PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 127, 30 April 1937, Page 4

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

MR G. BARTHOLOMEW HONOURED.

Mr G. Bartholomew, who for the past half-century has acted as choirmaster and Sunday school superintendent, mostly at the Feilding Presbyterian Church, and who incidentally celebrated his 80th birthday yesterday, was entertained by a large gathering of friends and church members at a social arranged in his honour. As a token of the esteem in which Mr and Mrs Bartholomew are held, they were presented with a silver tea service, suitably inscribed. , The function was presided over by Rev. A. L. Dixon, who extended a hearty welcome to the guests and members of their family, and read'a number of messages of congratulation and goodwill from past members of the choir, and of the church, including the following:—Mrs A. Clayton, Mrs G. Ritchie, Messrs J. Bartholomew (San Francisco), L. Neilson, past member of tile choir living in Wellington, the Wanganui Presbytery, Rev. Mr McDonald (Auckland), Messrs H. Thompson, Robert Brown (Colyton), Dr. Burns Watson and Miss Armour (Auckland).

Mr S. D. Pearce, session clerk, proposed the following motion in the form of a letter:

“Dear Mr Bartholomew, —On this, the ocousion of y our 80th birthday we, the minister, members of the session, managers, and members of the congregation, together with many friends and well-wishers here assembled, convey to you our very sincere congratulations arid best wishes and place- on record our thanks and appreciation or the long and faithful services you have rendered to the Church arid the various organisations to which you have given devoted and valued assistance. It is given to but few men to be able to render almost a lifetime of service to one church and congregation, and the wonderful record you have achieved, your outstanding ability and’devo-, tion to the work so dear to your heart, must indeed be a record of which all must be proud. .. . , „ “Throughout this long period Mis Bartholomew has stool by you, giving her quiet loving assistance, making many sacrifices in order that you might devote time, patience and labour to carry on the work, and wo all feel that in no small way a wonderful tribute

has been rendered by her. With thankfulness to Almighty God for His goodness in sparing you for so many years, and- in deep and sincere appreciation, wo extend to you and _ Mrs Bartholomew and to the members of your family our good wishes for a happy birthday and pray you may be richly blessed in the days to come.”

The proposal was seconded by Mr Dixon and carried with enthusiasm. ' Mr Pearce said lie was delighted and proud to be a member of such a large gathering which, for the time being,' lie suggested, constituted “members of the family of Mr and Mrs Bartholomew.” He had been associated with Mr Bartholomew in church work for some 17 years and had a thorough knowledge of the wonderful work Mr Bartholoriiew had rendered to his Master and to St. Paul’s Church. Mr Bartholomew had been superintendent of the Sunday school for a period of over 48 years —a truly remarkable record. (Applause.) As choirmaster, nobody could have been more conscientious than Mr Bartholomew, who had often gone without liis evening meal in order to get to the church in time for choir practice, > Concluding, Mr Pearce said that Mrs Bartholomew had helped her husband in his church work, and lie paid a tribute to her love and devotion.

Mr j. H. Stevens, of Palmerston North, an old friend of Mr Bartholomew, also eulogised Mr Bartholomew’s work and extended to the guests of honour his sincere greetings. Mr A. Williamson, the oldest member of the choir, also sp-oke, stating that he and others had always looked upon Mr Bartholomew as an elder brother. He recalled the early days of the choir and told the gathering how lie, together with Messrs Harry Franklyn, Harry Coombe and Fred Thompson, came to join the choir just on 40 yea re ago. On behalf of the gathering, the speaker made the presentation of the, tea service to'Mr Bartholomew, stating that it carried with it the best wishes for many happy returns of his birthday. . Mr Bartholomew expressed his thanks to the gathering and proceeded to give the history of the choir and for some minutes entertained with reminiscences, recalling the names of many once familiar figures and reminding the gathering that many who had sung in the" choir at St. Paul’s had won success in later life.

A beautiful birthday cake with 80 candles was presented, on behalf of the gathering, by Mr A. Wilson, an old member of the choir. Following suppei. musical items were presented by the following : —Miss Garrett, Mrs A. E. Dewe, Mieses M. McDowall, J. and N. Sandbrook, Mrs McKenzie, Mr J. Watts, Mr McDonald and Miss Gibson.