WESLEYAN CHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume X, Issue 3695, 13 September 1873, Page 5

WESLEYAN CHURCH.

A vAiEDlcxoiiT tea meeting was given to the Rev. C. W. Ri£g> in tbe Wesleyan Schoolroom, Pitt-street, last'evening. At the tea about 300 persons were present. At about 7.30 p.m. the tables were cleared away, for the purpose of a public meeting being held. The meeting was held in the school-room, which was crowded to excess. It was opened by vocal music, after which the Rev. Mr. Wallace engaged in prayer. —Mr. C. J . Stone, who occupied the chair, explained that a telegram had been received from the Rev. Mr. Warren, stating that he was unable to attend. He eaid that the object of the meeting was to take a formal farewell of tho Rev. Mr. iugg and his lady, who had laboured so successfully, and with great acceptance, during too Inst three years. It afforded bim gre® P e sure to see representatives from otuer Churches jjresect. He considered it the bounden duty of the members of the Church to express their regard for the pastor who was them, by wishing him "God-speed. —llie Chairman stated that letters ot apology and regret from the Rev. Mr. I/awry and the Rev. Mr. Macnicol had been received.—Tho Rev. Mr. Turner, on being called upon to addreßS the meeting, said that words would fail to express the i pleasure he experienced at being present. As soon as he heard that the meeting was going

to be held, before receiving the invitation from the committee, he had determined to attend, in order that he might shew his sympathy with the Church, and especially with its pastor. After a very telling speech (which we have not apace to reproduce), during which he referred to the severe criticisms upon preaching and preachers which were now so popular, he said that it was tho imperative duty of the preacher, regardless of the individual opinion of ■ his hearers, to preach Christ bountifully, f'Vh-ainly, and powerfully, and he had a right; to -bring all tho influence he possessed to forward the work in which he was engaged. The speaker strongly urged upon the laymen the necessity of engaging in the work of the Church, and so assisting their minißters, as God never intended that the world should be saved by the few preachers there were in it. —Mr. McMaster presented the following address to the Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Rigg:— " Mrs. C. W. Rigg.—Dear madam, —IJpon this, the last public occasion on which we Bhall have the pleasure of meeting you in Auckland, ttp avail ourselves of the opportunity of expressing our sincere esteem and respect for you, as a Christian lady in the discharge of those duties which have devolved upon you while amongst us. In our own pame, and on behalf of many others, we therefore thank you for what you have done, and pray that the blessing of our God may ever be upon and with you and yours.—Believe me, to remain yours, respectfully, C. J. Stone, Chairman, Valedictory Tea Meeting."—" The Rev. C. W. Bigg.—Reverend and dear air, —We cannot permit your departure from Auckland without availing ourselves of the present opportunity to express our feelings of deep respect and eßteem for yourself personally, and our high appreciation of the manner in which you have fulfilled the various duties of a Christian minister. During the past three years you have held the responsible office of Superintendent of the Auckland Circuit, and we have reason to believe that owing to the prudent measures initiated, and the watchful care and supervision exercised by you during that period, the Church has reaped substantial financial benefit. We beg your acceptance of the accompanying purse of gold (subscribed by members of the Society and congregation, and other friends), a3 a slight memento of the sincere regard and goodwill wlich is felt towards you by the Wesleyan body and the various sections of the Christian Church in this city. best wishes for your future welfare in the new sphere of labour to which you have been called, and praying that Heaven's richest blessings may rest upon you and yours, believe us to remain, yours, respectfully,—William White, John Phillips, Wm. Thome, John B. Russell, James Wiseman, and John Gittos, on behalf of the subscribers. Auckland, New I Zealand, 12th September, 187-3."—Mr. i Rigg, in reply, said that he felt very] deeply ibe great iindi.ess shewn to him and to Mrs. Rigg. He felt that he was unworthy | of the least of the many services that God had bestowed upon him. In the matter of the discharge of the duties devolving upon him, he had done no more than his duty, and he feared that frequently he had" failed in that. He had hud his trials and sorrows, but had ever attempted to keep in view the interest of the circuit of which he was superintendent. He advised them to receive his successor with love and prayer, and thanked them for their kindness' towards himself personally.—Mr. Daldy, in the ceurse of an interesting speech, conveyed to Mr. Rigg the thanks of the pastor and the congregation of the Albert-street Congregational Church.—Mr. J. B. Russell, in an extremely' eulogistic speech, expressed, on behalf the listeners but non-members of the Church, their sincere thanks to, and high esteem of, the rev. gentleman who was about to leave them. —Mr. 3?. G. Ewington and the Rev. Mr. Watters also addressed the meeting, and likewise expressed the highest esteem and respect for the Rev. Mr. Rigg.—Mr. Coupland delivered a Bhort, genial speech, in which he referred in vigorous and telling phrases to the friendships of life. In speaking of the difficulties that ministers had to contend with, he Eaid that no commercial man met with the trials that assailed the Christian minister—who was expected to be " all things to all men," and something more to some of them. He felt glad of thiß opportunity of publicly expressing his respect for Mr. Rigg. He then moved votes of thanks to the choir, who performed several pieces of music during the evening very bkilfully, and to the chairman. — The votes of thanks were carried by acclamation, after which the Chairman formally wished Die Rev. Mr. Sigg "farewell" on behalf of the Wesleyan , body.—The proceedings were 'jlosed with the I doxology and benediction. i