THE REVHE CARLYON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 5229, 22 November 1877, Page 2

THE REVHE CARLYON.

Prior to this gentleman's visit to England, whither ho has gone in the ship Waimato, the members of bis congregation who have supported him throughout the term of his incumbency at Kaiapoi decided to bid him farewell in an appropriate manner, and lor that purpose arranged to give the children attending the Sunday schools a treat in the ahape of a tea, to which their parents and other friends were invited. The children attending the North and South Island schools were also invited. By some casualty the invitation did not reaph the North Island school, but the other children!were'present. The company met at the Parsonage in the afternoon, and after spending some time in various amusements, the ; girls and their teachers were mustered for the purpose of having a photograph taken-of them in a group. About 70 assembled on the verandah .of the .parsonage; and Mr Wheeler, of Wheeler and' Son, Christchurch, undertook the photographs, which Were to be prepared in time to give Mr Oarlyona copy to take Home with him. The boys and their teachers were , next taken, And lastly the ohoir. The children then were seated bn the lawn in front of the house, and were regaled with an excellent repast, which had been contributed by variona, members of the congregation. The numbers present were—Girls, 76 j boys, 60 ; adults, 46 ;or a total of ISO. At dusk the company assembled in front of the-boose, and thebymn, “I love to hear: the story,” wae sung. ;• ,

