AN ESTEEMED PASTOR

Otago Witness, Issue 3518, 16 August 1921, Page 6

AN ESTEEMED PASTOR

I here was a large gathering of members of tiie Ro.-i.vn Presbyterian Church in tho hall last night, when parishioners took leave of one who had ministered to the charge oyer 11 years—the Rev. W Gray Dixon. Air 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. J he hall was decorated for tho occasion, and was bright with life. The Rev. Proh : Davies presided, and was supported b.v lb ' R vs. Finlayson. Fangster. Lymburn, Lulrymple, Trotter, Barton, and Sutherland. Professor DavDs paid a fine tribute to Mr Dixon’s personality and character, and to his ripe scholarship and educational attainments After sapper had hern enjoyed, the presentation.', wore made by Mr R. H. 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 j 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 ha I taught them that they, too, had something to do, and those who had gone the v. hole way appreciated the man they found behind tho scholar. Mr B ack 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 a bed had chased him with their donation, and with the hope that he would he rei.torcd to vigour, long life, and health. It was a token of the love and esteem in I which he was held by the congregation, of which he had taken such loving care for the last 11 years. They hoped he would ever romnmber Roslyn as Roslyn would reniemh r him. —(Applause.) Air I). Colquhoun. superintendent of the Fitrdav School; Air Magnus Johnson, on beha'f of the Young Men’s Bible Glass; Mr R. T. Stewart, a former leader of the class; Air S. F. Benton, llcv. H. IT. Barton the Rev. A. AY. Kiumont, and the Rev. B. F. Rctli well all referred in eulogistic terms to the work of Mr and Mrs Dixon. Air Dixon, who was welcomed with applause. said, in the course of his reply, that h? would never again have ihe privilege of being the pastor of a charge. That had been prohibited, because the strain might i lead to the danger of a breakdown. This did not mean that he would not. he able j to preach at all. “ I do hone,'’ said Mr | Dixon. “ that I will be able to preach to | the last moment of life, for I glory in it. I I hope to do a groat deal of preaching and I writing.” The occasion was also ineomI pl.ete, because he was not really leaving j them, and would still be in the same city.— | (Applause.) Tie hoped they would go and i (wo him nt Ft. Leonards. “T thank you one I ;nul nil.” concluded Air Dixon, with feeling, j “'Vs have clasped hands once and for over.” Tiie gathering dispersed nt a late hour witl: the pronouncing of the benediction.