VALEDICTORY SOIREE TO THE BEY. J. CRUMP.

Thames Advertiser, Volume IX, Issue 2315, 30 March 1876, Page 3

VALEDICTORY SOIREE TO THE BEY. J. CRUMP.

A vaiedictoet soiree was held in the W esloyan Church, Shortland, last evening in. honour, of the Eev. J. Crump, Wesleyan minister, who is being removed from this circuit to that of St Alban's, Cbristchurch. The room was crowded to excess, but the arrangements for serving tea was exeellent. There was a relay before all were served, and the tables were i presided over by the ladies of the congregation. After the tables were removed, Mr James Eernick, the senior circuit steward of the district, took the chair. The proceedings were opened by the choir and congregation joining in the hymn, " Come let us join," after which the Eev J. Crump .engaged in prayer. _ The choir then rendered a selection in a highly creditable manner. We may add. that during the proceedings the choir at intervals rendered a variety of selections with a finish and brilliancy which speaks ' highly, not only of the of the ohoir as a whole, but of the individual I voices and the excellent training of the members. Amongst what, in our esli- ' mation, were the best musical selections were the anthem " put on thy strength, Oh Zion," in which the part ' "How beautiful upon the mountains" was ; rendered in brilliant style. " The Trumpet," a splendid composition, with 1 trumpet accompaniments, was rendered .in splendid style, and, in fact, the whole ' of the selections did credit to the choir, . and formed a most agreeable feature in the proceedings. ' The Chairman said that he supposed ; that to many of them he appeared like : one raised from the dead, it had been such a long time since they had heard his j voice amongst them. He had never expected to take part in a public meeting ■ again. He expected long ere this to have ■ been in that bright and better country, 1 and what a' blessing was that religion | which cheered them through life, and ! gave them 'fcolduess and confidence in ■ death. The Apostle said that " When the earthly house of this tabernacle be ! dissolved we have a building of God, a ] house not made with hands, eternal in the 1 heavens." He, bad no more doubt of j reaching heaven had he been_ called away than he had of his own existence." He ' thought he should ere this have passed ! into those celestial plains, and joined in ■ the celestial song, but he was with them j again, improved in health. (Applause.) That he attributed to the prayers of ! God's people. There had been many, 1 earnest prayers here for his recovery, and: : scores and hundreds of friends inAus- 1 tralia had joined in supplications for his 1 recovery. Whether this recovery was; permanent or not he knew not, although 1 he was more inclined, to think that he should probably recover. (Cheers.) Although they had prayed for his recovery he= . had not done so once. He had a strong desire to " depart and be with Christ, which was far better."' It was no trifle to make sure : of his home in that blissful port ; and if the Master was to say to him "Come up higher,' 1 he should not say wait, he should be willing to go. They were met to say good-by to the respected minister who had been amongst them for three years. It had been three years of peace and prosperity in their church. It was a great thing to preserve peace in a circuit. He had seen the reverse, and it had occasioned sad work. In addition to this, they had prospered financially and prospered spiritually. They had a much larger membership than before "God had visited his people, and therefore we greatly rejoice." Their minister was going away from the circuit, but wo went away with the knowledge that his labour had not been in vain. Now some of them would think that lie had said quite enough, and his wife would give him a rare talking to. (Laughter.) She was the doctor, and she would sometimes ask him what was the use of her doctoring him and nursiog him when he would go out and throw himself back for a week, and make himself ill again P He was happy to see so many of them together to smile on Mr Crump, and bid him good-bye aud farewell. Some people were likethistles, to bite and sting in all directions. If they sent away Mr Crump like a dog from amongst them he would not enter on his labours in his new circuit with so much earnestness. God had set them the example, for He said," Well done, good and faithfal servant;" and let them say to Mr Crump, "Well done, and God bless and prosper you." He was pleased to see that Mr Biobards and the Eev Mr Hinlon had arrived to increase, their strength; He then called upon the choir to sing an anthem. . Captain Bichabes (wlio, with Rev Mr Hinton and others, had only just arrived from Auckland) read the following address, .which; Mr Kernick presented to the Eev J. Crump Thames, March 29, 1876. To the Eev J, Crump, Shortland,— Reverend and Dear Sir, to the usage of our Church, the time has arrived when you must leave this circuit for another sphere of labour. We cannot, however, allow you to depart from amongst us without expressing our obligations for the valuable services you have rendered. Your preaching has ever been of high spiritual type, and calculated to feed the Church of Christ, which he has purchased with his blood. We regret your preaching has not been appreciated by such a i number as we could have wished, in consequence of its not being of the sensational style so popular at the present day, Your sociil intercourse with us has leen of a pleasing; and profitable character, hence we have ha'l three years of peace and prosperity, especially during the last year of your labours, in which many have to date their conversion to Cfod. The spiritual state of the Church has greatly .improved during your ministry, as also the financial condition of the circuit. Heavy debts have been reduced, although there has been eo much depression on the field. We have therei fore to thank God for the peace and prosperity we have enjoyed during your term, and pray that God may bless you in your new sphere, and still continue to use you for His glory. And we further pray that the great Father of all may richly bless you: and Mrs Crump and family with health and happiness, and ulti-. mately bring us . all to his eternal kingdom, where partings are unknown,—We are, dear 1 Sir, yours faithfully, James ICermck, S. E. 1 Biouauds, Circuit Stewards, j —Mr Eichards then remarked upon the success which had attended the Eev Mr , Crump's labours on tbo Thames, and the . harmony which had prevailed between [ him and the Church officers. There had ■ been no jarring strings between them, i and he might safely say that during the 1 three years Mr Crump had been with them thero had not been a single word of 1 unpleasantness between him and the ! officers or -he congregation. Many of i them would doubtless rogret that Mrs | Crump was leaving them. Mr Crump ; had been blessed in a good wife, and ho 1 trusted they would long bo spared to . each other. Ho apologised for the abi sence of Mr Eowe, and read letters of ! apology for the unavoidable absence of ■ thelievs J.Hill and 11. Laishley.

