First Presbyterian Church.

Southland Times, Issue 19117, 6 August 1903, Page 2

First Presbyterian Church.

FAREWELL SOCIAL. There was a large attendance in this church last evening, principally of itfembors and adherents, on the occasion of the farewell social to the Rev. J. Gibson Smith, who is leaving shortly for Wellington. ' The Rev. Jas. Cumraings (Waikiwi). interim Moderator of the congregation during the vacancy, presided. and was supported by local and visiting clergymen. A number of apologies wore received From other ministers, regretting their inability to attend. After a short devotional opening, the Chairman saicT that it was with n-Jugled emotions that they gathered tha>t evening. Ho referred to the loss wnich would be felt by the congregation, the i'resuytery, and the community by the lemoval of Mr Smitn, and the appreciation in which he had always been held by all those bodies. He conveyed, on L>ehalf of the Presbytery, their regret .nt his departure and their earnest prayers for his successful work for the Church in the north. An anthem by the choir, under the leadership of Mr Quinn followed, and th.en the Chairman called on other speakers, who, he said, would be limited to seven minutes. (This direction was almost entirely disregarded, some of the speeches being 1 of inordinate length.) The Revs. G. Lindsay (St. Paul's).. \V. White (Wallacetown), and A. Gray (Gore) also spoke, each reaffirming their regard for Mr Smith as a minister and a man. Mr T. M. Macdonald, who was deputed on behalf of the congregation to make a presentation to the retiring minister, prefaced his remarks with im interesting summary of the circumstances connected with the admission of Air Gibson Smith into the Church of Otago and Southland, in 1887, without his undergoing the usual year's probation. Ho referred to the services he had rendered the cause of Fresbyterianism since then; leading up to the ministry of First Church, Invercargill, arid his present call to St. Andrew's, Wellington. The congregation could not allow him to go without some mark of their allection and regard, to keep alive the recollections of the pleasatiti intercourse during the nine years he had been their minister. An address had been prepared expressing the feelings of the congregation, and he would ask Mr Smith's acceptance of it. with a watch, ami a sum of money. Mr Macdonald then read the address, which is nicely illuminated, and contains a comprehensive appreciation of Mr Smith's services both in nnd out of the pulpit, nnd expressed the warmest wishes of the members and adherents for the happiness of himself, Mrs Hmith and family- The address was drawn up and signed by a committee appointed for that purpose, on behalf of the officebearers and members. The watch is a handsome gold one, suitably inscribed, with monogram. The money gift was a purse of sovereigns. Mr li. Erskine, on behalf of the Kirk Session, said that he was glad to have the opportunity of expressing an appreciation of .the merits and services of Mr Smith, and he only felt that anything ne could say would be inadequate to convey their feelings. Mr Smith's relations with the session, though there had on occasions been differences of opinion, had been most harmonious, as they could all differ and yet be Iricmls. Mr Erskine went on to refer to the gener- i al feeling of regret which prevailed in the congregation, and concluded by asking Mr Smith's acceptance of a framed photo of the session. ■Mr W. Smith followed, on behalf of the choir, with another presentation of a photo group. Their minister's qualifications as a minister ranked high, and the choir, with such, an able exponent always near them, had endeavoured to" be worthy of his approval. Mr Gibson Smith was a critic and composer and the choir owed him a debt of gcutitude for much assistance, not vhe loast part of which was tho " discovery "' of the present aW? conductor. Mr J. E. Watson, on hehalf of the Sunday School teachers, the irembers of the Bible Class, Christian F.i denvour, and Literary and Debating Society, mudc yet another presentation. In <tn excellent speech, Mr Watson said that he felt the inadequacy of words >o express the feelings on such an occasion as the piesent. The predominant tone at a gathering of "this kind could only be, one of sorrow and regret. He csked Mr Smith's acceptance of a sma.ll si)m ol money, from the societies n-tined, which they wished him to invest in bookK and if he wished it, some little n-quisite for his study. It would be a memento of his association with the members, - and was a grateful recognition of the kindly help and sympathy he .had always extended to them. ' Mr Smith, who was received wi?h a.p« plause, said that on no previous occasion had he found it more difficult to get words to fit the occasion than the present. He felt that ho would like to have a little ' delay, so that he could think over what had been said, ami sec how much he could believe. Fh&t of all, he thanked the congregation and Presbytery for the kindly references to Mrs Smith.' which he appreciated as knowing how thoroughly they were deserved. He thanked his brethren of the Presbytery and ministry for all the things said about him ; it had always iuxn a pleasure to him, to associate with them, and to feel that he was welcome araong thenj as a .co-worker. From the bottom of*his heart he thanked the congregation for their most ample, generous, and magnanimous recognition of the services he had been able to render to. thmn us their minister. He felt that in the , address presented to him tho vougregation had . given expression to what were really, their genuine sentiments. As ti thg session, they had been remarkably pouceful and harmonious all tnro-ieh. It was true that thjere had been differences, and they were there Vo deal wit'i dillerences I which must arise, but iroin the beginning there had been mutual esteem and respect, trie was under a heavy debt of gratitude to the choir for tau.r regular i attendance and able assistance in the services. He' thanked U.e n enbers of the other societies for their gifts, urginir them to continue tt.^ir work -in the direction of being able in :he iuVure to take up the -vvotk of leading the- church,. . In conclusion, Mr Smith thtu-Jkqd-ah-.fpr their great kindness, assuring lhran' that the pleasant associations o' the past nine years would always be a meniory to him. . ■■-■•■•:'••. During the evening the etioir contributed a number of anthems, an>4 sclos AVere sung by Mr J . I'orteous and Miss l)ryden. The ladies of the oon-frogatibn provided a plentiful supply of rdrcshments, which were found most acceptable. The meeting Was altogether : a hearty V aim pleasant one, and must have oeen highly gratifying to the Rev. Mr Gi/»on Smith and family- .....-.'. . '