JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS

Southland Times, Issue 21835, 12 October 1932, Page 4

JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS

GORE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. A SUCCESSFUL BANQUET. The celebrations in connection with the jubilee of the St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Gore, were continued on Monday evening when over 400 people attended the jubilee banquet held in St. Andrew’s Hall. The Rev. F. M. Beattie presided and associated with him at the table of honour were the Rev. J. M. Simpson, a former minister of the church, prominent old members and present officers of the church, representatives of other denominations, the Mayor, Mr A. T. Newman, and Mr D. McDougall, M.P. Throughout the gathering an atmosphere of goodwill and rejoicing prevailed and the function provided a fitting commemoration of such an important milestone in the history of the church. . Mr Beattie, in the course of a brief address of welcome, said he was pleased in the name of the Kirk-Session to welcome back old friends who had been stalwarts of the church in days gone by. The old baptismal foil was still in the Presbytery and went back for a long time. Unfortunately, however, many of the other church records had been destroyed and the task of those who had undertaken the work of compiling the jubilee booklet had been a difficult one. He had since been told that the history of the church could go further back and that from 1873 on the Rev Mr Arnott came from Waikaia and preached to the stray Presbyterians in what was then known as Longford and which now bore the aristocratic name of Gore. (Laughter.). Gore had made slow but steady progress, with which was closely allied the progress of the church. Looking back over the past 50 years, said Mr Beattie, he could recall the names of men and women who had been staunch supporters of the church. Prominent among these were Mrs James Beattie and Mrs James Turnbull, and he was pleased indeed that they were able to be present at the jubilee.. The names of many fine people had been associated with the church and he felt honoured indeed to come into the ministry of a church having such a record. Mr Beattie said he then came to one of the most important ceremonies, of the evening. A magnificent three-tier-ed birthday cake, bearing 50 candles, had been made by Mrs John Matthews, and in order appropriately to murk the terms served by the various ministers, he proposed to call on suitable representatives to light the , candles according to each minister’s length of service:— Mrs J. A. Blaikie, a niece of the first minister, the Rev. J. M. Davidson, lit five candles. Mrs James Beattie lit six candles to mark the ministry’ of the Rev. A. McKay, 1884-90. Miss Mataura Mac Gibbon lit eight candles to mark the ministry of the Rev. J. A. Asher, 1890-98.

Mrs Gray lit 13 candles to mark the ministry of the late Rev. Andrew Gray, 1899-1912.

Mrs Simpson lit seven candles to mark the ministry of the Rev. J. M. Simpson, 1913-20. Mrs J. Turnbull lit four candles to mark the ministry of the Rev. J. McIlroy, 1921-25. Mrs Beattie lit the remaining candles to mark the ministry of the Rev. F. M. Beattie.

For a moment the hall lights were switched off and the illuminated cake made a brilliant spectacle, representing the trail blazed by each successive minister.

“’This represents our recognition of the services of those who have gone before,” said Mr Beattie, who then asked Mr James Turnbull, the oldest continuous member of the congregation, to cut the cake, which subsequently was handed round. Moderator’s Message.

The moderator of the Presbyterian Assembly, the Rev. Adam Begg (Timaru), also wrote regretting his inability to attend. His letter stated: — In the name of our Dominionwide Presbyterian Church I heartily congratulate you on having reached the year of jubilee, and on what you have achieved in the Lord’s service during the first half-century of your existence. I should have liked to be present with you on this glad occasion, not only as moderator of Assembly, but as one who began his ministry within the bounds of the Mataura Presbytery and who owes much to the important experiences of those early years. That, however, was not possible. Our debt to the past and to those grand old pioneers who laid the foundations for us we must never forget. And with these we must link those earnest souls who in more recent years have carried on the good work and given of their best in the service of this congregation. As you recall the way by which the Lord has led you, as you remember the special experiences that make you thank God for your church, as you think of those who ministered here in the Lord’s name and what they have been able to accomplish, let it be an inspiration to you to press on with larger zeal so that you give the church you love a real pre-emin-ence in ■ spiritual service and have the joy of helping to “build Jerusalem” in Southland’s green and pleasant land. Brief addresses of congratulation upon the church’s attainment of its fiftieth anniversary were made by the Mayor and Mr McDougall. The congratulations of the Mataura Presbytery were conveyed by the Rev. D. D. MacLachlan, who apologized for the unavoidable absence of the moderator, the Rev. S. Nixon. Mr MacLachlan as president of the Gore Ministers’ Association, also extended the sincerest congratulations and goodwill of the association.

Further tributes were paid by the Revs. H. C. Orchard (Methodist), Raymond Simpson (congregational), C. J. Tockei' (Southland Presbytery), A. W. Armstrong (Knapdale), J. Harper (Baptist), M. A. Gow (Waikaka), J. Newlands (Riversdale), Captain Lord (Salvation Army), Robert Mackie, and Mr J. Hunter (on behalf of the session). A brief and interesting address was given by the Rev. J. M. Simpson, who expressed appreciation of the wonderful welcome extended to Mrs Simpson and himself. It was now over seven years since had had been at Gore and he classed the time of his ministry at Gore as among the most pleasant years of his life. During the evening vocal items were given by Mrs J. Cooper, Misses Watt and K. Johnston; Messrs P. Tait (Invercargill), W. B. Johnston and D. J. C. Pringle. Mrs R. Speden was accompaniste. Last evening the celebrations were successfully concluded when a most enjoyable social gathering 'for the younger adherents of the church was held.