PRESBYTERY AND CHURCH

Southland Times, Issue 24422, 30 April 1941, Page 7

PRESBYTERY AND CHURCH

COMBINED JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS

Yesterday the jubilee celebrations of the Presbytery of Mataura and the Gore St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church were concluded. In the morning at the East Gore Church a communion service conducted by the moderator of the General Assembly (the Rt. Rev. G. H. Jupp), was held. At this service an inspiring address was. given, by ( Ml Jupp, who took as his . subject T “Finished Work of Christ. At 12.30 p.m., in St. Andrew’s Hall, a combined luncheon was held and after this group photographs were taken. At 2.30 p.m. a social took place and last nignt a closing inspirational gathering was held in the hall 'when addresses were given by the Very Rev. J. A. Asher and the Rev. T. G. Campbell (Kaikorai), while Mr Jupp also conveyed greetings from the General Assembly. At the luncheon the Rev. F. B. Barton was chairman, associated with him being Mr Jupp, the Rev. B. Bissett, moderator of the presbytery, and the Rev A L. Miller, moderator of the Synod of Otago and Southland. Sitting also at the main table were Mr Asher, the Revs. J. M. Simpson and J. C. Loan (presbytery clerk), the Mayor of Gore (Mr A. T. Newman), Mr Andrew Martin, who reported presbytery meetings for more than 40 years, and Mrs Jupp and Miss Asher. On behalf of the people of Gore the Mayor extended a welcome to the visiting clergy and also all those who ! had returned to Gore for the celebrations. Mr Newman especially welcomed the Rev. W. Hain, of Kennington, the oldest surviving Presbyterian minister in New Zealand, who celebrated his 97th birthday last month. A ! vote of thanks to the women for providing such an excellent luncheon was moved by Mr Simpson and carried by acclamation.

AFTERNOON “ SOCIAL There was a big attendance at the social in the afternoon when Mr Barton was again chairman, associated with him being the moderator of presbytery (Mr Bissett). Mr Bissett led in prayer, after which Mr Barton read a list of apologies, which included greetings from former members of the presbytery from all parts of the Dominion. Mr Miller read a minute passed. at a meeting of the synod, congratulating the presbytery on attaining its 50th anniversary and he expressed his own personal congratulations. The moderator of the Presbytery of Clutha, the Rev. O. T. Baragwanath, extended to the presbytery the sincere good wishes of his presbytery, and the good wishes of the Presbytery of Southland were conveyed by the Rev. J. MacGregor and Mr W. A. McCaw. The Revs. W. C. Comber and R. Harper also represented the Presbytery of Clutha. The main, ceremony of the afternoon

was again the lighting of the candles on the jubilee cake and the cutting o the cake. Mr Andrew Martin was called upon to light the taper and the Revs. J. A. Asher, J. MacGregor and W. C. Comber and Messrs J. McPhail and M. McLay each lit 10 candles. Mr Hain extinguished the lights and the wife of the moderator of the General Assembly, Mrs G. H. Jupp, cut the cake. The ceremony was concluded when the Revs. T. G. Campbell (former presbytery clerk) ana J. C. Loan removed the cake from the stage It was announced that Mesdames A. Nicol and R. Nicol made the cake and that Miss E. Morrison decorated it. . Greetings from the Methodist Church, Gore, were conveyed by the Rev. J. M. Blight, who read an official g reatl ”.® from his church. Mr Blight added his personal greetings and also congratulated St. Andrew’s Church on the celebration of its diamond jubilee. Mr Blight also referred to the fine work of Mr Barton. . . Interesting letters, containing reminiscences, from former members of the presbytery and former members of St. Andrew’s Church, were read by Mr Barton. Before the end of the function Mr Loan thanked all those who had assisted in making the jubilee a success.