance. The programme consisted of the following : — FIRST PAET. Introduction— Harmonium Eyrie and Sancfcus ... . . .Mozarfs 12th Mass With Verdure Clad— Solo ...Eaydn's 'fireation' AdesteFideles-Solo, Duet, Trio, Quartetfc and Chorus Total Eclipse— Solo— "Samson"... . ... Handel Angels Ever bright and Pair— airNow Heav'n in fullest glory shone—Recitative and Air Haydn To Thee Cherubim— Te Deum Handel SECOND PART. The Lord is a Man of War— Bass Duet Handel Hear my Prayer— Duet, Solo and Chorus Kent How willing my paternal love— Solo— "Samson" Handel Duett on Harmonium, from Solomon Hail Judea! Happy Land— Duet and Chorus Handel Gloria— Haydn's First Service Abide with me Martin ■—The last named — " Abide with me " —is the composition of Mr. Martin, and is named by him "Mary bank," as a tribute to the memory of the late Mrs. Barclay. The other pieces are well known to our musical readers. THE PRESENTATION. Before the singing of the last piece named in the programme, His Honor Mr. Justice Johnston, who, on being applied to, had very kindly agreed to preside, was introduced to the platform by James Anderson, Esq. His Honor then addressed the meeting as follows : — Ladies and Gentlemen,-— I have been invited by several of my most respected friends in Napier to appear among you this evening and take part in a ceremonial of a very interesting nature. Not being a member of the congregation which usually meets here for the purposes ' of public worship, — not being even .a permanent resident in the province,- — I should have deemed myself disqualified for the performance of the part which has been entrusted to me, had I not been assured that it is the common desire of my fellow-sub-scribers to the address and testimonial which are about to be presented, to give to the proceedings a comprehensively social, rather than a merely denominational character. To help in doing honor to a good man, a good citizen, a good Christian pastor, and a friend, is a privilege which, being accorded to me under such circumstances, I do not feel justified in refusing. And indeed, in the absence of your esteemed Superintendent, there are some reasons why I should not consider myself an inappropriate person to take some parfc in this demonstration • for not only were the family of the worthy gentleman whom we are met to honour and bid God speed and my own, neighbours and friends in the old country, in bygone times, but it so chanced that I accompanied Mr. Barclay, on his arrival in the colony, to this place, the destined scene of his loving and successful labours, of his trials and sorrows ; and during the years which have since elapsed, I have had frequent opportunities of enjoying his society, watching his career, and learning, both by personal observation and by report, hoiv and why he won — as he most unquestionably has won — golden opinions from men and women of all classes and creeds. Self-denying, patient, liberal in word and deed, genial by temperament, courteous in demeanour, tolerant of those who differ from him iv opinion, firm and tenacious of the right, though gentle and amiable — eminently a peace-maker, — he has not only taught but has been himself a worthy exemplar of that unselfish* love of his neighbour, that comprehensive charity, which is the chief characteristic of true Catholic Christianity, ancl which is indeed "the very bonl of peace and of all virtues." Turning to the Rev. P. Barclay, His Honor then said : — Mr. Barclay, — I cannot permit myself, in addressing you personally and directly, to use any words of my own. I proceed, without further comment, to read to you \ the address which I have the privilege of presenting to you, and with the sentiments expressed in which I most heartily concur : Reverend and Dear Sir,-— On the eve of your return to the Mother ■ Country, after a residence among us of nearly ; eight years, we would fail in our duty if we did not givo publio expression to the high 1 sense we entertain of your labors during that • period in the cause of Christ, — not merely as ? pastor of the congregation with which you havo been moro immediately connected, but in the general work' of Churoh extension throughout the province. Those labors have in an eminent degree been orowned with success; and we. cannot but feel that, under

