WELCOME TO REV, A. HARDING.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13499, 14 August 1907, Page 6

WELCOME TO REV, A. HARDING.

A social was held in the Queen Street Church, as a welcome *be Rev. A. Harding, Is**, ovenuig. Prior to the social tea wa.; btvved in the schoolroom. About 200 us i down ?t the tables.

Mr C. 10. Bellrir.ger presided at tho social, fie gave' Mr 'Harding a hcartv welcome, and expressed tho hope that he would have a happy time in Now Plymouth. Rev. Mr Drak^ (Watigajiui). in v.^lconwng Mr nnd Mrs Hording to the district, said there was never more nee.l for religious teaching than at present. \ Rev. Mr Armstrong expressed his great pleasure at coiug Mr Harding here. For some time all the- circuit work had fallen on the speaker, and he vas glnd of the relief, lie also welcomed Mrs Jinrdhig. He (.rusted that tho congregation would givo Mr ilarding their assistance. Rev. Mr Osborne reirarked upon the great number of changes that had occurred in the ministry in New Plymouth of late year*?. Dean MeKenna and the speaker *v.ere the only ministers who still stuck to the town. Mr Harding was a stranger in a strange land, and that was all the more r^n urn why he should be given oil tho assistance his congregation could rer-der him. He wished Mr Harding God's llessing in hi- work.

Rev. T: (J. Brooke was glad of the privilege of extending a welcoming hand to Mr Hardi:»g.

Rev. Mr Cannell told some interesting facts respecting Primitive Methodism, and joined in bidding Mr Harding welcome.

How Mr Lewis also tendered a v.el COIT'O.

Tho Mayor (Mr Dockrill) extended a hearty welcome to Mr and Mrs 37arding. He trusted the reverend gentleman would find the work here congenial.

Tho Choivwnn lure read ;i telegram from Rev. J. Nixon a7-,d a letter from Hew W. S. Potter, both w«leoinir.<r Mr Warding. The Chairman rer.iarked on the assistance the congregation had given former ministers, si>!<! tnwlo'l n would be exlercled to Mr Kardi'ig.

Row Mr Harding, in reply, thanked all for the words of wrlcmno spoken, nnd for tho warm reception bo linrl ivce^vod generally. At Ihe time ho was not ovcr-foTsd of ireer.'ion Jiieelings nnd farowolls. fio would only moke Oiio jironii.se — to do bis best. Tl had always been' one of the {"eat arcs of hi--; work to p:»vr special attention to ths. 1 boys and Ki'rls, and ho hope-] to continue that here. He v.-ar.ted to nssoriato himself with, thing-; outside the dmrch — thing* of the town and district. He favoured Methodist union. He expressed the intention of trying to help the needy.

During tho evening songs were rendered by Mrs Rich, Missos Richards, Ainsworth, Messrs Jenkinson, J. "H. M'lldoon. and iJ.irrh; and duets by the Missos Gilbert arid Misses Ainsivorth and Solo.