STRATFORD WELCOME

Stratford Evening Post, Volume IV, Issue 209, 15 August 1936, Page 5

STRATFORD WELCOME

INDUCTION OF REV. J. PATERSON. St. Andrew's Church Crowded For Ceremony SPEECHES AT SOCIAL St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Stratford, was packed to capacity last night for the induction of the Rev. John Paterson, M.A., of Wanganui, to Stratford. The service was carried out by the Rev. A. J. Irvine, Hawera, interim moderator. The sermon was! preached by the Rev. F. Gunn, New Plymouth. The Rev. IT. 13. Burnett, Patea, also addressed the congregation. After the service he congregation assembled in the Foresters' Hall, where a welcome social was held, presided over by the Rev. Mr. Irvine. j On behalf of the town of Stratford. I

the Mayor (Mr. J. W. McMillan 1 ) expressed welcome to the Rev. J. Paterson and his family. The large gathering in itself was a welcome to Mr. Paterson, he said. He had heard that Mr. Paterson was experienced in civic affairs, and he wished to particularly welcome him in view of this. In conclusion Mr. McMillan congratulated St. Andrew's Church congregation on securing the services of such a capable minister as the Rev. J. Paterson. County's Welcome. Mr. T. R. Anderson spoke on behalf of the Stratford County. He hoped that the time spent in Stratford by the Rev. Paterson would be a profitable one, and he asked Mr. Paterson not to forget the residents of the back-country districts. Mr. W. Taylor, on behalf of the session and the congregation of the I church, also expressed welcome. He; felt sure that Mr. Paterson's ministry \ would prove fruitful both spiritually and socially. Mr. T. T. Murray, representing the Toko secion of the congregation and the church managers, said that one thing they could promise the Rev. Paterson was co-operation, without which even he could do little.

Mrs. Savage, on behalf of the ladies' organisations of the church, and Mr. A. Pettigrew, on behalf of the Bible Class, also welcomed Mr Paterson and his family.

In the absence of the Rev. K. Watson, moderator, the Rev. A. J. Ryburn, clerk of the Presbytery, expressed the welcome of the Presbytery. Mr. Paterson, he said, would find that they had a great many difficulties before them. They were looking forward to the Rev. Paterson's coming to Stratford, and hoped that they would get the full benefit of his experience in matters connected with the church. With him in the council he was sure that they would be helped greatly in their work. Ministers' Association. The Rev. K. J. McFarland, on behalf of the Ministers' Association and the Anglican population of Stratford, also welcomed Mr. Paterson. Mr. Paterson would find, he said", that the Ministers' Association, although not large, was a very happy one, and the members managed to work together

very well. In replying to the welcome on behalf of himself, Mrs. Paterson and his son, lan, the Rev. Paterson said that he did not come to Stratford to be a minister of the congregation only, but also as a citizen of Stratford and the surrounding district. He hoped to carry on the high traditions of Christian citizenship of the historic church of which he was a member. He regarded himself as the parish minister of the Scottish people of the district. He had tried to carry out this principle in Christchurch and in Wanganui, and would continue to do so in Stratford. Although he had been a city minister most of his life, continued the speaker, he was not. unaccustomed to the difficulties of a country parish. His first charge had been at Broken Hill in Australia. There it was quite a common thing to travel a hundred miles by camel to christen a baby. His successors in the charge now used an aeroplane for the work. Ho intended to do his duty by the Presbytery, said Mr Paterson, but he had come to Stratford hoping to get some rest. He had done 35 years' hard work for the Presbytery, and considered he had earned some rest.

Guide and Instruct. "I hope you don't imagine that I have been employed by you to be a kind of pet parson, because if you do you will very'soon find out that you are mistaken," said Mr. Paterson. lie considered the duties of a Presbyterian minister were to guide and instruct his people. He had a, bigger

ami more important job to do than simply to be a kind of pet to any little group of people in Stratford. Years ago, he continued, he had made up his mind that when he reached a certain age he would take a country charge. He had been minister of two large city churches, but he had always held that, a man reached a certain time in his life when he should

j step aside and take up the important ! work in the rising country towns. He ! hoped that he would do good work in I this district, but he wanted to ask i I the congregation for their co-opera-tion, and hoped they would allow him to lead them, for that was what he had been called to do. That did not mean that they would always agree | with one another. He always said j what he thought, and he hoped they would do the same. He assured the I congregation that anything he might say to any one of them to his face /would be a lot worse than he would I say behind their backs.

Welcome At Manse. Ho hoped they would regard the manse as a place where they would j always be welcome. He and Mrs. i Patcrson would get to known them as soon as possible. "I suppose this will be my last ministry," said Mr. Paterson in conclusion. "I hope that God will greatly | use it and bless it and that we will j do something that will redound to i His glory and to our joy." On behalf of the session Mr. P. ! Thomson expressed appreciation of j the manner in which the Rev. Irvine had varried out the duties of interim i moderator during the vacancy, and I asked him to accept a presentation of I a cheque.

i The Rev. Irvine, in reply, said that ! lie had received very fine co-operation ! the session officers. He was very pleased to see the splendid congregation of the church for the service, and the very successful social. He considered the bonds between the HaI wera and Stratford congregations I were strengthened through his being | moderator at Stratford. Items were given by Mr, 0. Day, Miss P. Esplin. Mr. It. Kilpatrick (song), Mrs. W. Pettigrew (character sketch), Miss E. Rogers (violin solo). Accompanists were: Mrs G. . I Dick and Misses Gill and Taylor.