VALEDICTORY EVENING

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 November 1939, Page 8

VALEDICTORY EVENING

CHURCH HONOURS DR, AND MRS. PHASER TRIBUTES TO THEIR SERVICE

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, was filled to capacity last evening on the occasion of the congregation’s fare■well to the Rev. Dr. I. W. Fraser and Mrs. Fraser, prior to their departure from Levin to take charge of the Presbyterian parish of Wyndham, Dr. L, J. Hunter occupied the chair and extended a cordial welcome to all, particularly the representatives of other communions. He also read apologies for nonattendance from Mr, and Mrs. Bodley, Messrs Chapman, J. D. Brown, D. Stewart, Mrs. L. J. Hunter and Rev. J. Dennis. Dr. Hunter said that he regretted the occasion for the gathering. Changes, he said, were inevitable, but the local congregation would have felt more comfortable had the contemplated change which was to be brought by Dr. Fraser’s departure not resulted. However, Dr. and Mrs. Fraser felt it was right that they should go, and all must bow to the inevitable. The speaker paid tribute to the work of both Dr. and Mrs. Fraser in the church and community, and wished for them in the future all that they might wish for themselves. Rev. J. C. Davies paid tribute to tue most friendly and cordial relationship that had existed between Dr. Fraser and the other clergy of the town, and stated that insofar as he was personally concerned, that relationship had not only been most friendly but also most instructive. He conveyed to Dr. and Mrs, Fraser the best wishes of his own communion for their future happiness and usefulness. Captain Rundle (Salvation Army) and Mr. F. H. Hudson (Methodist Church) added their tribute of appreciation of the cordiality of Dr. Fraser towards their respective churches, and tendered felicitations on his translation to his new charge.

Speaking on behalf of the Otaki Presbyterian Church, Mr. Thorpe, session clerk, thanked D'r. Fraser for his services as Moderator of the Otaki charge and stated that his counsel and assistance had always been of inestimable value to the church at Otaki. The Rev. Mr. Wallace, recently appointed minister at Otaki, expressed pleasure at being present, and wished the guests of the evening God’s richest blessing in the sphere to which they were going. Words of warm appreciation of the conscientious and faithful work performed by Dr. and Mrs. Fraser were spoken on behalf of the local church by Mr. W. Davie, who in the course of, a comprehensive reference to Dr. Fraser’s many activities in the church and community, paid high tribute to his sincerity and singleness of purpose. Mr. Davie said that Dr. Fraser’s spiritual ministrations had been deeply appreciated and that he had left an indelible impression upon the congregation. He called upon Dr. Fraser to accept a cheque from the members of the congregation as an expression of their appreciation of the services both he and Mrs. Fraser had rendered, and also asked him to accept gifts for their two little daughters. Mrs. Colin Holmes, of Otaki, presented Mrs. Fraser with a beautiful bouquet for which Mrs. Fraser returned thanks, adding also a few words of counsel especially to the younger members of the church.

In responding to the speeches of the evening, Dr. Fraser stated that the occasion recalled the welcome the congregation had extended to them six years ago when they came to Levin, their first charge. He referred to the fact that the passage of the years had given evidence of a loyal co-operation on the part of the congregation in the furtherance of the work of the church, and for this, he said, he was grateful, ’without it neither he nor Airs. Fraser , would have been able to accomplish the things the speakers throughout the evening had attributed to them. . He thanked the office-bearers of the church for their assistance at all times, and paid tribute to the very faithful service the ladies of the congregation had rendered throughout his pastorate of the church. Dr, Fraser also referred in gracious terms the work of his wife and to the assistance she had given him. He thanked the members of the church for their splendid gifts, and, in closing his remarks, referred to the fact that the world to-day was facing a very uncertain future. He said that great demands were being made upon the material resources of the nation in this hour of almost unprecedented crisis, ’but equally urgent demands were being made upon the nation’s spiritual rc■ources. In such an hour, he continued, it was necessary for every member of the church to recognise his or her added responsibility, and to seel*, the guidance of the spirit of God that the respon sibility might be creditably discharged. During the evening the valedictory speeches were interspersed with several musical items of outstanding merit, the contributors to which were: —Miss C. Nation (cello solo); Mrs. H. S. Powell (violin solo); Mrs. T. Devine and Mr. Duguid (vocal solos); and Miss H. Whittaker (elocutionary item). At the conclusion of the gathering a very dainty supper was served by the ladies of the congregation, during which time the large number present ; took the opportunity of extending their personal thanks and good wishes to Dr. and Mrs. Fraser. Dr. and Mrs. Fraser and family left Levin to-day on i'Bdir way south, and

will commence their work in Wyndhara early in December, after enjoying a brief holiday en route.

FURTHER RECOGNITION SERVICE TO LOCAL ORGANISATIONS On Wednesday evening Rev. Dr. IW. Fraser and Mrs. Fraser tvere the guests at a combined function in theCentury Hall, tendered by the LevinPlayreaders’ Society, Levin District High School Committee, Horowhenua College Advisory Board and the Levin-, troop of Boy Scouts. Apologies for absence were received from Mr. C. F. Atmore (Otaki) and Mr, A. R. Ransom (Levin). His Worship the Mayor (Mr. P. W.. Goldsmith) presided and after explaining that the function had been jointly arranged to give the members of the various organisations represented an. opportunity of bidding farewell to Dr., and Mrs. Fraser, on the eve of their departure to Wyndham, paid tribute tothe splendid work Dr. Fraser had done in connection with each of them. Other speakers who supported the Mayor in his remarks were Mr. F- H. Hudson (School Committee and Advisory Board), Mr, A. C. Kennerley (Boy Seouts) and Mrs. L. J. Hunter and Mr. S. M. W. Cadwailader (Playreaders). Each thanked the guests of the evening for their practical interest in the respective spheres the speaker represented. During the evening Dr. Fraser was llu: recipient of a cheque from the l‘i ay readers, a large script wallet from the School Committee and Advisory Board, and a book from the Boy Scout Troop. Mrs. Fraser was presented with a beautiful bouquet from the Playreaders’ Society. Dr. Fraser was acclaimed on rising to respond, and in thanking the various bonks for their expressions of appreciation and their gifts, referred to the pleasure it had afforded him to be associated with the various bodies dining, his residence in Levin. Ho washed for each continued prosperity and usefulness in the future. The presentation by members of the Playreaders’ ’Society of a light comedy, entitled “The Magic Suit,” was of high entertainment value. In the cast wexe Mrs Tvirkcaldie, Misses Bleukhorn and Burdekin and Messrs J. P. M. Bertram,. P. Gowring, W. A. 0. Canavan, W. R. McAneny and G. H. Sorensen. The tastefully decorated and furnished stage was the work of Miss Margaret Parton, while the organisation, of the function was carried out by Mr.. S. M. W. Cadwailader.