MR MCKEE FAREWELLED

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 71, 27 July 1929, Page 4

MR MCKEE FAREWELLED

ill(;u TIM MUTES 'PAID, TWO CHURCHES PARTICIPATE. Last night the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches took the opportunity to bid farewell to Mr and Mrs J. McKee. The farewell was in the form of a social and. presentation. Mr McKee, who has :es:o.od in Stratford tor the past six years, was a well known figure lb told public and church affairs. Ho was a member of the Stratford Borough Council and of the School Committee, and he was always a willing worker on both these bodies. In the church work he had not confined hi s activities to his mother church, the Presbyterian, but had often taken the pulpit in churches of the Methodist Circuit. Dr. Steven, the first speaker, said he had known Mr McKee many years ago and when he first mot him he was an instructor in the Sheldon Institute which .would help to make him a better man as it had to hundreds of other young men. The fact of so many being present ou so bad a night was proof of the popularity of M r McKee. Mr McKee had very definite thoughts as to tlie Kingdom of God, and, he was not afraid to enter the pulpit and preach what, he thought. He had helped in many ways In the church, as he did in public life, and he wished to try and express how much the church appreciated Mr McKee’s action in taking the pulpit when another preacher was not available. Speaking of Mrs McKee, Dr. , Q teven raid that he Would let the ai—once imagine her good qualities, a s they were too numerous for him to enumerate. It was sufficient to say that she had always helped Mr McKee in his church work. In .concluding, he wished Mr and' Mrs McKee long life, pleasant connections with the church and friends in their new town, and all the good things they could desire.

Mr J. K. Fletcher endorsed Dr. Steven’s sentiments, and said jhe knew the unassuming qualities of Mr and Mrs McKee. As a rule me n were not greatly associated with the church work, but there were a few who were, and they usually clung to the one church and did not materially assist the others. Mr McKee, however, had worked hard for his own church, but at the same time had always found time to assist the Methodist Church. Mr McKee would be the first to say that Mrs McKee had helped him gain his success in their new home. WILLING WORKER. The Rev. J. McGregor said that he had first met Mr McKee when he came to Stratford. What he liked about him was the very willing way in which he did anything that was asked of him. Mr McKee had been a Bible class leader and had taken services in the outfields, and he always had his heart in his work. Another thing wa s that he always attended the raid-weekly prayer meeting which, the speaker thought, was the core of the church. The loss to the church would be indeed great. Regarding Mrs McKee, he could only endorse the high tribute s paid her by former speakers. On behalf of, the Methodist Churches of presented Mr McKee with a cheque as a small measure of the appreciation they felt toward, s him. METHODIST CHURCH. . The Rev. H. L. Blamires, on behalf of the Methodist Churches of the Stratford Circuit, said that he greatly appreciated the action of the Presbyterian Church in letting them express their appreciation of the work done by Mr McKee in conjunction with the Methodist Church. in reference to Mr McKee and bis work among them he felt it was right and proper that (he should work over both churches as he was only helping repay the debt to Methodist preachers taking the pulpits at Presbyterian Churches. He had (

known Mr McKee for many years and knew him to be an upright man. He had not had the close friendship of Mrs McKee very long, but he recognised her as a true Christian lady who would help her husband to her fullest ability. Though he bad never had the privilege of hearing Mr McKee preach he knew he could place him in the central pulpit at any time. In wishing Mr McKee God speed and every success, Mr Blamire s presented him with two cheques, one being from the Central Church and the other from the country districts, which Mr McKee had preached in. MR McKEE REPLIES. In response, Mr McKee thanked

the speakers for the fine tilings they had said about Mrs McKee and. himself. He never felt prouder of Mrs McKee than at the present moment. During the whole of hib, i Christian experience, Mr s McKee had been with him wholeheartedly, and had never once discouraged him one iota, though it meant the sacrificing of the only day which they could spend to themselves. He felt he had been called upon to do ary thing he had accomplished, he did it willingly, a s a dut> his fellow men, and, above all, asa duty to God. The right way to live was to do( everything willingly and without thinking of reward. He appreciated greatly everything that had been said, but above) all Tie was grateful for the fellowship and friendship which had been i:corded him during hi s sojourn in-Strat-ford. It was with deepest regret that he left Stratford, as lie had formed many life-long friendships here with people who had uplifted 'him. He had always considered hi s work in the Church a privilege and, if at any time in the future, either church required his services he would be only too glad t Q come up from Hawera to give them. Mr McKee thanked the Methodists for the courteous treatment ihey had always accorded him. Though he was a Presbyterian, he) would preach in a church of any denomination provided it upheld the Word ;of God. ' In concluding, he thanked (hem once again and said that the sermons he had heard Mr MacGregor preach had always been an a-lift to him. Mr MacGregor (was ia man who anyone could confide in, and he helped people who were in difficulties more than many people realised. He hoped that God's richest blessings would rest on all rnd that they would go forth determined to do more for God than they had ever attempted in the past. THE SOCIAL SIDE. The social side of the programme wajs as follows; Choir (anthem), M r A. Sextus (song), Mrs. Mcßeth (song), Methodist Choir (anthem), Mr D. Bain (song), Mrs Pettigrew (recitation), Choir (anthem), Miss Patti Childs (recitation), Mrs Harris. (song), Methodist Choir 'anthem). The aecompanistes were Mrs A. R. Masters and Miss 4 P. Weston. A dainty supper was provided by the ladies.