DEPARTING MINISTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20441, 18 December 1929, Page 9

DEPARTING MINISTER.

THE REV, BERNARD WILB9N*

BAPTIST CHURCH FAREWELL.

A •erlea of torewtH« *o the Rev. Barnerd Wilson culminated on Moodey night in a gathering, representing nearly all the Auckland Baptist churches, arranged by -the Grange Road Church. Mr. :E. 8. Abel, one of the elden, presided. Mr. Wilson is the son of the Rev. A. S. Wilson and recently completed-four years' course at the Baptist College. With the consent of the college committee he has responded to a call from the Christchnrch suburban Baptist Chinch at Opawa. The call in 1928, but Mr. Wilson was not free to aocept, and it has been heartily renewed.

The following took part in commending. the new minister for his preaching gifts and his work and worth among the churches of the Auckland area, and particularly at Grange Road:—The Rfiv. "Joseph W. Kemp, president of- the Baptist Union; the Rev. Dr. J. vF. Nortn, principal of the Baptist College; ths~Rev. F. H. Radford, president the Baptist ministers' fraternal; the Rev. John Laird and the Rev. T. .H. Eccersall and Mr. • F. W. Gaze, president of the Auckland Baptist Auxiliary; Mr. F. N. Andrews, chairman of the New Zealand College committee, and Mr. A. J. Lucas, secretary of the Grange Road Church."" The last-named, on behalf of the church, made a presentation of a suitcase. The Rev. Bernard Wilson thanked the institution* represented by-'the speakers for creating the opportunity for earnest and responsible life service.

After Mr. F. E. Kretschmar, another elder, had, on behalf of the officers, presented to the Rev. A. S. Wilson an enlarged photographic gronp, many of those present adjourned to the social.hall for supper. During the evening Misses Twentyman and Lucas officiated at the organ and piano and Miss' McTavish, on behalf of the choir, contributed a solo. The departing minister has been superintendent of intermediate Qiristian Endeavour societies for the Christian Endeavour Union and messages ■were read to the gathering by Mr. Abel from Miss Jennie Street 'and the Rev. Knowles Kempton, president of the Auckland Christian Endeavour Union.