Provides!-, &oii^VW%i|«|fe l^Ml^l is attribtl.abl^ to jfef" 3Md^d|Ypti^^nary^ untiringr ! ehergyi ' : />sy*rl rV ''"y' y You will carry with vott; o^ ;^«^gy oathios on account of the bea^ d<?wejSJ^: bereavement which has your retirement -rdm:the;xninistOTial^wyn|s-^ this place. The w^^^^J^HpS partner in life, who so earnestly and b«gfe| shared your early gotten V the many who. knewJ^|n|^g^ preciatedher sterling wortn. -rv-.^vYY-';^ P Our heartfelt wisheß ior A jpf^iJ» y piness accompany^ou from ,!W-JWg_gg^ : shall long remember -tte.fa^^;intapKW-» <r whichhas subsisted between us, and oantioty but feel, when you are gone from ampngm. that we have lost, not only a respeotf T pa|t^y but a very dear friend. y „f -XyyiiX'. K. We trust you will aocept. the ■■-.:■ testimonial which has been B ub^rM|o£nOty ; merely by the .congregation, but .by^thei^ „ friends and admirers in the provmoe. ; T s;' —His Honor then handed Mr. .Barclay ; , a purse containing' l6o sovereign^ andA r : stated that he was requested tbafk mmto procure (with the balance of tha = testimonial fund) upon his' arrival inEngland, a piece of plate, the same to T y bear the following inscription; :~ y .^y ' Presented 11th February 1867* ;To the ■*['■- i.y : -s-:- y<Y Rev. P. Barclay, AM., - ;v By Members of hia Congregation and other , friends, „,! ; '^ On the occasion of his leaving Napier for the ' Mother Country, r: Accompanied by ft Purse containing 160 sovereigns, And an Addresa • Expressive of the esteem in whioh he was held while pastor of St. Paul's .Church. . The Rev, P Barclay, who spoke under the influence of much emotion, then replied to the following effect :— "■ Mb. Justice Johnsi™ ahpirbbm,This is to me a vei> ' stran S e jnd^unex- , pected thing : lam bothav^P nsedandgratified. With much pleasure I receive this munificent gift, yet with humih.'*? ?-~ n °t m any way knowing what I havedoru/- *9 occasion such an outbreak of kindness anu * . 0Te * The most I looked for was that two or thu ree should come down to the Spit and see mi y and my children leave for the old land. In place of this, you are " honouring me with ' many honours;" and, in presenting this gift and handing me that address, you, Sir,, have used all too kind and flattering wordsI am afraid I come very far short of all that- : goodness you kindly give me credit for, andthat my daily life has not been chari-terised-. by all that meekness and winsomeness which you attribute to me, and which should bha^- : acterise a minister of Christ's, Gospel. I am afraid there have been sometimes unkind words and sometimes harsh deeds j and I would try, could I live these years over , again, to do my duty in a kinder, a wiser, a : more winsome way. Even then I should V have looked for no such mark of respect and '" friendship ; for Duty neither needs hor, "' seeks acknowledgment — how . much less ; . when that duty has been done often in fee- . bleness, always with errors and omissions. § -„ But you have overlooked all this, and I thank you. The acknowledgment of my services, such as they have been, will, apartfrom myself, have one good effect worthy of, notice. It will shew the people in the old country how much a man may be respected who, in some measure, tries to do hia duty* .- It will tell well for us colonists, who are apt \ to be misjudged by many there— the most of whom know little or nothing about colo- : nies and colonists. .',. In your address you allude touchingly to X, her whom I have lost. Yet she is not lost/ v — only gone before ; for to the true Chris- J tian "there is no death, what seems so js transition." To her wise counsel and true, 7' genuine goodness, I greatly owe the standi have in this province and the place I have in your affections. I shall not speedily forget the kindness and sympathy shewn me when it pleased Cod to take her to Himself. And, now, she rests among you — the only one of her family separated from the dust of her kindred — in the sure and certain hope of a glorious immortality. As the hymn says :— . Asleep in Jesus I Ear from thee Thy kindred and their graves may he, But thine is still a blessed sleep From which none ever wake to weep. — But I must conclude. Thpugh there is much that might be said, words, when most needed, are sometimes most difficult to find. One thing I must say, and that is, how much I like the catholicity of feeling displayed in this matter. Before me I see members of different denominations — representatives of different