VALEDICTORY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13357, 22 December 1906, Page 4

VALEDICTORY.

FAREWELL -GATHERING AT THE

BAPTIST CHUR.CH.

There was a large attendance at the GiM -street Baptist' Church on Friday' night, when' a social gathering w a s held to bid farcweC'l to "the Rev. W. R. Woollej' and Mrs Wool Hey, who are shortly leaving- N>cw Plymouth for Auckland. During the eariy part of the evening-, the Rev. \V. . Drew, >a former pastor of the Churdh, presided, and' the company included, in i addition to Mr and Mrs i-Woo-Hey, the Roys. T. O. Brooke, Osbome, J. Ni^con, Messrs A. Anibury, W. Am- j bury, G. H. Maunder, H. Goodacre, W. Coad, and .others, aiid . a largo nnxnber of ladies. After the, custoanary devotional exercises, the chairman' in a few remarks referred to', his associations with Mr and ' Mrs Wooley, which were of ihc most pleasant and crtrdial character. Mr Goodaoro, . o-n< behalf , x oi the church, said they as ' a " congi'egatioa were parting with , their; friends, a m l whilst they were sorry to loso theim, still they were not 'going 1 to mourn. God, who had called them 1 away, would also . call someone to fill their places here. Mr -Maunder, on behalf/of the Committee and church generally, expressed pleasure in presenting to QSIr Wool.ley a largo size photograph, -handsomely 'framed, of himself surrounded by l his Committee. The Cooranitttee , desired Mm (the 'speaker) to" express in a very "emphatic way the great amount of pleasure they had derived through being- associated with Mr Woolley in church work. Their "pastor 'had "been most considerate to them, at all times, He was -always firm when; matters of principle were involved, but in other cases would iyiold 1 to the Committee if they did not fall in with his views. Whoever may succeed Mr "Woolley, the.' speaker said^ it would 1 be impossible for them to get a pastor with' whom they • could work ! more harnionhisly. Efe had much plea- ! suro in making the ' presentation. i (Applause). MrGoodaci-e, mthe. absence of Mrs ' Drew, presented -Mrs Woolley, on behalf of the ladies, with am elaborate dressing case. In doing so hespojke

in t terms of • high 3 . praise of Mra Woo-liey's work during her' stay in New Plymouth. , v Sh© had endeared -Wi-self, to -tho miembers of the v church, and her departure woxilcl be i*egretted by a very large circle of friends. (Applause). I\lm Woolley feelingly responded in a few well chosen words, saying she should never - 'forget the iovdng kind- . ness she had received ,at their hands. 1 Uv Woo&ey/ also., ix-furned thanks lor tho visible , tokens o£ ldndness, and interest in their ,- welfare. • TLo Her. iS. t^. Osborr-'b expressed re-gn-etat.the departure of Mr Woolley^. •He had proved himself to ' 'be not oe:ly a capable -minister as fax as his ov.ll cliuiv-h was concerned,.- but he had al_'o taken an active and intalli' g-ent' interest- ia all Christian work • . carried on in the towm' (applause). ' The Hey. J. Nixon, in a brief address, Baid lie could not help <but feel a little sad on that occasion for he was parting with an old friend. Mr Vv'oolley had taken a kern, interest in all good causes for the waif are o£ the. people and it was in a great (measure due to him that they were so successful at, the last l'iconsing 1 election. Then, ag-am. Mr Woolley had held a vc'ry proiwinent position in reg-atcl to .' I'h'J Ministers' Association.' Hehoi>ed' and tuvisted that .Cod's richest bless--ing would go with. Mr and Mrs Woollcy to t'licir n^w sphere of labour (applause). ' • .The Roy. T. U. Brooke, i& an appropriafe spe?'ch. referred to the successful work of Mr Woolley. His ' influence had bern fell 'throughout' the town, and he wished both departing f-rienJs God-speed art'l much happi- , ness in thct'r future life (aj>plause). • Sir .lVo>v at tliis juncture vacated ' Ohe chair, ■ his place being taken by TiFr A. Amlmry. — Tho nw Chairman, on , bchjili of th^ Sunrlay School, expressed .' rcg'rcl, more particularly at thd departi.iv ot Mrs Woolley, who had been actively 1 associated with tho -Sunday School work. Tho children had spol-x?*ii so highly of'Tifrs "Woolley, and would regret . very much her removal (applause). . 1 , ■ Mr. CfsadV o n bcbalf of Westb'wn, alli 3 mentioned that • it , was mainly •tlirough the-instiiinien-tality of Mr tV'oollpy that scrv/.ces arc now held here' (applause);. . * , ,j\lr Woolley said, ho was sorry, that . night had coiner. ' It was painful \ to beai; ihe l'oraarks of thc;v a 'ripUs speak'rr:*', -because his leaving was the causa ,of it. He ;wßgf glad ,'thiey had all toge-Lher^jji'tv-iiie^t^ain .imirapa>ircd all , spoken * so hfghly-'of '"Mrs V(oal\oyS&fi<L ' ' ,hc< mentioned thut -it* -was a-niainly ''trough his w Lfe that he Came to Nere< Plymouth. DJrh^ his stay here .his health hud considerably rmproyed^ 1" (Applause). ,H<3 trusted if they coulcl not, suc6v.cd in finding a pastor for a few -weekti they Avoukl not only .hold their Christian 1 work , (applause). Ha , was thankful to God for the liberality • - of th^t little' church . The -generosity of - jitsfpcoiil^Jhaxl made it felt all ovec New (Zealand, and it had' been th* ' t means of encoui'aging larger chiarches to do better. (Applause). O^hore was •"a missionary spirit in the Church> and ho urged .thorn not to lose any o£ / t.heii'r pivscnt. enthusiasm. (Applause.), Ifegarding Westown. ho hoped the work here too would go ahead. Dur- > in% his stay : in Kcw PlytnoU'fch hji? r#lations with the liii-anbt-is of other churches had hern mojt harmonious. In. conclusion,, he expressed his- thanks^ for the kindness that- had been eixten-. d«l io Mrs Woolley and himself during- their iivo years 1 ' stay in New Ply- , mouth.' (Applause). During the evening li^ht refreshments w-e-ro served, • and vocal items wer« contributed by Misses E)sie.Hill, C -- Buchman, . Carlhcw, Mrs Drew,' Mr Ambury, ai:d the Amibtii-y , family, also; reading by Mr r . Banks. ,