WELGOMInG A PASTOR.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12586, 17 October 1911, Page 2

WELGOMInG A PASTOR.

There was a large and representative. attendance at the Baptist Tabernacle last eveiiirtg, when a welcome social was tendered to the Rev. T. Keith Ewen, the Hew pastor. Ah' Mackle, of Christchurcli, presided. The chairman said he represented the Baptist Union of New Zealand, and he read a letter from the secretary (pev. R. S. Gray) of the Union, conveying the Union's best wishes for the Rev. Keith Ewen's ministry m Gisboriie. The chairman jocularly remarked that that was to be a kind* of marriage ceremony that night. He was going, to marry them to the Hey. Mr Ewen. It was a ceremony that was to mark ail epoch m the history of the Churclii Continuing, Mr Mackie eulogised the work of Mr I Ewen. There was a danger, he said, of the Church becoming absorbed m the world, artd the danger arose through some men usurping the prerogatives of God. The Church should have an ideal, which was to lead the world. They had a man m Mr Ewen who preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ, one of the functions of the Church. Other functions of the Church were that it should be a home and a training ground for the young.' The work of the Church was not to provide amusements, but to teach. He hoped their uriidri would 'be 'one of great happiness and prosperity. Adresses of welcome of a felicitous nature, to the new pastor, were given by the Rev. J. A. Lochdre, Dr W P Porter, Rev.W. Grant, Mr J. A Jones' Adjutant Melkshajn, Mr Tpneycliffe, aiid Al r i./ 1 Penning (secretary of the Church). The latter < stated he had received a letter from the Rev. Mr Lamb, wishing the Church every success. Upon rising to reply the Rev. Keith Mven was tended suchia; reception that there could be no mistaking the enthusiasm of the audience. Ha-said he was deeply touched .by the heartiness of their welcome to him that- night. To him the joy and .{Uadijess of it»e ceremony ivas J ou ched with pain for he was alone. He h *4-' ,' )ee , n at tteen *'cc welcome gatherines which his wife shared with him' and he felt it diffiqult to, rise above the sense of his loneWs,_as his tliat night Was with the -Km^of Kiri^s. : However., he felt that he^had their whole-heaVted love The Rev. Mr Ewen thanlwd the speakers lor their kind words of wel-' come and . encouragement, and stated that Ins ministry was to be a scriptural ministry. He' had no new gospel to tell them, but. the; old gospel of his forefathers—the gospel of; Jesus Christ. He did not bring them a mutilated Bible, but was a believe* 'in Che good old Book and he urged theln to bring their -Bibles t<> the. services. 1 . The-rev. gentleman said he had been trained m the Presbyterian Church, _which had a warm place m hi s wlfh H He a i°. ia^ had S lieat kUowship A S Me i hodlsts 1 *»d Salvation Aimy. He had conio here with the endeavor to co-operate with all Christian institutions, and also with his friend Mr •j 8 ! 'f l , ende ay<» l ing to sweep from their midst the ciirseHhat was blighting the lives of so many. Mr Ewen solicited the wh^Tf 06 oftlle y° un e men and women, whom he was greatly interested m. He concluded by stating he wouW endeavor upr?u?cnuSh!' s h^ym^ During the evening a proerammp nf SSed "If eloc f °« !te°n?s rs'on' tiibiited, the performers • beinc Messrs Meikb and Rh/nesmith,, a nd!ML Sim