FAREWELL TO MISSIONARIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14002, 7 September 1907, Page 7

FAREWELL TO MISSIONARIES

There was a. large attendance at Ivnox Church last evening to bid 1 farewell to Miss .MacGregor, Miss Davey, and Dr John lCirlc, missionaries to India and Canton. 'The Rev. W. Hewitson presided, a.ml there were seated abo'nt the pulpit tho Revs. D. Borrie, A. W. Kihinont, and G. 11. M'Neur, besides the departing missionaries.

Tho Rov. Mr Hewitson said he. had received, a number of apologies from thoso unable to be present, and mentioned that they had oh tlio platform two who had seen service.in the mission field and others who "were going out to it. Mission work had made great progress,. and they oxpected it would make .still- greater progress. A fully-equipped hospital should hive at least two medical workers, arid the.v .hoped it would not be long beforo another was sent- out to work with Dr Kirk. They had offers of service from 110 less than four who were near the close o£ their, medical course, and some had been warmly recommended. Three of these wero New Zealand-born, and two of t-liem were in Edinburgh. Then they liad an offer from one in the North Island wbo was evidently a, man of grit and who had hod experience in India. Ho took his preliminary examination hero ■and then worked his way Home, and a man of such grit had evidently got- the stuff in him that, would make a missionary. Ho was warmly recommended. Then there was a student, in the University here, and Dr ICirlt had a younger brother who was anxious to.go out as a colleague to his brother. It was very delightful to see two brothers/go out to the .'service of t-ho Master in this way. Then there was a father in tho North Island who had written to Mr Eorrie saying 110 had a son who had gono Home to' Edinburgh to take a medical course who \vi«hed to .go into the foreign ministry of the Church. One of Iheir theological students finished next month and was anxious to go to Canton, and another student, had set his heart unon missionary work. Their Church had a great work before it, and it was a great responsibility if the Church said "No" to one qualified to go out to these needy people. They were going to look into tho question of their finances and submit the question to the deacons' courts throughout the Church, so that they might take the matter into consideration. Seven workers' salaries would mean £1400 for two years. The responsibility would be thrown upon the deacons' courts in the first • instance, and ho hoped 1 the result of their deliberations would bo that the Church would make a great, step forward. Miss MacGregor, in the course of a brief address, said tlioy often heard it saidsthat tho novelty Was the chief attraction to workers in the mission field, and- that workers would soon have their ardour cooled by actual experience of the mission field. But she was glad to stand t-hero and say though she had I icon through tho experience her ardour had not -coolod. Sho had worked among a peoplo bound down to-a life of physical and moral evil which could hardly be described or understood: "She know of these things, and yet tho glamour of the missionary life had not worn off, and the cause was dearer to her ■than it was 15 years ago. Sho asked them to come forward and give at least one Strang jjnaii and build one mission "9USS frS tjjpm.- •••

Dr Kirk to -the ne\-fc speaker. He said it. was a wonderful thing 1 "that in' (lie army of Jesus Christ, where soldiers wcro so much wanted, the volunters wcro so fow. Those present liad como to say farewell, and bid God-epoed jo their_ missionaries, and their missionaries rejoiced at this.Jesus called them to be fellow workers with' Him, and what a jov it. was to bo that and to help to bring this sin-laden world back to Him. Miss Davey said she had been asking herself what did. the meeting indicate. Ono thing it indicated was- a strong vital interest in tile outgoing missionaries,- and another the strong sympathy and fellowship felt for them and a desire for their well-being. It. was indicated that, there were in the city a. number of Christian workers who were interested in mission work—a number who recognised the call of Christ to take His messago to those in tho dark places of the cart-It. They came there, to show that they regarded it as. their ''privilege to prove to lite world that Christ had a strong hold upon their affections and that they were interested in seeing His kingdom come. Some of those present would be glad to stand in the missionaries' places, and were looking forward to a day when they might- go abroad and work. Miss Davey urged those present to pray for the missionaries and their work. The Rev. Mr M'Neur (of Canton), mentioned that it was almost six yearn since ho had gone out to the mission field. Out in Canton they felt there was a. bond of sympathy and power between Ihem ami those here. He. went on to refer to the medical missionaries of Canton, to the mission hospital, its work, and the growth of Christianity resulting from that work. The Kev. Mr Hcwifson said it was usual to say something to the outgoing missionaries, but. at that- late hour he had very little to say. He would like to tell them in the name of these present, in. the Jiamo; of tile committee and of tho Church generally, of their interest in them personally and regard for. themand their work, and that, they would follow that work with their sympathy and pivt-ver. He. called upon those present to stand while they oommended the missionaries to the grace of God. He then offered.an earnest prayer for the welfare ajid guidance of tho departing; missionaries. The mooting, during the ooursc of which hymns were sung by the church choir and anthems and solos by the 'members of< tho. choir, was brought to a. close by tho benediction being pronounced by the Chairman-