nationalities. It is worth something to get an expression of love and respect from such a people. It puts me in mindj Sir, of the city of your birth, whose motto is " Bon Accord ;" and lam sure, if thereis anything I would work and pray for, it is that good agreement may always prevail in this place — may always and everywhere prevail ; for, " Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in, unity." Permit me to add that this address and ! this gift are none the less valued that I "rey ! ceive them from Mr. Justice Johnston. You have, Sir, well represented the catholicity of the feeling which has brought together so many this evening, and you have given me an additional proof ofthe friendship with which you have honored me ,in this land, — a friendship by no means new in one sense, though, personally, we had not met until we found ourselves in the same steamer to this place, on my first com-. . ing, as you have been telling, nearly eight years ago. I would also like, before concluding these desultory remarks, to say that there are many visits I should have made in town and country, had it been in my power/ But, owing to the press of business' and the uncommonly rainy weather,, this has' been rendered impossible ; and not only this, but. a good deal of work remaius undone which I should have liked to do ere I left. And vow I must say farewell ; with good wishes for your well-being, and earnest prayers that the , great,. Cod of Providence and of Crace may largely bless you and your households-— that he may eminently bless all the little children, for they are very dear to my heart. In the quaint but expressive language of an ancient version of the Psalms — and I apply the words both to things temporal and things spiritual — I wish you good luck iv the name, of the Lord.yr PRESENTATION BY THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. On Tuesday the 12th insfc, the children attending the Sunday school in; connection : with St. Paul's, assembled in the^cljool room to the number of fully 70, for tlie purpose y of taking a formal farewell -;:of ;, their pastor. ,r The teachers and' a few' other f ;vfeitors„were y also present. ; 77 ~ v Xy7 -"A" hymn having been; sung, Mr. S. Green- y^

the School, read y&MeJf^ ■• ;;'.■;■ y .-. ,' ; '^X^^^^^^^^SiM^T^'^- ~~'i 7 •y;^ teaohers ;? in connection with St. :/. /yuiiii^^^ been pastor— for our-' "', t)So! l<*St ty; we «*.re likely to have her } ""tfora.^o^ir^epW Of acK-ow* y^iedginfe^ kindly interest you . rhavealw^^ of the sohool, as well as iu;tha,t ot: teaohers and ohildren in their individual capacity, and to express bur ydeep -brrbw'that you are no longer to be among us.

We are hot itmd that ybu will soon forget •us, but we ask you; nevertheless, to aooept, for .yourself and your dearlittle ones, the aooomV .panying slight tokens of affectionate rememFrance, whioh yoii will the more prize from the faot that the first suggestion of the same came from the scholars," ' ■'- That the (Jbd of all Grace will take you and yours in safety, health, and comfort, to your desired haven, arid grant a happy meeting with those near &hd : dear, from whom you have- been so long separated, is our earnest prayer. • :; —He, at the same time, handed Mr; Barclay a photographic album and a portable dressing case for himself, and illustrated books for .gaoh. of his three children., Theßev, Mr* Barclay, in replying, thanked teachers and children for this expression of their good will} which was wholly unlooked for on his part, and he was especially pleased at the suggestion having originated with the scholars' and <at. the* 'kind tboughtfulnessy which ' : prompted them to thmk of his, : children. He would never forget Napier, and the kindly feeling wliich had been shewn him by its inhabitants, and would especially remember the Sunday school, both teaohers and children. The work of the Sunday school was one in which he was much interested, and the importance of which was not always estimated at its full value. Here, the school had been greatly successful, and such success was attributable, under God, to the assiduity and punctuality of the teaohers. He trusted, when in a distant land, to hear of its continued prosperity. In taking farewell of the children his last advice to them was that they would make good usei of the privileges they enjoyed, ; and earnestly seek God in the morning of theirdays. i