VALEDICTORY

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVI, Issue 3399, 28 July 1932, Page 5

VALEDICTORY

REV. E. R. E. ROSS AND MRS. ROSS. The Presbyterian Hall was crowded to the doors last night when members of St. Andrews' Church gathered to bid farewell to the Rev. E. R. E. Ross and his mother, Mrs. Ross, who are leaving the district after 4 1 years' residence. Mi-. Ross has been appointed to the Eastbourne Parish, near Wellington, and leaves next week with his mother to take up his new duties. In addition to Church members there were renresentatives present from various organisations with which Mr. Ross has been associated in the town, and many fine tributes were paid to his energy and enthusiasm in all matters affecting the welfare of the people in both town and district. Similar remarks were made by speakers to the kindliness and hospitality of Mrs. Ross as lady of the manse. The first part of the evening was devoted to a musical and general entertainment, the 'opening item being a duet by Messrs. Shakes and Bathgate. "The Dozy Dozen," in their sleepy song led by Miss Lees, caused a lot of amusement, as also did "The Motoring Fiends," by the Perry brothers and Alan McLeod Songs were also rendered by Messrs. Bathgate, Shakes, Saunders, and Miss Wood, the accompanists being Mrs. Bathgate, Miss I. Graham, and Mr. Windsor. In her humorous recitative sketches Mrs. Olney had to respond to two encores. Mr. Shakes and Miss Lees in their humorous musical dialogue created much, amusement. Mr. Bathgate acted as chairman for the evening, and after the programme had concluded, spoke of the good work of Mr. Ross and Mrs. Ross, both in and outside the Church. When Mr. Ross and his mother first came to Te Kuiti they immediately endeared themselves to every member of the Church, and this feeling had continued after 41 years. When Mr. Ross first came to Te Kuiti he had a big job, and his duties had not been made easier owing to the times of stress through which this district with others was passing through. His responsibilities had greatly increased but he had met them with a fine spirit of self-sacri-fice. Mr. Bathgate said he felt he was voicing the opinion of all present when he said that the work of Mr. Ross in Te Kuiti and district had been appreciated by all. He had left his mark in the district in a way which he felt sure would bear fruit in after years. In his work Mr. Ross had been ably supported by Mrs. Ross, whose hospitality and kindliness would long be remembered amongst the Church members. Much of the good fellowship that existed in the Church was due to the tact and good work of Mrs. Ross, whose depai-ture was keenly felt by the congregation. Mr. J. J. McLeod, speaking on behalf of the Church Board of Management, said that one and all regretted the departure of Mr. Ross. There was a lot of the Scotch element in the Board, and it was characteristic of that nationality not to say too many kindly things to a man's face. When Mr. Ross first came to Te Kuiti the Board so'on realised that they had a minister with energy and enthusiasm for his work, and that spirit had been maintained by Mr. Ross right up to the present. One thing that many of the Church members did not know was Mr. Ross's generosity to the Church. His first thought was for the Church and its people, and whenever a helping hand was required Mr. Ross was always found willing to render assistance. Mr. McLeod concluded bystating that the Church owed a lot to Mrs. Ross for the splendid way she had supported her son in his charge in this district. The Mayor, Mr. W. J. Broadfoot, M.P., also paid a fine tribute to the work of Mr. Ross, stating that his energies went outside the Church. For " himself he was one of the "irregulars" of the Church, and _ as one of these he recognised the difficulties of one in the position of Mr. Ross in keeping Church members together. Mr. Ross was a worthy son of a worthy mother, and both town and district sustained a loss in their departure. The Rev. W. Sussex said that as a minister of the Gospel he did not look forward to gatherings of this kind. One of the drawbacks of the average minister's life was having to say good-bye to one another just as they were beginning to understand each other's point of view. When a minister was doing his best for the people he was not always given credit for his sincerity, but he wished to dispel that feeling. If a minister was doing his duty in the right way he worked for the good of the whole community and not for one particular section. During his association with Mr. Ross both had worked well together, and he felt the loss of Mr. Ross most sincerely. On behalf of the congregation of the Methodist Church in Te Kuiti, Mr. Sussex wished Mr. Ross and Mrs. Ross every happiness and prosperity in their new sphere, and expressed the wish that Mr. Ross would have as happy a ministry in Eastbourne as in Te Kuiti. Mr. C. M. Wright, speaking for the school committee, said that Mr. Ross had left a monument to his good work in the school in Te Kuiti. The representative gathering that night was a splendid tribute of appreciation of the work of Mr. Ross and Mrs Ross. Mr. Wright wished the departing guests the best of good things in their new home. Mr. S. Craig, representing the Te Kuiti Relief Committee, said that Mr. Ross had been a tower of strength to that organisation. His tact and broadmindedness, combined with his energy in the cause of humanity, had been the means of relieving many deserving cases where assistance was necessary. Other speakers had referred to the gener-. osity of Mr. Ross, but there was many a wayfarer at the end of his resources who had to thank Mr. Ross for practical assistance and a kindly word. The guest of the evening would be missed in many other quarters outside the Church. The Rev. T. H. Burton (Otorohanga) said that it was with a keen sense of sorrow that he heard that Mr. Ross was to leave the district. Mr. Ross was leaving just as they

were beginning to know one another, but he looked upon Mr. Ross as a brother beloved. Mr. Ross had done good work in the Presbytery—work that had been appreciated by all its members. The large and representative gathering that night was a splendid tribute to Mr. Ross and his mother. Mr. Bathgate then asked Mr. Ross to accept from those present a study armchair. Mrs. Ross was handed a silver tea service, and a silver hot water jug from the Girls' Bible Class. On rising to reply Mr. Ross said that he always felt a great deal of sympathy with those who were being farewelled, but that sympathy could well be extended to himself. One could not fail to be moved by the many kind things that had been said of his mother and himself. If any success in his charge were due to' himself it had only been made possible b" the hearty co-operation of those with whom he had worked. There had been differences at times. This was inevitable, but underneath all had been mutual respect and true friendship. Mr. Ross said he would always retain happy remembrances of Te Kuiti and district. It had always been a special pleasure for him to hold services in the country districts and to meet church members in their own homes. He had also derived a large amount of pleasure from the Bible Class work, and he was pleased to see that some of the young members were still carrying on this work. He appreciated the tributes that had been paid to his mother, for she had taken over a great deal of his responsibilities. He hoped that the friendships he had made in Te Kuiti would always be maintained, for he would always have a soft spot for the. whole of this district. Mr. Ross thanked the representatives of other denominations for being present, for all had worked well together. Mr. Ross concluded by voicing his thanks for the handsome tokens of remembrance presented to himself and Mrs. Ross, for the many happy associations in Te Kuiti, and for the repi'esentative gathering to bid farewell to his mother and himself.

A dainty supper, provided by the ladies of the Church, was then handed round, this concluding one of the most pleasant gatherings of its kind held in the town for some time.