FAREWELL TO THE REV. R FERGUSON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12446, 16 December 1903, Page 6

FAREWELL TO THE REV. R FERGUSON.

AN ENTHUSIASTIC GATHERING. ' The Rev. R. Ferguson, who has recently accepted a call to the pastorate of the-Knox Church, Invercargill, was farewelled at a social |at the Devonport Presbyterian Sun- '■ day-school Hall last evening. The building was filled by members of the church and ■ friends of ; Mr. Ferguson. '" Mr. Thomas Mackie took the chair, and was supported on' the platform by the Revs. G. B. Monro, R. F. Macniool, H. J. Lee, W. Woollass, and Mr.F. G. Ewington. Apologies for nonattendance were received . from . the Revs W. Gray-Dixon, T. F. Robertson, J G. Chapman, H. B. Gray, and; Mr. John Frater.. v The Chairman said, although he regretted his leaving very much, ho rejoiced in Mr. Ferguson getting such well-earned promotion. , ■ , : The Rev. R. F. Macnicol said he regretted Mr. Ferguson going, but took the opportunity of congratulating him upon -the ini,portance of the charge which he was going to take up. He had come into contact, with Mr. Ferguson in the work of the" General Assembly, and he recognised his'great abili- ■ ties in the matter of organisation. :;/He wished Mr. Ferguson. "God speed'' and ■ every success in Invercargill. * < ■ - The Rev. H. J. Lee, in endorsing l Mr. Macnicol'a, remarks, said that, Devonport and Onehunga could not let Mr.Ferguson go ; without expressing their regret. 'He wished .. the departing minister every success in his new sphere. The Rev. G. B. Monro thought i that the congregation would miss Mrs. Ferguson's presence quite as much as that of Mr. rFerguson. He had bad the opportunity, of witnessing Mr. Ferguson's work at Onehunga, and he could state emphatically, that no man could have done better .work than he had! ' "done there. It was rather a compliment to - them to have so large a congregation. call ■ upon Mr. Ferguson for their ; minister. ; Knox Chureh, Invercargill, was about the: fourth largest .Presbyterian Church >'n New [Zealand. He hoped some day that Mr. Ferguson, who war a young man, ; would be ■a minister of the coming New Zealand National Church. On behalf of the congregation, Mr J. C. Entrican presented Mr Fergusop with a handsome study desk, suitably inscribed. In making the presentation, : Mr. < Entrican expressed the sincere regret of the congre- ; : i gation at Mr. Ferguson's departure. Seeing*' 7 , "that he must go, they took the opportunity ■ of presenting him with that desk, which he trusted Mr. Ferguson would long be able to use. ..' ■ ~:::■■.'. 'J On rising to reply, Mr. ■ Ferguson was ■ greeted with applause. He said he was per-: . fectly ;.: overwhelmed with what : they - had >' done, and he was especially gratified "to se« so many of his old friends present. From the moment he arrived in Devonport," he had met with nothing but kindness. He bad accepted the call only because he had been directed by Higher Authority, whom he trusted he would be better able' to serve in exercising his duty in his new sphere. ' Mr. Robert Mitchell took occasion to pre* sent Mrs. Ferguson with a beautiful escritoire, made out of New Zealand woods, on behalf of the congregation., Mr.. Ferguson suitably replied. -, Miss Statham (secretary of the Church; Band of Hope) presented Mr. Ferguson with a framed picture on behalf of the band. The rest of the evening was devoted to musical items, and refreshments were handed , round.