A POPULAR MINISTER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22198, 27 February 1934, Page 10

A POPULAR MINISTER

RETIREMENT OF THE REV. G. MILLER TRIBUTES FROM CONGREGATION To bid farewell to the Rev. George Miller, who is retiring after 10 years as minister of the North-East Valley Presbyterian Church, and to Mrs Miller, members of the congregation met in the church last evening, when the session clerk (Mr R. H. Robertson) presided over an attendance that filled the building to its capacity. The moderator of the Presbytery (Dr Hunter) expressed the Presbytery's sympathy with the congregating in losing Mr Miller, and extended to him their wishes for a happy future. The resignation of a minister always left a certain disarrangement, he said, but they knew that the work would go on under the guidance of Dr Merrington until they had a minister. The Presbytery was fully confident that they would carry on the traditions in their loyalty to. all the church stood for. They did not feel happy about Mr Miller's removal because there had been s>uch bonds of friendship among them, and his capacity for friendship had been one of the secrets of his success. He hoped that Mr and Mrs Miller and their family would find when they went to their new home friends such as they had made in Dunedin. The Rev. A. Anstice, representing the local Ministers' Association, said that he esteemed it a great honour to take part in that gathering to express their appreciation of the services of such a man as Mr Miller, and to represent his brother ministers on that, occasion. Mr Miller was the father of the North End Ministers' Association and they would feel his loss very keenly. The first time he, had heard him was on the occasion of the death of Mr Massey. Mr Miller was at that time moderator of the Assembly, and his name came into prominence. Circumstances had brought him that duty of laying to rest the remains of one of the foremost statesmen New Zealand had known.,

Dr Merrington, acting moderator, spoke of the valuable work Mr Miller had done in the service of the Presbyterian Church. His thoughts went back 10 years ago. he said, when Mr Miller was inducted, and the speaker was asked to preach the sermon. He took as his text on that occasion "Ye Are God's Husbandry." He was sure they ail felt that they had not only been in God's husbandry, but that they had had a very true and faithful husbandman. He had been tending all portions of God's agriculture in that district, that farm of God. Once the husbandman went, however, the husbandry still went on, and he was confident that there was no need to ask them to continue as they had done in the past. Professor Collie also expressed the presbytery's appreciation of Mr Miller's services, both in the congregation and the presbytery. He could speak with a good deal of knowledge of Mr Miller's work, for he had known him for over 40 years. Those who were fellow-students with Mr Miller knew that their confidence in him was well deserved, and he had the goodwill of all with whom he had come in contact.

Mr R. H. Robertson, for the session, said that the fathering marked a very impoitant date—the close of the fourth ministry in the< history of the church.. Mr Miller's 10 years of ministry had been complete and comprehensive, and he would be missed very much in every department of his work. It had becna great privilege to sit under his pulpit, and they would all remember the helpful prayer meetingsPand not forget the kindly visitations in their homes. As moderator of session Mr Miller had been an ideal chairman, and they would miss his wisdom and guidance. The speaker concluded by conveying the sincere thanks of the congregation to Mr Miller for his unsparing labour, and to his wife and family for their able and loyal support. ' On behalf of the Deacons' Court, Mr G. D. Cameron referred to the harmonious relations that had always existed between Mr Miller and the court, and he 6poke also of Mr Miller's capacity for work. Mr Cameron also paid a 1 tribute, to the valuable work done by Mrs Miller as president of the P.W.M.U.. and in other branches of church activities, and by Miss Winnie Miller and other members of the family. They all regretted the parting, and Mr Miller and his family left with the best wishes of the whole congregation. Mis 6 Ross, representing the missionary organisations, said that Mr Miller's interest in missions was well known to them all, and he had been ever ready to help those who had obeyed the command, "Go ye forth into all the world. She made' reference to Miss Millers work in the Maori mission field as the result of her home training, and added that Mrs Miller had endeared herself to them all. . , ~ ,„ ~ Mr A. Vivian, on behalf of the youtii organisation, expressed their appreciation of Mr Miller and his family. Mr Miller, he said, had always made a point of getting into personal contact with the young people or the church. Mr G. Manson, on behalf of the Parents' League, expressed deep regret at losing Mr and Mrs Miller and their family, and said that he hoped they would see Mr Miller many times yet in the pulpit.—(Applause.) _,_,•- ~„ fia j Other speakers were Mr R. K. Macfie (on behalf of the choir). Principal Dickie, Sister Lysbeth, and Miss MNeur, and the Rev. Scott Allen. - Mr D. S. M'Beath, in presenting Mr Miller with a cheque, said that the girt was representative of the whole congregation. After the presentation several small girls representing the various children's organisations in the church presented Mrs Miller with bouquets and Mr Miller with buttonholes. Mr Miller, on rising to speak, was greeted with prolonged applause. He said that he found great difficulty in saving what was in his mind and m thanking them for their kind remarks. Any minister might be proud to be minister of that congregation when he heard his office-bearers speak as they had spoken that night. .He added that he owed a great deal to Sister Lysbeth for the help and support she had given, blie had been a hard and earnest woikei. The office-bearers, too, had* been men who had done their duty to the best of their ability, and their ability had been very hieh. He appreciated the work that had been done in the session The Sunday school in the North-East Va ley was he thought, an ideal school, while all the other departments also worked well together. The speaker also paid a warm tribute to Miss Moss, Mr Macfie, and the choir. Mr Miller made special reference to the work in the day school, and expressed his appreciation of the way in which Mr Miller, of, the North-East Valley School, had assisted in the bunday school. In thanking the congregation on behalf of himself and his wife, Mr Miller expressed the hope that they would get the minister they needed to carry on ttie work and give the help that wa s required. Mr Miller than pronounced the benediction, and supper was served.