FAREWELL TO MR AND MRS W. H. HIETT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11882, 18 March 1913, Page 4

FAREWELL TO MR AND MRS W. H. HIETT.

There was a large" gathering at the Baptist' Church last' evening ,to bid n formal farewell to Mr and! Mrs W. H. Hiett prior to their departure for Dunedip, where Mr Hiett has purchased a business. The Rev. J. D.. Mill, presided, and in addition to members ot the Baptist congregation there" were present the Rev. W. J. and Mrs Williams and representatives of other denominations and of organisations connected with church work. ' Apologies for absence were received from Ren I\. J'. Porter, Messrs A. Eraser, J. D. Familton, V. H. Rose, Rpdman, W. E. Searle, J. D. Grant, arid H. Edwards. . - The - Chairman announced that, the farewell was' a united one on the part, of the' Baptist, congregation, the Nolicense Association, and the Christian Endeavour Union.

Mrs Williams emphasised the value of Mr and Mrs Hiett's-services to the Christian Endeavotir Union, and especially referred to the work of Mr Hiett as secretary, organist, soloist, and sneaker. On behalf of the Endeavour Union, she asked Mrs Hiett's acceptance of a travelling rug. The Rev W J. Williams spoke of Mr and Mrs Hiett's splendid services in the cause of No-license. What they did in this connection they did cheerfully, and people all over the electorate were made to feel that it-was their duty to vote no-license. Mrs Hiett's work in connection with the Bible Society was also remarked upon. On behalf of he ladies engaged in the work of no-license Mr J. H. Milhgan presented Mrs Hiett with a gold lopaz brooch arid a gold pencil case, and on behalf of the gentlemen he presented Mr Hiett with a handsome dressingcase. - .Speaking as a member of the Charitable Aidßoard, Mr Milligan mentioned the ready assistance Mr and Mrs Hiett had given to any effort made to brighten the 'lives of the old people in' Victoria Honie.

Mr R. Milligan said it was a source of great regret that they had to part with two such good people. The unanimous'opinion was'that- thev ware losing the' verv best people'in Mr and Mrs -Hiett. Thev had others who were probably equally faithful, but so far as two" were concerned —husband and wife —no loss could have been greater. One had learned, to admire Mr and Mrs Hiett. not v only for their sterling Christian character", but also for the zeal displayed by them in every branch of church work. There was not a branch of church work in which thev had not been engaged," and' thev had done their work heartily. They had also been plea c e'd to engage in Christian work which wast-for'the good of the whole community, and when united service was sought theirs was - reaftily given. Not only" had Mr and-Mrs Hiett's services been zealous, but they had been acceptable. Mr Hiett had been leader of the Christian Endeavour Society, when need arose he had taken the pulpit service, he had taken a class in the Sundav School regularly, and had led the ctiildren from time to time in connection with the singing. As a citizen thev could ill afford to lose a man of Mr "Hiett's character. The town would be poorer by the fact- that Mr Hiett was leaving! He had been satisfied to sacrifice every opportunity that might be regarded as a temporary .advantage, and Had made these sacrifices out of lnvalty to his own conscience. Mrs Hiett'had been.one of the deaconesses of the church, and in this' respect she. had been just as faithful as in connec-, tion with any other work. The girls of the Bible Class would miss her services very much. -Mr. and Mrs Hiett had passed a number of years in Oamarn, and he (the speaker) believed these years might prove to be the happiest in their lives.. He hoped -they would 'be: successful in their new sphere/of duty. Messrs Hilliker, Carrad, and Billings, officers of the church, also expressed the' trenera'l sorrow at -the loss of Mr and Mrs Hiett's services. ,' Miss Milliean, on hehalf of the Young Ladies' '-Bible Class, presented -Mrs Hiett with a handbag. _The Rev. J. D. Mill said the congregation could not allow Mr and Mrs Hiett to go away without giving them some tangible -token- of thein esteem, and also something that-would serve as a memento of their stay in. Oamaru. On behalf of thejnembers he asked Mrs Hiett's acceptance of a gold pendant sfnd to Mr Hiett he-presented an enlarged framed photograph of the officers of-the church and a fountain pen. ( Mr Hiett. acknowledging the gifts, said he could truly say that in Oamaru they had. formed some of their most sacred relationships. The present was | one'of the most trying seasons of their lives. He had been in Oamaru for ' about MJ years, and Mrs Hiett for , about 12 years. When called upon .to decide to go it seemed borne upon them •that they could not,carry it. through.' For .himself, he felt he was not deserving of 'all the kind -remarks thaE ha -been made, but.he knew that Mrs Hiet* deserved a great deal. Their' work had been a work of love,, and they had' experienced great joy in the various branches-of Christian service in which ■ they had engaged. ' Especially was he sorry to sever his connection with the local Christian Endeavour Society. Mr Hiett concluded his remarks-by thanking the friends for their very nice pre- • Mrs Hiett -also expiessed her thanks-.. She said that to leave the church was -one of the severest wrenches of her life. The work had been "one'of her greatest, privileges. Their friends had "thrown the mantle of, charity over bheir failings." - In addition- to the congregational singing that permeated the proceedings, -vocal solos were contributed 1 hy-.TJev. -. J.-D. Milf and Messrs Tidman and Hiett. . -- -