The Eov J. Cbump, who was rcceivec with applause, referred gratefully to hnv'

ing to close his ministry amongst them by having such an expression of their good wishes. He felt especially that he was drawing largely on the kindness of the Chairman, who, for every sentence he uttered, would hare to pay dearly, and folt that it was, as it were, throwing away affection and kindness after the stream of affection and kindness which he had lavished on him since his arrival "at the Thamesi But he heartily thanked Mr Kernick for his presence, and for presidon this occasion, After a few more preliminary remarks, the rever-l end gentleman went on to say, a commission entrusted to me.l had better execute before I proceed to anything else lest it should be overlooked. There is one person whoso absence this evening I very much regret, who has requested me to express her apology to the friends to whom she has become greatly attached during her residence at the j Thames. When I was in search of a wife I adopted a maxim which I will mention, as it may b8 of some practical advantage to our young friends. I argued that a good daughter was likely to make a good wife, and it is in consequence of this filial spirit that Mrs Crump is not able to be present with us this evening. Justice requires me to state that she is entirely one with me in cherishing the warmest feelings of respect and affection for those friends with whom we have been connected now for three years, and from whom we are now called to separate, The circumstances of the meeting will not only justify but require that I refer to myself in a way wh ch would otherwise be egotistical and objectionable. But in all I say I wish to be understood as regarding myself as part of an organization, one with you, and rejoicing to feel that in overy branch of church work you have been with me. lam far from feeling that I am in any way detached from my office-bearers and members. Some may think this remark too strong, and say—How can we be one with a minister in the discharge of his special functions ? In a very special and important way; one which I am thankful to say I have greatly experienced while with you. Preaching itself has not been exclusively my work as distinct from you. Both in the preparation and delivery of my sermons I have felt my oneness with you in reaping the advantage of your prayers, sympathy, and religious experience. If I read Paul's epistles aright, nothing is more dear than that such a union existed between the Apostle himself and the churches to whom he ministered. Both in his bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the Gospel, they all were partakers of his grace. Nothing can be further from the New Testament idea that the connection between the minister and the flock is a commercial one. Thank God there has been nothing in my intercourse with you that would lead me to such a feeling. You have kindly and liberally provided for my wants, so as to relieve both myself and family from anything that would divert my attention and thought from the direct work of the ministry, In that work I have been unembarrassed, happy, and I trust I may say successful. The financial help which you have rendered to God's cause during a period of groat_ and increasing depression. The Christian activity which you have readily displayed in every good work I have noted with pleasure, but that which, above all things,

