ST. MARY'S CHURCH.

Timaru Herald, Volume L, Issue 4841, 12 May 1890, Page 3

ST. MARY'S CHURCH.

FABEWIiLIi TO THE REV. W. T. P. WINXKR. Notwithstanding tha rather incleraant state of the weather, and Saturday ovening not I being a euitablo night to many persons to attend a social gutberin?, there W:ie nevertheless a very good attendance at St. Mary's schoolroom* to bid farewell to the Rev. Mr Winter, who has been io charge of Iho parish for the past ten months, during Archdeacon Harper's visit to England. The mectiDg, as advertised, was m the form of a conversazione, and wa3 a vory enjoyable one, many of our leading singers taking part m the musical portion of it, and m the interval the ladies dispersed refreshments, of which I hero was ap abundance, to all thoße who wished to partake of them The entertainment opened with an overture beautifully executed by lira Guinnc«B, followed by a gong frcm Mr Cargill, who was m excellent voice. A trio was next sung by Mr Wardrop, Miss Wardrop, and Mr Ziosler. The lady named, we understand, is only on a visit to Timaru, but would bo a groat acquisition to our musical talent. Tl:o piece was rapturously applauded. Dr Beid'a song " Fnrewell " wa3 deservedly encored and had to bo repeated. Mr Gray, church wardon, and M'ljor Bamfield, Messrs Steadman, Sim», Qillmnn, Smithson, Knnbley, and Hedges, veslroymen, then formed a half circle on tlie platform, and Mr Gray, m the absence of Captain Woollcombo, who was confined to his house from indisposition, addressed Mr Winter io the following terms :— They had mot _ together that evoning for the i piirpo«e of saying good-bye to Lira and Mrs Winter. He (Mr Gray) had conferred with the vo?try nnd the ladieß of Iho church, and thoy thought a social gathering of . this kind would he the most appropriate way m which thoy could all meet together nnd bid him farewell. Ko desirod to thank him on bolialf of the Te#try and parishioners for the valuablo ossißtancobohad rendered them m all matters connected with church work, and for so ably filling the place of Archdeacon Harper. 'I hoy all very much regretted that ho wa» unable to stay until tho Arohdeacon's return. Uo mieht reit assured that he would tako with him the good wishes of the mombers of tho cburch, and that tho people of Timaru would not forget the many kindnesses they had received from him and Mrs Winter, and as ho was a stranger to tho placo when ho oame, what he had dono m tho short limo he had been hero had exceeded thoir pxpcotition. In the name of the church Mr Gray laid that he now wished Mr Winter good-bvo, and by God's blessing a happy and prosperous career m the parith of Riccarton, whoio charge ho whs about to undertake. M»j ir Bamfield apologised for tho absence of Mr Willway, tho superintendent of tho ' , tiunday school, on uccount of v corn throut, ,'and eaid tlmt Mr Willway duired Iho foilowling to be read ; — " Pour oir, — In wishing you good-live after your ministrations amongst U9 , ' for the past 10 month)), I be?, on bohalf of I mjeelf and tho Sunday school toacliors of this I pariah, to tender you our carr.cet and sincere thanka for your kindneti and Iho valuable Mtiitanco you have rondorcd us m carrying > on tho work of tho Sabbatb Svhooh during

your sojourn m Timaru. Wo recoguiee that you have devoted a deal of time to .Sabbath School work, particularly m your regular' after. dunce and interesting addresses at tho lower bcliotl overy Sabbath morning ; and tint y;u liava faithfully carried on the work entrusted to your charge m tha absence of Arohdoaaon Harper. Wo earnestly pray the IJivino bloasing may reßt upon 'you and Mrs Winter m your new sphere of labour." Mr Wintor thon returned his sincere th'iiika to tho churchwardens, the vestrymen, an! the parishioners; f:r jiving him that, opportunity of saying goodbye; ond for the kindness ho had received from them. all while resident m Titr.aru. In alluding to tho hind romarks mado by Mr Gray, Mr Winter thought that more credit had been given to him than ho deserved. He had to the best of his ability ondcavaurcd to curry on the branches of church work on the lines laid down by Archdeacon Harper, and it was with extreme pleasure that he (Mr Winter) accepted the assurance that he had been successful m doing sj. It was hardly possible that he could, m tho short space of 10 months, get acquainted with all tho peoplo m a largo parish liko that of 'Jimaru. It would take fully two years to bo as it wore quilo at homo with nil tho parishionors. He a'eo desired to thank Mr Willway and tho Sunday school teachers for their good wishes towards him, and as botli Mr Gray end Mr Willway had coupled tha name of Mrs Winter with thai, of himself (Mr Winter), ho could not do better than quote Iho words of Uishop Julius at Cbristchurch "that Mm Julius was well ablo to speak for herself, better than iio could for her." Mra Winter wus well ablo to speak for hor.'elf, and ho wished that she was oh tho platform iv his plico ; ho was naturally a bashful man and did out at all like making a speech, an i ho thought I bar, on tomo occasions, tho ladies could speak hotter than tho mon. He lnped that at no distant date ho might bo able to revisit Timaru, and find the beauliful chur. !i completed. (Applause.) Be hoped also lo 'uj with the clorgy when woleoming Bishop .Tnl>n» lo this parish. In conclusion Mr Winter asked thorn t> accord his successor, tbo Rev. V/ickenzie Gibson, tho same courtesy and ti.dness that ho had received. Mr Wintor had no doubt but that gentleman would bo üblo to stay m Timaru until tho return of Archdeacon Harper. (Applause). After Iho interval for rofrohments, the following items woro contiibuted : — Solo (piano). Miss Woollcoinbe; song, Itr Ziealer j song, Miss Wardrop ; du3t, Messrs Wardrop and Ziesler j song, Miss Lovegrove ; song, Mr Cargill. Without making any distinctions all were exceedingly woll rendered, and wero reoeived with approbation by the audience. 11 God Sa7o Iho Queen" concluded a very enjoyable and intellectual meeting. Mr Gooch pliijcd tho accompaniments, and Mr Smithson made a very efficient master of ceremonies.