VALEDICTORY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13519, 16 February 1906, Page 6

VALEDICTORY.

FAREWELL SOCIAL TO REV. D. AND MRS BORRIE. After 22 years' honoured service as minister of the North-East Valley Presbyterian Church the Rev. D. and Mrs Borrie were, last evening entertained at a. farowell social in tlve church, on tho occasion of the minister relinquishing his post. Mr Borric lias Jiothing definite in view apart from tho duties 110 will undertake as clerk to thcr Assembly, and as agent for the church trustees in Duncdin. Ho is not going far away, and his numerous circle of friends will always be able to see him at, Maori Hill. There was an exceedingly large congregation. The Rev. W. llcwitson presided, and read apologies for absence from • tho Revs. Dr Waddoll, A. Greig, R. Mackie, Messrs Geo. Roid and E. Rosoveare. The Rev. A. W Kinmont (Moderator of Presbytery) led the congregation in prayer, aftej which a well-rendered anthem was con. tributed by tho choir.' Tho Rev. A. M. Finlayson (clerk of the Duncdin Presbytery) was the first, speaker. He said he had been asked, as one of Mr Borrie's oldest friends, to join with them in the business of the evening. Ilis acquaintance, with their late minister went back 601110. 30 years, when he had met him in the late Dr Stuart's manse. He was then a student, and not far from the end of his course. Then 110 met him again just as lie was licensed by the Presbytery, and they became intimately acquainted—this was towards the end of 1876. Of (he licensing itself, lie had no very definite recollection, but ono curious thing 110 remembered. Mr Borric was himself a member of the Presbytery at the time as an elder representing West Taieri, and lie took a. part, in the licensing of himself. Then' they parted with him for a time while he went to Waihola but lie returned to North-East, A r aljey, where, he and tho Presbytery were again familiar. The speaker went 011 to refer to tho important part Ml- Borrie had always taken in the Presbytery with his intelligent and comprehensivo view of all things pertaining to the church. However, they were not losing him to that body vet. and ho hoped he might be witlt them for a long time to como that they might have the benefit of his counsel at future nicotines— (Applause.) Mr Geo. Calder, of the Baptist Cluirch, speaking on belmlf of sister churches, referred feelingly to the loss sustained by Mr Borrie's enforced- departure from I,ho North-East Valley, and expressed the hope that after ho had had a good rest lie would be able to do a vast amount of good work yet. lie could say that lie had always appreciated and benefited .by the counsel of Mr Borric. He was sure Mr Borric had always dono the utmost as far as his work was concerned, and he (the speaker) had no doubt that for many years to como his memory would bo highly revered in NorthEast Valley—Applause.) Mr D. Beath. jun„ 011 behalf of tho residents of Upper Junction, Mr Alex. Saunders for the younger members of Mr Borrie's lata flock", and Mr John Arthur, representing the session and congregation, all epoko feelingly and in a. eulogistic manlier of their minister, and Mr Booth, session clerk, read a minute of session bearing eloquent, testimony to tho measure of esteem in which Mr Borric is held in his late charge. At the conclusion of the speeches Mr Duncan, in a neatly-worded speech, presented Mr Borrie with a pair of handsome silver-mounted hair brushes' aiid a. silver suear howl, The Chairman said that during his 10 years in the ministry in Duncdin he had ever found Mr Borrie to be ono of the most, fraternal of ministers. Ho was a truly fraternal soul-(applause) ,—and 110 man was more welcome at Knox Church manse. Mr Borrie was a very brave man, 100, and in the Synod or in the Presbytery could stand for his opinion against anyone. He had seen him going round just as gamely and deliberately as if he were 011 the right hack.—(Laughter.) And lie stood to his opinions without incurring any ill-will from those to whom ho was opposed. They all admired him for his wisdom. He gave them a well-matured opinion, and one of his outstanding qualities was his self-sacrifice. In this last Air Borrie was hardly scriptural, as far as his own observation had gone, for he loved his neighbour not merely as himself, but a good deal better than himself. In everything in which 110 had had to do with Mr Borrio there had been an effacement of felf 011 Mr Borrie's part. Brave, fraternal, wise, and sclf-sacrificinc—such was-their ministw. _ He was delighted to ho ablo to bear his sincere testimony to Mr Borrie's qualities and work. Further, they would always find that. .-1. good minister had a good wife at the b'.ick of him, and ho \v«is quite sure thai Mr Borric liad been ablo to do what ho had largely owing to the fact that he had a true and loyal helpmeet. In the name of the congregation and of_ other friends, ho had much pleasure in asking Mr Borrie to aeccpt a purso of sovereigns, as some token of the regard in which lie was hold.—(Applause.) Mr Borrie, wh? was much affected, said that such an event came oneo in a lifetime, and lie thanked them from his heart for all the kind things that, had been said and ail the good things that had como to him during tho closing years of his ministry. He thanked the members of the Presbytery, not, only for their kindly expression of goodwill, but also for the help they had given when he had been laid aside, and also the students who had undertaken, Ins duties during those eight months. Ho had always tried to work in harmony with tho other churches, and 110 had enjoyed his 22 years' fellowship with Mr Calder. Ho had tho consciousness of having given the Upper Junction peoplo good measure, and he thanked them for their kindly-expressed opinions. He loved the young peoplo, with whom he had always lived and worked .harmoniously. 110 trusted they might go on and prosper—that they might secure a minister who would build on the good foundation successfully, and ho would not be jealous of his efforts if it was found necessary to remove the partition and lengthen the church to its original plan. Tho speaker concluded his remarks with an eloquent appeal to his old congregation to be true to themselves, to ono another, to the Church, and to Jesus Christ. Mrs Borrie also briefly returned thanks for her gift. Tea and sandwiches were disnensed with a lavish hand hy the ladies, and during tho proceedings solos were contributed by Mr Bone and Miss Drvcien. The choir (under Mr Herbert George) also sang a number of anthems, and a. most pleasant evening's gathering was concluded by the singing of the doxology.'