ORGANIST’S DEPARTURE.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 20 December 1932, Page 5

ORGANIST’S DEPARTURE.

PRESENTATIONS TO MR JESS WHITE. TRIBUTE OF ESTEEM FROM PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION. The services at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Levin, on Sunday were of a .valedictory character, in view of the impending departure of the organist and choirmaster, Mr Jess White, for Auckland. In the morning he played his Fantasia on Church his Musings in E Flat, and Thompson's Postlude in C; and in the evening he rendered “Ave Maria” (Chipp), “Ode to the Midnight Sky” (Jess White), and “Fanfare in G Minor” (Thompson). Both services were well attended, and the congregations appreciated to the full the quality of the organist's contributions, while regretting that they were his last in the sphere of the local church.

At an interval in the morning service, the Rev. J. S. Pate, on behalf of the congregation, presented Mr White with a well-filled wallet. He said that during the two and a-half years of his ministry in Levin he found that Mr White co-operated with him, and with the office-bearers and congregation, in every possible way. The Session had passed the following minute:—“The Kirk Session of St. Andrew's*Presbyterian Church, Levin, desires to place py record its sense of great loss in the departure to Auckland of Mr J. P. White, our organist and choirmaster. It recognsies his valuable services over a period of five years, rendered in such art able and cheerful manner. His musical abilities are outstanding, and the congregation of Levin has been exceedingly fortunate ; in retaining for so l(>|ig the services of one whose ability ffifrits for him a place in one of the most important churches in our country. His manipulation of the organ in creating an atmosphere of worship will not readily be forgotten by St. Andrew’s congregation. He has at all times worked in harmonious co-opera-tion with both minister and congregation , and office-bearers. Our regret is tinged with joy in knowing that some other congregation will benefit by his rremoval ta the North. The Session prays that his ability may speedily be recognised and that soon he may find himself settled in a congenial sphere of work and of service to the church.”

In gratefully responding, Mr White said that if he had%iven the congregation satisfaction , in the last' five years, as their organist, he was utterly content and there 'was little more to be 6aid. His conception of an organist’s duty was that he existed, first, to; create ah. atmosphere of musical beajity through his solo playing. This ■entfeiled -thoughtful [preparation -and Self-forgetful performance, His main object, fyowever, was-to create and maintain good congregational singing, and; was to be judged solely by the quality of singing drawn forth. ; His own work had been made comparatively easy by reason of the warm and wholehearted co-operation that the congregation bad accorded, as a singing church. He hoped and trusted that the high standard they themselves had built up would be maintained and carried to greater heights in the future. Mr White added that he looked back over five years of an harmonious relationship with ministers, Session, management, choir and Sunday School, all co-operating in a mutually helpful partnership. Now his way lay apart from theirs, through that innevitable change which comes to every parental home. At his departure he would leave with them his sincere affection and best ■wishes for their future welfare as a church and as individuals. In thankingithem for having presented him with they wallet, Mr White expressed the opinion that this'was a very fine thing to do at a time such as the present, whdn financial burdens pressed so heavily f upon the individual. They could rest assured that this gift would be wisely applied towards establishing him in the northern city. He would not say* good-bye, but would give to one arid .all his best wishes until their next mating.