FAREWELL TO THE REV R. A. WOODTHORPE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13848, 7 September 1905, Page 4

FAREWELL TO THE REV R. A. WOODTHORPE.

■ 4 • A complimentary farewell social was tendered to the Rev R. A. Woodthorpe, M.A., and Mrs Woodthorpe by the parishioners of St John’s Church.in the schoolroom on Tuesday evening, on the evo of their departure for Dunedin, where Mr Woodthorpe will take up the duties of Warden of Selwyn College. The chair was occupied by Dean Harper, and there was a very representative gathering, including, amongst others, Canon Duflkley, Canon Coates, Dr Slmslie, the Revs Purchas, Sedgwick, Baker, Gosset and Tait. Apologies rvere received from Bishop Julius, Archdeacon Averill, Canon Pasooe and Archdeacon Scott, who, owing to their having to attend a meeting of the ■ Diocesan Standing Committee, were unable to be present. Dean Harper, in opening, spoke in very appreciative terms of Mr Woodthorpe, pointing out how much he was beloved and respected by his fellowclergy in the diocese, and expressing the regret they all felt in losing a man of his great intellectual gifts. Mr T. Kincaid, who has been vicar’s warden during the greater part of Mr Woodthorpe’s ministry, presented the vicar, on behalf of the St John’s parishioners, with a handsome walnut pedestal writing-desk and an artistic stationery cabinet, and also a gold muff chain to Mrs Woodthorpe. In doing so he spoke appreciatively of the way in which Mr and Mrs Woodthorpe had worked in the parish, and while expressing the regret of their many friends at their departure, wished them God-speed and success in* their new work. Similar speeches were made by Dr Sandstein and Mr C. H. Hobbs. Miss Willberg presented Mrs Wood-

thorpo with a silver fish-knife and fork and a silver-backed prayer book from the Girl’s Tuahine Guild, and Mr E. Lyon asked Mr Woodthorpe to accept a brief-bag, suitably inscribed, from the Boys’ Guild. The vicar responded on behalf of Mrs Woodthorpe and himself, thanking the parishioners for their many kindnesses and expressions of goodwill. He spoke at some length on the mission of the English Church in general, and in referring to St John’s in particular said that ho felt it had done a groat work in the dipcese. He thanked those who had supported and encouraged him during his stay in the parish’, and appealed to them to rally round his successor, and to stick to their church. The meeting then resolved itself into a social, and supper was provided by the Ladies’ Committee. During the evening several musical items were rendered by Mr Painter’s Ladies’ Estudiantina Band.