VALEDICTORY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 35, 4 October 1912, Page 3

VALEDICTORY.

SOCIAL AND PRESENTATION TO ME. E. IV. LEWIS.

| Notwithstanding the fact that there were half-a-dozen other attractions on last night, the Parish Hall was crowded on the Occasion of the farewell social to Mr E. W. Lewis. The first part of the evening passed pleasantly with dances, cards, and mlisical items. Songs wore sung by Miss Jones, Miss Black, Miss Blitler, and Mr Butler, the last-named being recalled. Mr and Mrs Penn, the Misses* Cramer and Miss Butler provided excellent music. After a diainty supper had been handed round, the Vicar (Rev. W. A. Butler) spoke with, reference to the departure of the guest of the evening-. “The bedt thing,*’ said Mr Butler, “is lor mo to speak for myself, and I believe, in doing so, I shall be speaking for many people here to-night. Wc know very well what a great amount of /work Mr Lewis has been doing since he arrived in Stratford. When I first carao here from Ornata a Idle Mr Colville was here—ho said .- ‘Do you know anybody,yet ?? I replied in the negative, and ho said, ‘Well, we’ll go down and see Lewis.’ ” Mr Butler said he would never forget that handshake when they did meet “it was a hearty shake that, cheered the heart of a diffident parson.” Mr Butler, continuing, said that he was most pleased to see Mr Hemingway present, and would, later on, ask Mr Hemingway to address the gathering. With regard to Mr Lewis,, again, bo could not say too much in connection with the work he had been able to do. Since he (Mr Butler) had been Vicar of the parish, Mr Lewis had been a most wonderful help to him. Thcy know how Mr Lewis had filled very many places and filled them well. His principal work had been that of lay reader, and for some time nod- lie had carried on the 11 o’clock service practically single-handed two Sundays a month, when he (Rev. Butler) had to bo 'away in the country. He was most satisfied with the way that work had been carried out, and wished publicly to thank Mr Lewis for the help given to him in this connection. -As vicar s warden, Mr Lewis* had/ dpne splendid work, and had supported hiih anost loyally at every turn.. Then There were the hundred and One little things that were always done by him. I cannot speak my gratitude to him for the work he,has dong, also I cari;not adequate!^ ( §ay how., thankful I ■am.” (Applause.)' , , r . W r ft-, ft-’ sppkq, briefly. He considered f that Mr Bqvnisb departuio would leave a gap that would be very, very hard to fill, but they must look at it, he. thought, in the light that New Zealand was a very small place when all was said and done, and Mr Lewis as long as he. remained in New Zealand., jivpuld not 'be'! very f ar •away, from ; .t'hem K m He*shaped; •■‘lhoife’ ever, that tliq,d|iy would- not; he very iar distant wljpn, Mr Lewik would take up the wprk he. (MrjSLe.Wis) hod laid down—was laying,, down now. Knowing the work of a parson, Mr Hemingway said that it must take a lot of pluck to determine to take up a parson’s work. (Hear, hear). Yes, it did take a lot of pluck. Knowing as Mr Lewis did. the difficulties and the trials of the life, he thought ho was deserving of the greatest credit for the decision he had come to in this matter. A parson had to deny himself the luxuries and the sweets of life, and to go forward with scarcely anything in his wallet, right through the pique, and, when a young man determined that lie was going to give himself up to the service of the Master, lie thought they should do all they could to encourage him. (Applause.) Mr Hemingway eulogised the work in the parish of Mr Lewis, his remarks being received with applause.

The Vicar then presented Mr Lewis with a purse of Sovereigns. “I hope he will find this purse useful and serviceable in many ways,” said Mr Butler.

In response, Mr Lewis replied with some emotion. He disclaimed all those noble attributes which had been credited to him, and said that after all he was “very, very human.” He explained how pleased he was to see Mr Hemingway present that evening, for that gentleman had proposed his (the speaker’s) name for the position of people’s warden, and had been a true friicnd generally. He stated that it was his determination to eventually become a minister of the church, and having once started he was going to sec it through. (Applause).