NAPIER BAPTIST CHURCH

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 74, 9 March 1933, Page 4

NAPIER BAPTIST CHURCH

FAffiEWELL AND WELCOME PLEASANT FUNCTION A pleasant function took place at the Baptist Church, Napier, last evening, when a large gathering was present to bid farewell to the Rev. T. Keith Ewen, who is shortly to leave Napier on a visit to Australia, and to welcome the Rev. C. W. Duncumb, who is to take his place. The first speaker of the evening was the secretary of the New Zealand Baptist Union, Mr M. W. P. Lascelles, who wished the Rev. Keith Ewen the best of success in the future. He extended a hiarty welcome to the Rev. and Mrs Duncumb and, after making reference to the good qualities of the new pastor, he paid a tribute to Mrs 'Duncumb. “In her the chureli is going to receive great help,” he said. “She is endowed with much tact and wisdom and has done splendid work in the parish at Timaru.” With regard to Mr Ewen, Mr Ixiscellcs stated that he had rendered splendid service to the Baptist Union. Where ever he had Deen serving God he had left his churches in a far better state than beforehand. The remarks of tho speaker were endorsed by Mr F. Rice, the secretary of the Napier Baptist Church, the Rev, E. Nicholls, of Hastings, the Rev. T. Olds, on behalf of the Napier Ministers’ Association, the Rev. C. S. Matthews, of Palmerston North, Mr 8. Smith, Mr Roekell, and Mesdamcs Chaplow and Dunstall. At the conclusion of the various addresses both the Rev. Duncumb and the Rev. Keith Ewen' sincerely thanked everyone for the kind remarks made. Mr Duncumb assured the Rev. Olds that be would do all in his power to co-operate with the other churches; in Napier in the single service of helping people to worship God. Those present at the gathering thoroughly appreciated two anthems rendered by the Hastings Baptist Church choir, under the conductorship of the choirmaster, Mr Bewley.