AN ESTEEMED PASTOR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18320, 10 August 1921, Page 6

AN ESTEEMED PASTOR

REV W. GRAY DIXON’S RETIREMENT. There was a large gathering of members of the Roslyn Presbyterian Church in the liall last night, when parishioners took leave of one who had ministered to the charge over 11 years —the Rev. W. Gray Dixon. Mr Dixon, though forbidden by medical advice to again take up the duties of a parish, has sufficiently recovered from the breakdown in health which led to his resignation of the Roslyn charge to look forward to a life of usefulness both in preaching and writing. The hall was decorated for the occasion, and was bright with life. The Rev. Professor Davies presided, and was supported by the Revs. Finlay son, Sangstcr, Lymburn, Dalrymple, Trotter, Barton, and Sutherland. Professor Davies {raid a fine tribute to Mr Dixon’s personality and character, and to his ripe scholarship and educational attainments

A number of musical items followed, including part songs by the choir; solos ny Mias B. Baird. Messrs Reekie and MacC'alluni; a violin solo by Miss J. Baird; and a recitation by Mias Lucas. Miss Baird was accompanied by Miss Alice George, and the singers by Mr Miller Hope, who conducted the choir through its item. After supper had been enjoyed, the sentations were made by Mr R. S. Black, who first of all handed to Mrs Dixon an elaborate box of chocolates. They had met not to say good-bye to Mr Dixon, they hoped, but only to say au revoir. It was something like 11 years since Mr Dixon had come to the hill. His work had been appreciated by them all, but not so much as it would be later on, when they began to realise their loss. Mr Dixon was a scholar and a retiring man. His outlook in life had taught them tlxat they, too, had something to do, and those who had gone the whole way appreciated the man they found behind the scholar. Mr Black handed to Mr Dixon the congregation’s gift—a cheque for over £l5O. Everyone had wanted to contribute to it. and those who had not been asked had chased him with their donation, and with the hope that he would be restored to vigour, long life, and health. It was a token of the love and esteem in which he was held by the congregation, of which he had taken such loving care for the last 11 years. They honed he would ever remember Roslyn as Roslyn would remember him.—(Applause.) Mr D. Colquhoun, superintendent of the Sunday School, said he had found Mr Dixon was deeply interested in the Sunday School. He never missed a Sunday, with kindly help and encouragement, and they had all learned to respect and to love him. It was their hope that he would long be spared as a minister of the church to add lustre to his noble calling.—(Applause.) Mr Magnus Johnson, on behalf of the Young Men’s Bible Class, acknowledged Mr Dion's groat interest and sympathy in Bible class work, and said they had always been delighted when ho came in and addressed them.

Sir R. T. Stewart, a former leader of the class, also testified to tha help which Bible class members had received from their minister, and paid a tribute to his labours in the pulpit. To have listened to one of his sermons was a handsome education in itself. Mr Stewart referred to the many evidences of Mr Dixon’s work among them, and added that his influence had been felt in all Roslyn. He had always felt that Mr Dixon’s congregation was smaller than what Providence had intended. Mr Dixon, they knew, wielded a facile pen, and perhaps the cause which had led him to resign the charge was to be only Bie prelude to on extension of his influence in wider spheres than Roslyn could afford.

Mr S. P. Benton also spoke in appreciative terms of Mr Dixon’s work at Roslyn, w-hich had been highly blessed in his ministry, and extended their wishes for good health and achievements' undreamed of in the future.

Rev. H. H .Barton referred to Mr Dixon as an extremely gifted minister, a man of rich and varied experience, and one in whom love of the church was engrained. One feature of his ministry which they had all noticed was his glowing enthusiasm for the things that were, highest and best. He joined with Mr Stewart in hoping that his retirement would enable him to continue and extend his influence through his writings. The Rev. A. W. Kinmont described Mr Dixon in his student days in the Old Country as taking a leading plane in a year ci giants, and yet being a man of the utmost brotherliness. The Assembly had recognised his gifts, and had called him to the highest honour which it was in its power to bestow, and made him its Moderator. And Mr Dixon had graced the chair as few had ever done. He wou.d like to speak of Mr Dixon as a dear friend and in other ways. Koslyn would not seem the same place when he was gone. The Rev. B. F. Rothwell, joining with other speakers in a tribute to Mrs Dixon, said Mr Dixon hod been a much greater man since Mrs Dixon had got hold of him. —(Laughter.) He was proud to be able to call Mr Dixon friend. . Mr T. Ritchie also spoke in high terras of Mr Dixon’s life and work among them. Mr Dixon, who svas welcomed with applause, said ho was very much at a loss to know how to reach to an occasion which, he hoped, was not so much a conclusion as a beginning; for he trusted ho might be spared to do better work than any to wlueh he had yet been culled. He thanked them for their attendance there in such numbers, and with a spirit overflowing with Christian generosity and kindliness. He always felt uncomfortable on such occasions, though he felt even more uncomfortable if they did not take place. The occasion also meant ids farewell to the pastoral ministry. He would never again have the privilege of being tho pastor of a charge. That had been prohibited, because the strain might lead to tho danger of a breakdown. This did not mean that he would not be able to preach at all. “I do hope/’ said Mr Dixon, “ that I will be able to preach to the last moment of life, for I glory- in it. I hope to do a great deal of preaching and writing.” The occasion was also incomplete, because he was not really leaving them, and would still be in the same city.— (Applause.) He hoped they would go and see him at St. Leonards. Mr Dixon proceeded to admit the congregation to the intimacy of personal reminiscences; and said that all the eulogies which had been spoken of him should bo equally shared by Mrs Dixon.—(Applause.) He had been gentle of purpose, because, though he could be a lion, among his congregation he must be a lamb. And he had tried to see the face of God in every brotherman. In his preaching he had tried to vary it to reach all classes, and to make Christ central, and in preaching Christ He had destowed upon them the entrance to all the gifts in the universe. If he hud been in any way sueoussful he thanked God and took courage, and from what he hud aspired to, but had failed to reach, he drew comfort. They had behaved Divinely to him, because they had overlooked his shortcomings. “ I thank you on" and all.” concluded Mr Dixon, with feeling. “We have clasped hands once and for ever.” The gathering dispersed at a lat-> hour with the pronouncing of the benediction.