PRESENTATION TO THE REV. JAMES PATERSON.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1639, 29 July 1903, Page 56

PRESENTATION TO THE REV. JAMES PATERSON.

A special service was held at St. John’s Presbyterian Church last Wednesday evening, when presentations weone made to tiro Rev. James Paterson who has resigned from the charge or the church, and to Mrs Paterson, and to Mrs Paterson. . The Rev J. Kennedy Elliott presided, and the Revs Wm. Shirer, of Newtown, and John Ross, of Turakina. were associated with him. Mr Elliott said the congregation had met in order to say good-bye to their faithful and beloved pastor, who. during many years, had been associated with them in their joys and sorrows. He had met them upon their marriage day, and had given them his blessing; ho had the joy of baptising their children; and he had stood beside the open grave when death had shattered homes, and by that grave ho had read and repeated to them words of consolation and words of hope. They had a£so met for the purpose of presenting him with some tangible token of their regard, and their affection for him, and their gratitude for the work ho had done amongst them. Mr Elliott said he esteemed it a great Honour and privilege to preside at the meeting. If anything was needed to raise his esteem and appreciation of Mr Paterson, it had been the noble appearances and utterances ho had made Before the congregation, and before the Presbytery and his brethren, when it became his duty to state what his intentions were going to be. If he was asked to single out what he thought the greatest characteristic of Mr Paterson he would say it was his great prudence and judgment. Alter eulogising these qualities the speaker went on to gay fvhat although this service and meeting had something solemn and sorrowful about it they were not going to fee pessimistic and doleful ah on t it. Mr Paterson deserve?, a holiday and they wouild reasonably hope that he would soon be back to Wellington after having visited the Old Oountry. The Rev Wm. Shirer said that in the Presbytery, and in all affairs connected with the church, they bad learned to appreciate Mr Paterson as a minister and he weird respectfully say as a true, earnest, Christian gentleman and friend in all things. He wished God-speed to Mr Paterson on his voyage to the old Country, and trusted that long, happy yeans of service would remain for him and the congregation. The Rev John Koss, after having referred to the close friendship which he had with Mr Paterson, said that there was no man in ajl New Zealand who had more thoroughly and efficiently rilled the mission which was given to him than had Mr Paterson. Mr Elliott had referred to Mr Paterson’s judgment. He would go further and say that ho had not known Mr Paterson make an error of judgment since he first met him. Mr J. G. W. Ait ken (Mayor of Wellington), after eulogising Mr Paterson’s work at St. John’s, said that though Mr Paterson was retiring from the ministry of the church, they were pleased to know that he still hoped to live in their midst and remain connected with the oorvpregation. They all hoped and trusted; he would be given many years of good health. Ho was instructed by the congregation, to read to Mr Paterson a letter, and to hand it to him with a cheque for £347; also to hand him a silver salver, as a token to Mrs Paterson of the love and esteem of the congregation and of appreciation of her work. The letter read by Mr Aitken was as follows: — “St John’s, Wellington, rf 22nd July, 1903. “ Dean Mr Paterson, — “ In asking your acceptance of the accompanying gift as a small token of our love and estuem, we feel that no words are needed to assure you- of our appreciation of your long and devoted services amongst us. You could not have been so long with us and kept us go united without knowing this long ago. “Wo know also that your ministry amongst us has been a joy and delight to you, and can never be forgotten, and we are glad to know that although the tie of pastor and people

la being severed, it is your intention still to remain amongst us. “ There are many of us to whom you have been friend and counsellor many years, and who gratefully remember the words of hope and comfort and the ready sympathy yon have so wisely given. We rejoice with you in your proposed visit to the Home Land, and trust that it will be a very enjoyable one, that you will have a safe return to us, and that you will be long spared to go in and out amongst us, a very welcome friend at all times. “We ask your acceptance also of the accompanying gift for Mrs Paterson. We thank God, with you, that after a long and anxious time of weakness she is now so much stronger, and able once again to meet with us. We trust that the improvement will continue, and that many years of happy usefulness may be granted to her.” Signed for and on behalf of the congregation, A. D. THOMSON, Secretary. JOHN KNOX, Treasurer. (Of the Special Congregational Committee.) Mr Paterson said he really was at a loss for words to expres his feelings. He felt deeply the parting from his old people in St. John’s ; ho felt deeply the kind words that had just been uttered. He thanked the members of the congregation for their generous gift. Money was not everything. It could not heal the wounds of the heart, and it did not compensate for everything, hut still it was a very useful thing, and lie was quite sure the presentation which had been made to him would enable him to enjoy his trip Home with a much easier mind than he otherwise would. He thanked them with aii his heart, because lie felt the money had been given with a generous and true sp:rii—that there was affection, and iovo, and loyalty behind it. He valued that infinitely more than money. He believed he still had the confidence and loyalty of the great bulk of the congregation, and he would like to say that while he had a long ministry in St. John’s, lie had a happy one until recently , when he began to feel that the parting must take place. Ho retired from the ministry with the conviction that ho had always tried to do his duty honestly and faithfully according to his ability. At first he shrank from the thought of visiting the Old Country. He had been out here so long and all his interests were in New Zealand. From the first day he sob his foot in the colony he resolved to be a thorough New Zealander. Ho had a great love for this young country, and it was as a New Zealander that he would go back on a visit to his native land. He again thanked the congregation for the generous gift, and prayed that God -would bless them and his successor in the ministry. Ho also thanked the congregation for the presentation to Mrs Paterson.