ANDERSON'S BAY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14698, 4 December 1909, Page 8

ANDERSON'S BAY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

PRESENTATION TO THE REV. A. CAMERON. A soiree in connection with the annnai meeting of members of tho Anderson's Bay Presbyterian Church was held in tho local School liall last night. Tho interior >vas very prettily decorated with masses of flowcra that bore testimony to the fertility of the. local soil and the good .taste of the ladies who had undertaken the decorations. The Rev. A. Cameron preside*! over the gathering, and after devotional exercises spoke briefly, contrasting tho social gatherings of today with those of former times. Ho referred to the fact that net only was the present their annupl social but it was also his twenty-fifth birthday as their minister.—(Applause). When lie first tome he had not much experience as a preacher. Indeed, when ho landed in Port Chalmers he 'had only two sermons that could be preached to a congregation. He thanked God for tho great goodness vouchsafed to hiii) during tho past 25 years. Associated with him were lliose who worked wholeheartedly in tho duties laid them in tho several departments of Church work. He thanked them for ail the sympathy and kindness shown to him during the long years past. Mr W. S. Fitzgerald, or.c of the Church elders, delivered a pleasant congratulatory address to Mr Cameron on his completing 25 years as minister. He pointed out Hint their minister had always been faithful in his services, correcting them in their faults, encouraging them in well doing, buijdiny thom up in all good works, and giving his full sympathy in their rejoicings and in their sufferings, and in their sorrows ho always had a comforting word. Ho had served them well as paster cf both the sheep and the lambs of 'hie congregation. During the whole cf their connection there' had bwn peace and goodwill, which was largely to bo attributed to M r Gnjne.ron's tact. Thev should all thank (?od that they bad kept their pastor so long, and he prayed that their connection would continue, for many ■ inoro years. At the conclusion of the address Mr Fitzgerald asked Mr Cameron lo accent a very fine Bel! organ subscribed for bv tlio congregation.

Mr Cameron t-hankod fliom for their Iciml expressions o-f esteem, and for their handsome presentationi y.-hich he won't! value verv highly as nn outward manifestation of the irocd of the congregation towards him. 110 felt gratp'ul that his lot had been cast in .1 spot that had such beautiful ami healthful surroundings, and one where tho moral touo was so favourable for up a family. The latter condition was due i'l a very larw measure to the good influence of their head teacher (Mr J. Je(Tevy)-,->n influence hat was felt in a way few j.v.-op!c imagined. Mr T. Somerville, on Mialf of ih" hv'-Vs of the congregation, presented Mrs Cameron with a silver salver, suitablv ongi'avett, as a reorrivitioii 0? lhc kinOn^---, gentleness, and the unass-ming that had characterised her residence aitKinc-!. v'loni. Mr Cameron acknowledged tlio prcEor.'ation in .cuitnhle terms. Dr Wad (tell. in a brief and p'oa.^int

maimer, expressed his pleasure at bein? present. to take part in the recognition of Mr Cameron's 25 years' rervico;. Me referred to the many works in which lie had boon associated with that goutlemiin, and to Ins elofo and valuable connection with educational matters, and with Knox Col!<>w. Evcrvtliinsf that ho liatl put. his hand to ho had carried through, and ho had si'.eccciled bf«ut-c behind Ills work was Inc spirit of ('hrie-f. There wort 1 two tiimn-.! ho would likn lo see curried out ;in ivco£iiition of Mv Cameron's services. J In? Ins}. wjis to so? his portrait, in Knox l olloiffl—a matler that students past and present mi;;ht take in hand,—and the other was to be able to call their minister I)r Cameron.—(Applaud.) lie hoped that in tile tuiuro. a> in tho past. Mr Cameron would have the Great Master's Mcssins. I'lofefi.ior 1 fewii-on paid lie was g!ad to Iv I. lore for the cake of the eonsreaatfon ami their minister. IK, saw that the Aiider.iou s Hay consrcspition had been in existence foi '16 years and during thatlerm they had sent out worker.! to home and foreign tni-.-sion liehk That was very jjijod work indeed; nm | |.„ a | ;o saw they lad s ,ven one-liitl. of their income io object* outs,do of ihemeslvcs. He referred to tm. good qualities of Mr Oftiwnm 58 a. preacher, a pastor, ami a friend. He icterred to the fact that Mr Cameron would certainly have bse.n appointed to 1 1:0 '' I,cfio "' " ml P3 ' id j ' I'",la,'!1 a ,' ! " of Mollxntrne. when )k consratuhitcd h„u (Professor Howit>onj 011 hi.s appointment, wrote: "Mr -atneron is a „obl-> man to stand down; thoie is not one m a thenar,d would have done 1 -(Applause.) 1„ conclusion Profc«or Hcmteon referred to the good work done bj Mr Cameron m connretion with ducat,on, from the priman,- sc hool S right up to the umversitv.

Mr C. S. Owen epolw of Mr Cameron aml r fei'T th '"""f" tllcm ' Susta'tfetS' "° rk hoMdo " e S u ' ,!o " ; aUI 1,0 h «> piMt. pteauuie 111 echoing the latory remarks made by previous spo ak* lB awiaM IO iil? \t" f'?" 0 " 1 ' ifc wns 10 ho tfnn w,vi! n n-M V V"" 01 ' 0 " <»nnccschool 1,1 tho I' ub!io Congratulatory remarks were also made b> tho llov. K A. Axokon. . cU?'rk) fomiallv wS SLIT* 0f lh f annuaJ "Port, 'If 9 ™' {€n ns »oacl. l.w musical items contributed durin? tlw Mild Mr Tt W'l ty Mi " J ' E " I Wd ■'I'lii h" bv wJVT'I " t yi artot f ro»' WiJJh by Mia, Galliolinn, Mre Au 6 tin K S'ref A -' ilio "'. AnU >«« S VS M ,v y !'° cl,0lr ; Mr H. ,?.i s <lircct,on - a,ul . w;th w* E. acting a.s accompanist. '^herlng. 0 m " x] at thc ck,! « of the