PRESENTATION TO THE REV. S. ROBINSON, A.B.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 3875, 17 March 1877, Page 2

PRESENTATION TO THE REV. S. ROBINSON, A.B.

A laxge number of the parishioners of St. John's Church met at the Council Chamber last evening for the purpose of presenting an address to the Rev. Samuel Robinson, A.8., late curate of the parish, on the eve of his departure for Europe. Joseph Rhodes, Esq., was voted to the chair. The Chairman said they had met there for tbe purpose of bidding farewell to their late pastor. He was a very young man, but he had succeeded, since his arrival in Napier, in endearing himself to everyone with whom he came in contact. He had first met Mr Robinson at Point de G-alle, and had heard his first sermon on board the steamship Himalaya. He appreciated his preaching very much then, and he found since that he improved greatly on acquaintance. Mr Robinson had succeeded in gaining public esteem and respect, and he had filled St. John's Church to overflowing. The parish, he thought, would suffer a great loss by his departure ; he kuew not where they were likely to get as good a man again, his enlightened opinions and his teaching having met with the approval of a large majority of the parishioners. They had now met to bid adieu to Mr Eobinson, who, he understood, intended leaving by the Wanaka to-morrow (Saturday). He could only say that they all wished him [' God speed" wherever

be happened to be, and he hoped that Mr Robinson might not experience half so great a loss as the parishioners would by his departure. He had now a more pleasant duty to perform, viz., to present Mr Robinson with a small testimonial, which, he trusted, would meet with their approbation. He then read the following address, at the conclusion of which there was great applause : — Napier, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, March 16, 1877. . To the Bet. Samtjbi, Robinson, A.B , Napier. Rbv . AND Deab Sib, — Permit us, on the eve of your departure from Napier, to offer you our expression of regret that the connection which has existed between you and the Parish of St. John the Evangelist is about to be severed. We need not advert to the special cause ■which haß rendered your stay amongst us imposßiblo, but we may say that in all your persecutions and trials, — troubles whioh came from a source whence you ought to have received only kindness and assistance, — you have ever had the good feeling and sympathy of the vast majority of the parishioners. Your residence in Napier has been, brief, but it has been sufficiently long for you to win the respect and the esteem of everyone •with whom you have made acquaintance, and in leaving us now we beg you to believe that you carry with you the regrets and the affectionate remembrance of your former congregation; and that wherever your lot may be cast, Mrs. Robinson and yourtelf will ever have our earnest wishes and prayers ! for your prosperity. Herewith we have much pleasure in hand- I ing yeua purse of two hundred and seven } sovereigns as a substantial token of our re-'j gard for your services, and to meet the expenses attendant on yeur voyage to Europe, j On behalf of the Parishioners, I We beg to subscribe ourselves Yours most faithfully, J. M. Tabtttbatj ) n , , , W.LSpwoni j Churchwardens. Joseph Rhodes I Members of J. B. Fieldeb 5- Church Building F. Tuxfobd j Committee. — The Chairman then said" it only remained for him to request the honorary treasurer, Mr Fielder, who had been in- i defatigable in collecting the subscriptions, to present the testimonial. Mr Fielder then, on behalf of the subscribers, presented the address, accompanied by the purse of sovereigns, to Mr Robinson. The Rev. S. Robinson said he hardly j knew how to express his thanks for the handsome gift bestowed upon him, and for the great kindness he had met with in Napier, not only from a few but from a large number of persons. He had come to the place a complete stranger, and bad experienced nothing but kindness from the parishioners since his arrival. He had met the Chairman at Point de Galle, and they had been friends ever since. When he left the steamer at Melbourne, the passengers were kind enough to present him with a similar testimonial to that which he had now received, although he had only a few weeks' acquaintance with them. He begged to express his thanks not only for the generous testimonial, but for the kind manner in which the Chairman had spoken of him. He might say, in reference to the trials and troubles he had endured in the past, that there were still some bright spots in it, and he would ever remember the kindness he had received from his personal friends in Napier. It had been said that he had been opposed on principle ; if that was the case, why had not his opponents adhered to their charges, and had him tried by his ecclesiastical superiors. He had met with a number of petty trials, which were often more difficult to bear than a trial in a court of justice. He could only say that he wished the Church in Napier every prosperity, and it was his earnest hope and prayer that it would soon be brought out of its difficulties. He begged to thank them on behalf of Mrs Robinson for the kind manner in which she had been referred to, and he trusted that should they not meet again in this world, they would meet in that bright home where there were no more troubles, and where God's blessing would rest on them, as his own did now. (Great applause). A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings. Previous to leaving the Chamber, the parishioners present bade farewell to Mr Robinson, who intends leaving Napier to-day in the Wanaka for Sydney, en route to Europe. We heartily wish, him and Mrs Robinson box voyage.