WORK FOR CHURCH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23401, 18 July 1939, Page 16

WORK FOR CHURCH

KEY. W. J. COMBIE CELEBRATION OF JUBILEE PRESBYTERY'S RECOGNITION Members of the Auckland Presbytery will entertain one of their number, the Very Kev. W. J. Conine, as their finest of honour at an afternoon tea on I'ritliiy to mark tho rocont attainment by Mr. Comrie of the jubilee ol his ordination and induction as a minister of the Presbyterian Church, and also his recent golden wedding.. Air. Comrie was born in Avondnlo in 18(30, his father being the late Mr. James Comrie. When Air. Comrie was still an infant the family went to live in the Pukekohe district, where his father took up farming. 'I wo years later, when the Alaori warlare purged over the district, they, with the other settlers, had to conic to Auckland for safety. Homo Set on Fire When the Maoris made their attack on the little band that made their historic stand at the Pukekohe East Presbyterian Church they set lire to the Comrie home, hoping to draw the defenders from their stockade, but the ruse failed. On the death of his father in 1880 Mr. Comrie hail to take charge of the farm. In 188G he entered the Presbyterian Theological Hall in Dunedin, and completed his examinations in Auckland at the end of 1888. He. was licensed by the Presbytery of Auckland in the following April. His marriage to Miss Mary Kate Bayly, of Pukekohe, followed on April 24, and on Alay 15 he was inducted to tho charge ol Waiuku. Work For Education After two years at Waiuku Air. Comrie left for the charge of Kelso, in Otago, from whence he was called to Faii-lie, in South Canterbury, in 180-1 and to Hastings m 1899. Air. Conine was twice elected a member of the South Canterbury Education 13oard and twice elected to the Hawko's Pay Education Board. Early iu I'JOti Air. Comrie took up the duties of general treasurer ol the Church, having control of all its central funds, and lie also became secretary ol the Church Property Trustees. He was made a Fellow of the Institute of Accountants of New Zealand. He retired from active service in 1.928, since when lie and Airs. Comrie have made their home in Mount Eden. Temperance Activities One of Air. Connie's keenest interests has been temperance reform. He was president of the' New Zealand Al l in 11 CO and a member of its executive committee for many years. In 1922 he was made Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, and in that capacity tho following year he visited Svduev to take ofticial part in Church celebrations. He is the only moderator to have been sent beyond the Dominion on such a mission. Mr. Comrie has given much labour to the compilation of a complete register of all ministers who have been in the service of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand since its foundation. He lias worked strenuously for the preservation of the records of the Auckland Presbytery, and is now engaged in the final stages of a history of that body.