CALL ACCEPTED BY MINISTER

Southland Times, Issue 23610, 10 September 1938, Page 18

CALL ACCEPTED BY MINISTER

REV. T. G. CAMPBELL TO GO TO KAIKORAI PRAISE FOR WORK AT WAIKAKA A call from the Kaikorai (Dunedin) charge was presented to the Rev. T. G. Campbell, of Waikaka, at a special meeting of the Presbytery of Mataura yesterday. The Rev. F. B. prosecuted the call on behalf of the Kaikorai congregation and after commissioners from the Waikaka congregation had been heard the call was placed in Mr Campbell’s hands, and he signified his intention of accepting it. In prosecuting the call Mr Barton said he wished strongly and enthusiastically to support the fine call that had been addressed to Mr Campbell. In his opinion Kaikorai afforded a minister like Mr Campbell unique opportunities for service. He had proved that he was a minister capable of doing very fine work. He had won the love of the people of his congregation and as a preacher he always put first things first. “I feel that this call to Mr Campbell is to help the young life not only of Kaikorai. but also of Dunedin,” said Mr Barton. “I do not like to regard the prospect of losing Mr Campbell, but I congratulate him most heartily on receiving such a call.” The three commissioners from the Waikaka congregation, Messrs R. L. Gardyne, A. 'McQueen and L. Paterson, also spoke. Mr Gardyne read the following minute which had been passed at a meeting of the Waikaka session: “It was with very deep regret that we as a session heard of the call from Kaikorai to our minister. We desire to place on record our appreciation of the services of Mr Campbell during the period of his four years’ ministry. He did much good work among the young people, conducting three Bible Classes, and although we are loath to lose Mr Campbell we have decided to place no obstacle in his way. We desire to thank Mr and Mrs Campbell for their work among us.” “Some time in a minister’s life he has to make a hard decision,” said Mr Campbell. “I have not been very long in the ministry, but I can honestly say that this is the hardest decision I have had to make. I did not want to leave Waikaka, but I thought I would be wrong in refusing the call and I finally decided that I would have to go.” Mr Campbell praised the work of his office-bearers and stated that he had enjoyed his stay at Waikaka very much. He said that if the presbytery decided to place the call in his hands he would accept it. The Rev. G. D. Falconer and the Rev. B. Bisset also spoke and it was then decided to place the call in Mr Campbell’s hands. In doing so the Moderator (the Rev. C. A. Kennedy) stated that he had been associated with Mr Campbell’s father in the Wanganui Presbytery and again in the Dunedin Presbytery. “When I came to Mataura,” said Mr Kennedy, “I was very pleased to find that his son was here. I trust that your ministry’ in Kaikorai-will be a very fruitful one.” It was announced by the Rev. F. B. Barton that Mr Campbell would be inducted at Kaikorai on September 22. Later in the afternoon Mr Campbell was entertained by members of presbytery at afternoon tea in the Cosy Lounge, when he was presented with a bound volume by the moderator. Those present at the meeting were:— The Rev, C. A. Kennedy (moderator), T. G. Campbell (clerk), F. B. Barton, T. D. Fisher, F. Robertson, G. D. Falconer, W. G. Hannah, B. Bisset, M. G. Milmine, W. H. Norton, R. Mackie, J. C. Loan, J. Mathews, R. W. Brown, Mr A. G. Davidson (home missionary), and Messrs G. Irvin, S. Shaw, W. G. Mackay, A. McQueen, J. Wylie and Adam Speden (elders). NEW CLERK APPOINTED In tendering his resignation as clerk of presbytery, Mr Campbell thanked the moderators he had served under for the consideration shown to him and the presbytery as a whole for the experience he had gained. The resignation was accepted with regret and it was decided that the presbytery express its cordial thanks for the efficient and happy manner in which Mr Campbell had carried out his duties.

The Rev. J. C. Loan was appointed clerk.

The report of the Brydone-Redan committee made the following recommendations: (1) That Waimumu and Te Tipua be separated from the Brydone home mission charge. That the missionary be still located at Brydone and that the mission district be Brydone, Redan, Mokoreta, and Wairikiki. (2) That the sessions of Gore and Mataura confer about the oversight of the Waimumu and Te Tipua districts. (3) That the Missions Committee be requested to give a grant of £5O to the Brydone home mission station. The recommendations were adopted,