CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13991, 28 August 1909, Page 7

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

A FAREWELL SOCIAL. Last night the members and friends in connection with the Congregational Church, met in their hall for tne purpose of entertaining and bidding farewell to Mr, Mrs and Miss Steward, who are departing from Timaru at an early date. There was a good attendance, most of the branches of the work in which Mr and Mrs Steward took a helping hand, being represented.- The Rev. A. E. Hunt occupied the chair, and amongst those present was Mr R. Bowie, Mr Steward's business partner. The chairman at the commencement apologised for absent friends, and after a few explanatory and introductory remarks, Mr Hunt put the company into the best of spirits by a very line recitation, "A whole night with the baby." Mr Archer also appeared to good advantage as an en tertainer, his effort also being much appreciated. In the course of the evening Mr' Hunt, referring to the early departure of their guests, said that he could not speak too highly of the able assistance rendered to the church by Mr Steward as elder, Mrs Steward as secretary of the Ladies' Guild, and Miss Steward as organist. Nothing they could do had they left undone, that trended towards the welfare of the church and congregation. .Mr Steward's connection with the church had been a very long and faithful one, for during twenty-seven years he had borne his share of the work in a manner that reflected on him the greatest credit and deserved the greatest praise. He was always to the front when aid was required, and as a member of the finance committee, he had, through his business training, proved of especial worth. Mrs Steward's place in church affairs had also been an important one, and so ably had she filled it that, like her husband, she would be greatly m.issed. A high tribute was also bestowed on Miss Steward as organist, and the hearty and willing assistance she had at all times given. Always punctual, dependable and obliging, she had oncleared herself to both choir and congregation. The chairman then, in the name of the congregation, presented Mrs Steward with a very handsome silver afternoon-tea cream and sugar set, and a case of silver forks; to Miss Steward, on behalf of the choir, a greenstone and gold bracelet; and to Mr Steward a fountain pen. The chairman's remarks were fully and sympathetically endorsed by Messrs Bowie', AVade, Griffiths, Jones, Oborn, and Douglas. Mr Steward replied at length, giving x resume of the ups and downs of the Congregational Church since he had been identified with it. His work he had always looked upon as a pleasure; his love for the church prompted his every action, looking upon it as a duty incumbent on all who had the welfare of the church at heart to do their best for it. He thought the Congregational Church had had more ups than downs since he had known it. Mr Steward referred in very high terms to the successful ministry of Mr Hunt. In concluding he thanked all his friends for their kind words and very handsome presents to his wife, his daughter, and himself, and said they would always remind them of the warm hearted and kind friends loft behind iu Timaru. Tea was then handed round by the ladies of the church, ana a sociable gathering was brought to a close by the minister pronouncing the benediction.