Air B. M'Kecna then (tapped forward, and addressing Mr Oarlyon (aid that be bad been deputed by those present to express their •orrow at- hit departure from amongst them, •bowing how much indebted those who bad regularly attended the lemoes of the ofauroh were to him (Mr Oarlyon) for hie faithful minietry, and that they ehowed this outwardly as well as in their hearts. He also - trusted that the impression* made on those who bad, held .firmly to Mr Oarlyon would remain indelibly in their, heart, and that the good seed would still continue to spring, even though, he r (their'leader) was absent from them. ; Mr/Oarljrou was going .away from them, but he might rest assured that he would never be forgotten, and they also trusted that m. the event of not meeting him again in this world, they would in one whire there ate no. partings. ~ On .behalf,: therefore, of those present, and others who wouldhave been had (hey hot. been prevented, he wished him God speed, trusting the Almighty would watch orer him and cause him to reach hoine in if expedient, bring hird; to. reside amongst them once more; MrM'Konna then (jailed for three hearty cheers for their friend and pastor, which Were vociferously given. The hymn, '* There is a green hill ’far away,” wu then sung. 5 ; The ■ Bev E. E. Oarlyon, who was inhcb moved by (he manner in which the company responded oheers. said (hat it was now two and a<hal( years since he had come amongst them, and that it must be rtm'smbored; that when he came to the parish he came with the intention of working, 'and he was exceedingly grateful to them for the ▼cry hearty and heartfelt oheers that they had given him. * Looking back over those two and a half years/he said that it bad been a terrible time, a time of great trouble and anxiety to him, and yet it bad also its bright side. They, he continued, addressing the Company, had only seen a part of the trouble: and a part of the anxiety with which bis path had J>oen_ strewed, and through it all, it was a great} comfort to him to know that, being oompelled-ashe wae to. go away, heifas •leaving behind a section of people who really loved him. Bvery thing seemed to go smoothly in the parish during the first six months; that ho .was amongst them, and he could call to mind what a glorious band of young soldiers in Christ was being instructed and led in the narrow way when there were 28 candidates in course of preparation for oonfirmaition. Had all those stood firm against the attacks of the devil, and had they come forward boldly as the servants of Christ, instead of - having been induced to turn aside from that path, what a great comfort it would have been to him! The obstacles (bat had bern placed in their way were not placed there by bidden powers, but by powers which could be discerned. Despite all these attacks of the evil one, he was assured (hat there had been a continual progression on.the other hand, and it would not be known till the last great day whether (he amount of blessing granted did not super* sede the opposition. At any rate, statistics ■how that there had been a more rapid progress in God’s service than was frequently the case in a small parish. During the two and a-half years past, 60 hew communicants have joined the Church, and are: now progressing well in the service of God, which shows ; that Hehas blessed not only bis : efforts, ~ hot else those who had worked and prayed with him. Now tbe whole work seemed to have come to a dead •top, as no matter how bad a leader may be, when he Is removed the ties connecting the Company or band become severed. - This, he added, was a proof that it is GodV work.' The building of the Temple came to a similar standstill. Ear thy three years that our Blessed Saviour was"oh . earth, crowds (looked round him, and all things went well, but when the Great Deader hung on the Cross, (hey oame to a stop: for a white; He therefore, predicted that the stop which hod ooourredin this parish was Only the forerunner pf a great outbreak of religiou* feeling, and that from this there would arise a desire to learn and investigate the. holy truths of the Bible. Ho believed the formation of the Society in oonneotion witß tho Ohurch had been brought about by (he cm* in which he hadbeeh oonneotod. and he hdped that the result of such a Society would : be the; furtherance of the truth, .and consequently. ’ the glory of God. He, their leader, would for a while be removed from them, but he exhorted them not to slop, but ,to. }proceed; on their (course, having (he Holy Spirit for. their; guide, Comforter and leader; and be (rusted that the impetus whioh' he had given them would aot merely af;a start, and that they’ Would continue to go on with renewed vigour, and there was no doubt that' if they did, God would raise, pp a leader fqrthem. They, must not allow any roots of bitterness to exist between them and anyone who might be opposed to (them in view*, but be hoped they would stick together as a famity.and avoid any bitter feelings arising. deferring to the recent order of suspension under which be was at (he present, he said*' that the Bishop, of Christchurch had written to him on the previous day asking him: to resign the cure, and h*;( (Mr Oarlyon), had refused, to do so. (Tremendous cheering ) Be bad (since received a communication from’ His L 'rdship, saying (bat he (the Bishop) would be compelled to declare the cure vacant. He was aware that the Beaoh of Bishops had declared him guilty on some of the chargee brought against him, but, Bishop Harper admitted that he was not. To satisfy the public cry, however, he wished him (Mr Oarlyon) to admit (bat be was, and to retract certain beliefs which both be and the Bishop know to be in accordance with the Holy Scripture and tbs doctrines pf the Churchfit England. As doubtless the Onto Would be declared vacant, he said thOt until they heard from him, and till he had. had an opportunity of finding out the proper poursO to take under the oiroum stances, they should hot support another Incumbent (cries of “ Most certainly we won’t"), and he entreated them to act and work like Christians, Which was; a gieater bond than any ofcher. He sntrsatcd thtm not to spread any gossippbat'(o wait p_a»ientl>i if they -listed lhatihtai fork: God’s Work, and to pray for grace to be given them to aot up to the advice he had endeavoured to give them.

Addressing the children, he directed to keep to tbsir schools, to avoid spreading any report* which they night beer, and to respect end follow in the example of tnwe teacher* who bed worked for end with them so long. Their Sunday schools and' children's service* had been a greet pleasure to him to aeiitt in,' and he implored them to stick by their teacher*. He alto announced hie intention of returning if he wee so advised, a* he wiihed to feel one and beone with those be. loved. They could depend upon hi* returning if he aent word that be ehould come; but if the Church of New Zealand affirm* that it i* a leparate Churchfrom the Established, Church.. of England, he ehould avow himself a Ohuroh of England man, (Cheers.) This would entirely depend upon the decision of the Ohuroh of England daring the present year. In conclusion, be exhorted them again to stick together and ihow the world that they are member* of one Ohnroh, and that the Ohuroh of Christ. He would now wiih them ail good-bye, trusting that they would remember him whilst on the sea, and aga’n when the seaeon of Lent comes round, they could think of him, a* be would be attending some of the churches in London, learning in order to be able to impart to them fresh teaching, and enjoying that solemn eeason.

The hymn, “ Wo wore only little children,” was then snng, and the Benediction, prefaced by a abort prayer, being pronounced by the Incumbent, the company eeparated. The Bov H. B. Oarlyon sailed yesterday in the Waimate for London.