VALEDICTORY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 66, 26 March 1913, Page 8

VALEDICTORY.

I i RESENTA'I lON TO REV. M EPSON. I The Rev. B. Metscn, who for four years has occupied the pulpit of the I Stratford Methodist Church, and has 1 now accepted a call to the Cambridge | Terrace Church, Christchurch, was accorded a farewell service last night, : and, during the evening, was presented with a purse of sovereigns. Mr I Motson is one of the most popular i “sky-pilots” that Stratford Iras ever known, and the regret that is felt at I his departure is not confined to the 1 members of the Primitive Methodist churches throughout the Stratford circuit. It was natural, therefore, that last evening the Broadway Church should be attended by members of other churches, and that‘all should be united in their good wishes for Mr and Mrs Metson’s future welfare. During tho evening, which was passed pleasantly with songs by local amateurs, and items by the choir, Mill. G. Foster, superintendent of the

Sunday School, gave a short address. Tho speaker said that as a rule they did not like farewll meetings, but this one was different for him, because he, was really not sorry that Mr Metson was leaving them. And Ids reasons were that he knew Mr Motson had not drawn himself out in their midst, but in the live Church to which lie had received a calf; lie would lie .able to display Ids usefulness and ability in' a far greater way than here in Stratford. He must congratulate Mr Motson on obtaining a call to such a circuit as the Christchurch one. As superintendent of the Sunday School, Mr Foster referred to Mr Metson’s popularity with the children - . Their minister was essentially a young people’s man, and it was a grand quality indeed for a man to possess.'They would all agree that Mr Metson’s addresses to the young people had been very helpful, not only to the boys and girls but to the grown-up people. Their minister had alsom ado his influence and power felt among the boys and girls of the public school. Therefore, ho thought the children would

ever remember Mr Metson, and would not forget tire lessons he had taught them. In visiting the sick, Mr Metson had shown himself to possess a warm and tender heart, and to this portion of a minister’s duties'Mr Metson had devoted a great deal of Ids energies. Again, there were many other directions in which Mr Metson had laboured, though these might not he known except to his intimate friends. In conclusion, tho speaker said that personally ho was not tired of Mr Metson. As a minister, Mr Metson suited him, for ho not only put his brains into a sermon, hut his heart was there also. Ho (tho speaker) was ono of those who had received everlasting good from those addresses. Ho trusted that Mr and Mrs Metson would prosper in their now home, and that their stay in Christchurch might be as long as, and longer than, it had been iri Strafford, and that it might ho attended with the same great benefits to all. (Applause.)

A TRIBUTE FROM THE SISTER CHURCH. I ’

The Rev. Reader also made a short address, during the course of which ho said that .Mr Metson had displayed, during the four years he had been in Stratford, a wonderful amount of energy and ability in connection with his work both in and out of tho pulpit. Mr Metson had filled a place in their hearts, which place would be difficult for his successor to fill. The Rev. Bandy, however, ho knew por-

sonally to he a fine preacher and a good man, and he felt sure that their new minister would labour as successfully in Stratford as ho had done in the south, where lie had worked with distinction. On behalf of the ‘‘mother church,” Mr Reader wished Mr Metson a long and happy career in ids new circuit, and trusted that the same conspicuous success would attend his ministry. (Applause.) The Chairman (Mr J. Martin) then presented Mr Metson with a purse of sovereigns, accompanying the gift with every good wish for Mr and Mrs Metson’s future happiness. MR .METSON’S THANKS. Mr Metson, who was greeted with applause, thanked those present for this' unexpected token of their goodwill towards him and his family. Referring to the union- of the two churches, Mr Metson said he Imped tho friends connected with both churches would co-operate for the general weal. He believed that there was a possibility—-a strong possibility—that the United Methodist Church would be able to show what

spiritual factors there were in this district, what spiritual qualities they ware capable of, and become a Iremond ous power in this district, not only in Stratford itself, hut in their neighbouring adjuncts. In conclusion, he again expressed his thanks for the many kindnesses that had been extended to Mrs Metson and himself during their stay in Stratford. (Applause.) A feature of tho musical portion of the programme was tho songs contributed by Miss Sangster. The items by the choir, under the baton of Mr Birket, were also much appreciated, as were the solo by Mrs Richards and tho duct by the Misses Robinson and Moon,