ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 78, 11 March 1931, Page 5

ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH

TO MR. AND MRS •<' } -W ; :'"' ; -' ''■■ PETRIE • •$# (:*;: ! .<»■> ; '-' ' 'There* was a large attendance in St. • ■Aia4rfew'b-Hall last night to say fareWell to Mr. and Mrs. John Petrie, - l Oh the occasion of their forth-coining-trip to the old land. Apologiesl were received from Dr. D. Steyen.and Mr. and Mrs* Nowell.' ,iTh.e ,haU was tastefully decorated by;'-a committee under the supervision WWwA. Poison. **9**sftOr "the ©oxology and prayer, a programme of recitations, vocal ]s& magical items, was rendered by Pettigrew, Martin and RobMisses M. Brown, D. Allen and Messrs. J. Walker, W. 8.-Martin and P. 'Aitken. Mrs. A. R. Masters presided at the piano. Mr. Ki. Ross, on behalf of the officebearers Of the church, spoke in terms of- great appreciation of the splendid • services rendered to the Church by Mr. and Mrs, Petrie, extending' over a period of 36 years. Mr. Petrie had * been in turn a manager and elder for tile greater part of that time. Mrs. Eetrie had been the heart and soul ot the Ladies* Guild for many years. He estimated that £9OO had come to the Clmrch through her efforts. He "' Wished them a prosperous journey, a \gopd tiine in their native land, and a safe return to New Zealand, when # they would be assured of a warm welcome back. Mrs. P. Thomson, in a happy speech '. on behalf of the ladies of the church, said Mrs. Petrie was always noted for beinfc a worker, and for her great interest and enthusiasm. They could " " ( ■ on her full co-operation V "in any'work there was to do. The pf her services could not be measured. When money was need- ., 'e"d the 'managers usually called a meeting, discussed the situation, and ; decided to call upon the ladies. The " ladies always responded, and after a ■ meeting discussed ways and means, ' ' got to work and handed in the money. Mrs.'Thomson then presented Mrs. Petrie. .with, a travelling companion and a bouquet of flowers from the ladies of the church. • <• Mr;>JPeter Aitken expressed his ap- , ■ preciation of the lively interest Mrs. Petrie i always took in the choir. , . The Rev. J. MacGregor said it was ij,*. % great thing to think that for 36 .years the lives of their guests had been so woven into the history of the church. As had been testified at other functions, Mr. and Mrs. Petrie had.been good citizens of the town. „ They, could do with a lot of immi- . grants of their type. Their chief interest ; had been in the Church. Thirty-six years was a long service, ~ and in that time in the Church's history there were.ups and downs, and times that were difficult. Mr. and Mrs. Petrie remained steadfast in the lean times as well as the good. No .', doubt, inany of their co-workers grew .'.', tired in times of stress, but Mr. and Mr*. Petrie were among those who stood firm amid all difficulties, and no * One appreciated that more than a min- '..'," ister. 4 , He believed in the Calvanis- , tic ddc.trine of "the perseverance of L the. saints," and their guests exempli- /*'; fled it nobly. The people desired ' . that a; small recognition of their ser- \ J '\ vices should be made. No doubt they got their joy and reward in their Work, but he had pleasure in handing ; them a Roslyn rug. They were going to a cold climate and, besides, this : gift' Would afford them an opportunity of'advertising New Zealand goods in the* Homeland. Mr."""Petrie, in reply, said he wished . t to .thank them most heartily for the • fine gfift. They did not expect it. ' All they had done was for the love of the work. All present arose and sang "For They are Jolly Good Fellows." After the singing of "4nld Lang Syne" supper was provided by the ladies. In the interval many took •> advantage to say a personal word of farewell, as Mr. and Mrs. Petrie leave %ft the mail train to-morrow morning.