PRESENTATION AT ST. LUKE'S.

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13772, 8 January 1917, Page 3

PRESENTATION AT ST. LUKE'S.

ARCHDEACON.AND MRS RUSSELL HONOURED. • SILVER W'EDDTNG RECOGNITION. At tlio conclusion of the "Evensong servtco yesterday t!ie congregation of St. Luke's Church adjourned to'the-school-room for the purpose of making a pre- , sentation to, anil 1 ' congratulating theYen. Archdeacon and' Mrs Russell on the occasion of the ■twenty-fifth''anniversary : of their marriage, There was «■ large gathering, and the brief proceedings - -wore marked by a spontaneous cordiality which amply evidenced I he-love and esteem in whli-lr Archdeacon and Mrs Russell are held by the parishioners. Iu the absence of the Vicar's warden , (.Mr'll,Williamson), Mr L, E. Haines presided, and in making a small presentation referred to the confidence, in and esteem for the vicar which was everywhere evident throughout the whole parish, lie' assnredi Archdeacon ■ Rii9snll that if the poopln'did sometimes .: seem apathetic in the parish work, it was only a surface condition, and that at heart they were really ready lo thoroughly support, him in pushing on the real work of the church. ' (Applause.) Ho referred in warm limns to the archdeacon's capacity for com-, passing a great deal of work, and also to the pleasure flic chorch people felt' at. thq good-fellowship existing between the ministers of different denominations •' in- the. district.. He then presented the Archdeacon and Mrs Russell with a bag of "silver" coins, which he said consisted ..of shillings and half-crowns.' and wished them, on behalf of the parishioners, "many happy returns of the day." Mr Haines concluded by giving credit for the idea of making, the presentation to the ladies of the church, who, he said, had a peculiar way of locating such occasions, and but for whom the men would have known nothing about it. (Laughter.) The Rev, D. .Tamiesbn and Mr J. G. Pinch ajso spoke, expressing flic highest esteem for'both flic person and work' of Archdeacon and Mrs Russell. On. rising lo reply the Archdeacon was very cordially greeted. He assured the congregation of the completeness of the surprise they had effected upon both himself and Mrs Russell, and said he was deeply touched that 1 the parishioners should think fit to mark the occasion of their silver wedding. He said the kindness of the parishioners and the words of appreciation spoken were Jilct> a balm to his soul, and certainly rebuked him for any feelings of depression he might have had. lie had been greatly helped iu his ministry by Mrs Russell, who, he said smilingly, had been worth a dozen curates to him. He thanked them for the tokens of love and, friendship, and assured the parishioners pi his determination to more than ever seek their good and 1 spiritual welfare before everything else.