I feel profited by and thankful for this evening is the earnest manner in which many have prosecuted the inquiry, in the light of' God's word, How holy is it possible for us to become ? The importance of this point cannot be overestimated. It is with God as it is with men. A few men fully bent on discovering God's will and proving it will be better than a whole regiment. One Caleb' following the Lord fully was far better than a hundred unreliable, vascillating Israelites. One such man in God's service would chase a thousand. His influence is incalculable/ and his honour is great, and should not the army of the living God be valiant, steady, and determined in resisting sin and honouring the lord Jesus ? That will be a blessed day for our churches, for our families, and for the world when the miserable question, "With how little of religion can I get along and gain heaven ?" will bo substituted by the inquiry, "How holy can I be, for, by God's grace, that I will be." We are not true to our ccclesiastioal position if wo ncglect this. Methodism contemplated a work as deep and thorough a? it is broad and general, spreading Scriptural holiness, through the land. Igoto my new circuit under a profound conviction of the immense importance of holiness. I believe in a holy Catholic ChurcTi. The motto I hope to have before me is, "a holy Church for Christ's work." A whole and holy man will accomplish, more for Christ and the world than another a hundred times more gifted, who only yields a tithe of his energy and influence to God. u As He that hath called you is holy, so be ye all holy in all manner of conversation." The rev. gentleman then bespoke for his successor the same kindness which had been bestowed upon him, and said he had spent a happy three years amongst them, which lie would never forget. He alluded to the harmony which had existed here amongst the members and the ministers of the various denominations, and to the harmony which had existed between himself and the stewards, expressing a hope that he would find the same feeling in that other circuit to which he was removing. (Cheers.)

The Ohamman being then obliged to retire, Captain Richards took his place, and called upon the Eev J, flinton to address the meeting. The.Bev J. Hinton was received with applause. He said that when he came in he greatly regretted missing the Eev Mr Hill and the Eev Mr,Laishley. They knew the Eev Mr Crump for the last three years, while he was amongst them a comparative stranger. Yet when he received a letter from Captain Eichards asking him to take his place amongst the other ministers, he felt gratified at being permitted to occupy such a position. He trusted, although Mr Crump was going away, and that there was a cQmparatively short acquaintance, that there would be pleasing recollections left on both sides. He then referred to the disadvantages of the itinerancy system, as being evidenced by the fact that the Eev J. Crump's usefulness had increased during the last year, and greatly increased, and now that he had got over his early difficulties, and his influonce was increased morally and spiritually, ho had to leave them. It was a pity, and they would cxcuse him for saying in regard to this rigid law which compels the removal of ministers without regard to his usefulness, that it was one which ho did not like. (Cheers.) The rev gentleman then referred to the fact that although they lost one minister another was provided in his place. That was not always the caso with other denominations; but their system, _ although it removed one minister provided another, and they would still havo a Wesleyau minister. He, on behalf of

himself and the members of the Baptisi Church, expressed hearty good wishes foi tho future prosperity of tho Kev Mr Crump and his family, and said that he was carrying with him their cordial warmhearted friendship. Mr Tubneb also addressed the meeting, and after further selections had been sung by the choir, the meeting concluded with prayer.