LAWRENCE NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20433, 13 June 1928, Page 7

LAWRENCE NOTES.

/Faou Ode Own Correspondent.) LAWRENCE, June 12. VALEDICTORY SOCIAL. The Presbyterian Schoolroom was crowded on Monday night when the officers and members of the church met to bid farewell to the Rev A. H. Dow, who had accepted a call and was leaving for Timaru as pastor of Trinity Church of that town. Mr E. Andrews, of Waitahuna, presided, and in a few well-chosen remarks mentioned the object of the meeting. The Rev. A. M'Nuer, of Milton, considered that Lawrence people should be flattered that their minister had been chosen to fill a bigger church, and on behalf of Clutha Presbytery congratulated the guest of the evening. The presbytery had kept Mr Dow busy and had deputed him to look after the statistical and financial departments, and also to attend to the youth work. He had done all these things well, and on behalf of his colleagues, he (Mr M*Neur) wished him God speed. The Rev. Mr M'Knight, of the Tuapeka West Mission, read a letter of appreciation of Mr Dow’s services as moderator of their charge# and supplemented it with remarks expressing his personal regret at Mr Dow’s departure. The Rev. Mr Stace (Anglican) and the Rev. Mr Bridge (Methodist) spoke of the happy association with Mr Dow as fellow pastors in the town, and had noted with pleasure his intrest in the young men and their institutions, and wished him success in his new cohere of labour. Messrs D. Walker, J. B. M'Kinlay, and L. King, on behalf of officers and congregation, voitcd the feelings of regret at Mr and Mrs Dow’s departure. Mr Dow, in replying, said he was the ninth minister of the church and he doubted if any minister had ever had a kindlier welcome than he had received when he came to them three years ago. His leaving them was a severe wrench. The call was an unexpected one, and be had had difficulty in coming to a decision. He thanked them all for their kind expressions of goodwill and said that whether in church life or fields of sport ihe tried to show that Christianity was in all life and his hardest trial was to leave the youth of the church. Mr D. Walker, on bebalf of the congregation handed Mr Dow a wallet of notes. The teachers and scholars of the Sunday school presented him with two books, and Masters R. and N. Dow were the recipients of two silver napkin rings. The Bible class gave its leader, Mr Dow, a gold Eversharp pencil, and the W.C.T.U. recognised Mrs Dow’s work with a present of two doulton cups and a pyrex dish. Mr Dent, on behalf of the Football Club, thanked Mr Dow for his services as a referee, and on behalf of the club handed Mr Dow a shaving outfit, and Mrs Dow a Doulton honey jar. The musical programme was provided by the choir, which rendered anthems in a very capable manner. Solos were contributed by Miss Stewart, Mrs Marshall and Mr King, and Mr Robilliard gave two ’cello solos.