CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH FESTIVAL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2925, 10 August 1882, Page 2

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH FESTIVAL.

A soiree was held on Tuesday evening in the Barnard street Hall, the occasion being tho formal recognition of the Kev Mr Sharpe as pastor of tho above Church and a valediction to the late minister, the much respected Mr Halldwes. The Hall was very attractive in appearance, and the tables, crowded almost to excess with all that good taste and hospitality could suggest, were presided over by

Mesdames Haggett, Wood, Peters, Hitch, Bussell, Mee, Jones, and Miss Hitch, the bachelors table being taken care of by Mrs James Jones. Between two and throe hundred pertons sat down to tea.

An adjournment was made to the Church shortly after seven o’clock, and the building was closely packed before the half hour. The chair was then taken by Mr D. Haggett, the Revs. Dr Roseby (Dunedin) and Mr Williams (Christchurch) and all the local dissenting ministers, occupying seats on the platform. Mr Haggett junr., organist of the Church, accompanied the several anthems sung during the evening. The Gairman said it wo* extremely gratifying to the members of that church to look around and see ■so many of their Christian friends belonging to other denominations present. The fact of their rallying round them on such an occasion as this seemed an indication that their sympathies were with the church in the change that was taking place in the pastorate, that they thus testified their esteem for Mr and Mrs Hallowes, who, having established Congregationalism in Timaru, were about to return Home, where they would continue to work for the Master, though in a distant part of the vineyard. They were all more or less conversant with Mr Hallowes as an earnest Christian, All present knew to some extent how uu selfish had been his career during the five or six years he had been in Timaru, how be had labored not for personal gain or tbe honor that man could bestow, but his sole aim had been to lead his people to the higher paths of Christianity and by a noble example to teach men to live out those great principles which he bad so often expounded in .theory from that platform. He could not trust himself to say what his heart would prompt. Those who had known Mr and Mrs Hallowes best had learned to love them most. In his double capacity of officer of the church and Sunday school superintendent he had come into closer contact with them than many, and he could truly say that their untirjng example of constancy and devotion had always stimulated and refreshed bis soul es he knew it had strengthened others. Ho then called upon Mr W. Jones to read an address to the rev. gentlemon, which was as follows: “ To the Eev, B. T. Hallowes, B.A.

“ Dear Sir, —On the eve of your departure from New Zealand, the members of your Church and congregation avail themselves of this opportunity of expressing to you their regret at your relinquishing the pastorate of the Church with which you have been so happily connected daring the past five and a half years. In taking a retrospective view of your ministry among us, we cannot forget how willingly you undertook the solemn responsibility of becoming the first minister of a small Independent Church in Timaru, and how unreservedly you devoted the best faculties of a highly cultivated mind to the preaching of the pure word of God, and the inculcation of Christian truth in the hearts and minds of your congregation. Eulogy on the present occasion seems to be out of piece, bat we thankfully acknowledge that throughout your successful ministry with ns you have, by that rare combination of Christian wisdom, that gentleness, and yet firmness of character and practical good sense, amicably guided the young Church through its early struggles, and E laced its financial prospects on a sound asis, previous to handing it over to your successor. “We earnestly hope that whereerer God in bis good providence may call you and Mrs Hallowes, ho may enable you both to maintain that consistency of character, regulated by the same high Christian principles, which it has been Our privilege to witness throughout the whole of your connection with us as >i Church ; and on your departure we commend you to God, praying that he may always direct your path and give you the strength and ability so to do the Master’s will that you may receive His gracious recognition and a rich and abundant reward. We beg to accept the accompanying purse and its contents as a small memento of the esteem in which you are held by the members and congregation of the Congregational Church in Timaru.”

The Rev. B. T. Hallowes said he hardly knew how to address them that evening, and he thought they would pardon any little weakness of speech in this his final leave-taking. He felt greatly the kind feeling of the Church towards himself, and he spoke with thankfulness, but at the same time with sorrow at the occasion that called forth those kindly expressions. It might be asked then why was he leaving ? As a minister Timaru had been the making of him. Ho had worked a few months in Christchurch but in Timaru he had worked with them from th® beginning to the end, and he had found his pastorate a term of unbroken peace and harmony. He had grown with the Church, and his connection with it had been profitable to himself. He was not ambitious for higher offices in the Church and he was only leaving Timaru for its good, and the good also of himself. He thought Mr Sharpe’s connection with that Church would tend to its prosperity. The now pastor was endowed with a robust constitution, and he was already making his mark as a visitor amongst them, and be hoped he might get through more work than the speaker had been able to accomplish. For five and a half years they bad been jogging on together and they might have got into agroove that would be difficult to get ont of. He honestly believed the Church would benefit by the change. Having worked so long among thorn be felt somewhat exhausted, and hardly thought he possessed the same amount of energy as formerly. He was happy to say the new pastor was endowed with much of that same energy. He thought also he was rather more demonstrative than the speaker naturally was, and that it would bo expended on their behalf and for the good of the Church. He would counsel them to let Mr Sharpe work in bis own way as they had done in his. He would have new ways of working, and as he had beeen chosen as chief officer ho asked them to cheerfully fall in with his now methods instead of looking back with regret to the old. He had not taken a very active part in the work of the town, but he asked them to look upon any efforts of the now pastor in that direction with gladness and respect. He had during his stay here always looked upon his brother ministers with affection and respect. The suddenness of Mr Sharpe’s arrival had prevented an individual farewell being taken, and be asked them to accept it that evening. For the kind words of tho address and accompanying purse he thanked them most heartily. It had a true ring of sympathy with it. It was not for him, but the chairman to welcome Mr Sharpe, but he hopefully believed his good qualities would draw out their sympathy and love. He finally commended his hearers to tho protection of God. The Chairman apologised for the absence of the Rev. Mr Foster. Dr Roseby and tho Eev. Mr Williams having addressed the congregation, the chairman on behalf of tno church extended tho the Rev. Mr Sharps a hearty welcome.

Mr Sharpe suitably replied, and the Rev. Mr Gillies having addressed the meeting, Mr Johnston pronounced the benediction and the proceedings terminated.