OWAKA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2168, 12 September 1895, Page 23

OWAKA.

Srptkmber9.— The Presbyterian Church was well filled on Tuesday, Soptember 3, wheu at the cloaa of the prayer nuetinu presentations were made tc various members of the Reay family, on the occasion of their leaving the district for the north. Rev. Walter G. M'Laren, who presided, in pre« sonting Mr aud Mrs Rcay, in the name of the session and Church Committee, witha largeframod photograph, including the session, Church Committee, and Sunday school staff, together with Mrs M'Laren and Mrs Keay, gave expreaiiou to the high es'e-m in which they and their family were held by the church. .Severn! other photographs were also given, including one of the interior and one of ihn extotior of tho Presbyterian Church. Mr M'Lardi said that for many years Mr Reay hod been closely connected with th<j church, and had tivkcn a deep interest iv ita wrlfare Mr? Reay had also given great help. The 1038 of Owaka would doubtlehi prove the gain of some other district. He trusted that wherovcr they went they would seek to live an earnest Christian life and serve tho Mastor faithfully. — Mr Neil M'Arthur also staled that in losing Miami Mrs Reay they were loiiug trie I friends, and their best wishes would accompany them to their new sphere of work.— Mr Pabinett, J.P., in speaking for the friends of Mr and Mrs Rcay outside the Presbyterian Church, voiced th« general sorrow at their departure.— Mr Ruay, in acknowledgment, said that he could hardly find words to express his faeliogs. llecould never forget 0 svakst, a« iv it he aud his wife and all the elder member* of his family hal given thoir hearts to Jesus. Wherever he went he would try with God's help to hold up Jesus as Saviour and bring others to Him —Mr Alexander Adam, in the name of the Sunday school teachers, presented Mr William Reay with a beautiful writing desk. He aptly referred to the hearty services he had rendered not only in the Sunday school, bub in the choir and Christian Endeavour Society.— Mr Clappwton also *poke in a similar strain, and hopad that God would bless the family more and more. — Mr William Reay, who was takon by amnri.e. not having he*rd tliat any gift was to be made to him, said that it was with sorrow he would leave the jil ace He could never forget it, as m it he had bean led to Jesu«. Anything he had done was from love for Jesus, who had dona so much for him. He had received much benefit from the Christian Enuaavour Society. It waa a grand school for you "I Christians. He would heirtly thank Mr M'Lareu for the great good ho had reseived from hU preaching and the many real lessons he had learned from his exposition of the Scriptures.— Mr Young, in the uanio of the Sundsy .School fcholare and some of her former Mlow-pupils, pi cssented Bliss Kf ay with a handsome workbox. In doing so ha said he had known her from infancy. She had grown up in the h'unday School. For many years she had been a scholar, and only ceased to be one when she became a teacher. She had rendered able service in the school. Id the Endeavour Society and choir she had done her boit. It was a gieat wrench to part with her ; but pcrbapi there wax aery from some Macedonia to " come over and help us." Ha wished lici-mnch usefulness in her new home in the north. — Mr Adam and Mts Dabinett spoke to the same effect, the latter aa an old Sunday School teachor of Mlbs Reay's.— Miss Reay replud very suitably. She thanked them for their kindness, expressed her intention to nerve Christ wherever she went, and hoped that God would continue to blosi the Sunday School. Mis Reay alio spoke of nor ngret at parting from Owaka friend*, and would ever bo glad to hear of the prcwperity of the church. The meeting closed with the tinging of " God be with you till we meet again," and the pronouncement </ the benediction by the chairman.