PRESENTATION TO MR ALEX. GARDEN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4749, 2 May 1900, Page 3

PRESENTATION TO MR ALEX. GARDEN.

1 [COBBESPONDENT.] A very pleasant and profitable evening was spent in the Waitahuna Presbyterian Churoh on Friday evening last, the Bey. J. S. Reid presiding. Besides a number of grown-up people, the Sunday school children were present in full foroe. Flowers were Tastefully arranged around the pulpit and platform in honor of the occasion by Mrs Patrick and Mrs M'Ara, which gave the church quite a festive appearance. Besides the ordinary lamps in use-, three large new Rochester lamps were suspended from the centre of the building along the aisle of the church, making the interior of the building look quite brilliant. The meeting was opened by singing the one hundred psalm. Prayer was then offered up by Mr Eeid, after which he made a few remarks referring to their main object in meeting togetner, which was to do honor to Mr Garden for long and faithful services rendered by him as superintendent of the Sabbath school./ But before making the presentation they would go on with the programme provided for the evening's entertainment, and he trusted that all present would enjoy themselves and that the meeting would be for their good and prove a source of pleasure and profit both for adults and children. Two hymns, " Oh, come let us sing " and 11 Children of Jerusalem " were very nicely rendered by the children. Mast6rs Charles and Stanley Robertson gave a recitation each, " The boy about the place " and " Obey your mother." Misses J. M'Caw and Annie Toner also gave recitations, " God will understand " and " Show which side you are on," all four pieces being exceedingly well rendered. Miss Lily M'Ara contributed an organ solo : and four Bongs were admirably rendered by the following young ladies : — " Only a cup of water," Miss it. Patrick ; 11 The light of the world," Miss Jean M'Kenzie; "The better land," Miss V. Patrick; "He wipes a tear from every eye," Miss Tilly Livingston. The programme having been gone through, the Bey. Mr Beid then asked Mr Garden to come forward, and in the name of the Sunday school children and friends, presented that gentleman with a splendid gold albert chain and greenstone locket, a Bagster's polyglot Bible, and a Church Praise^ In making the presentation, Mr Beid said before making this presentation to the past superintendent of tneir Sabbath school, they would permit him to depart from the usual oustom in these matters, by reading a few verses from the word of Jesus recorded in the Gospels First in Luke ivii., 7—lo, Second in Luke xii., 35—38. After discoursing for some time on the passages read it was brought out very clearly that,the legal idea of merit is completely shut out in the one case of right ; in the other by love, for where love rules there can be no question of merit. Keeping these truths in mind they would understand when he said that he had now a most pleasant and yet difficult duty to perform ; pleasant beoause it was jilways a pleasure to honor those to whom honor was due ; for, indeed, he believed in honoring every man up to the hilt of the measure of the honor that was due unto him, and that they will honor with all their heart, heartily, one who had been engaged for 27 long years in serving the Master in the Sabbath Bchool. It was -difficult because of between the Master and the servant, as a question of absolute right, there waß no call for any demonstration of praise. However, they would follow the line laid down by Jesus; then they would be safe. Jesus was a loving Master, so that when love had ruled the devotion of the servant He would give his hearty approval. He therefore joined with them in honoring one who for 27 years had tried his best to serve his Master in the Sabbath school. There were those of them present whose children's children had passed under Mr Garden's influence and that for good. He (the speaker) knew in what regard they held him; for if the boys were slouching along past the store with their hands in their pockets and he happened to come out the door they out with their hands and straightened up like gentlemen in a twinkling ; indeed, so august and dignified a person as the minister had not been free from his rectifying influence. Mr Beid then said : In memory of those past "days and in grateful recognition of the service you have been so long enabled to render, the late school teachers, the scholars, their parents, and friends present present you, Mr Garden, with this beautiful gold albert, trusting that your modesty will not incline you to lay it aside in some drawer unseen, but that you will 'wear it and that it will help to keep you up to time as you have so long kept us. We aIBO present you with this copy of Church Praise and this fine copy of the old, old faithful Word of God in the hope that it may be a means of grace, sanotifioation, and comfort to you so that when the Master bestows his approval it will be : Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Mr Gerden thanked all in a very feeling manner for the beautiful presents which had been given him, and stated that in resigning his office as superintendent of the Sunday school it was not that he was tired of the work nor had there been any disagreement, as he was happy to say that the greatest harmony had always existed between him and the teachers during the many years they had worked together. The reason was that more 1 good might he clone tbroagh a change beiag made, thaf someone younger might take up the work and strike out on new lines. He had held the position for a long time and might be sticking too much in the one groove. He also made some very interesting remarks about the time when the Sunday school was first started. The meetings were then held in a small iron building belonging to, Mr Coghill and kindly placed at their disposal for the obUdren to meet in. Mr M'Ara, one of the teachers, Mr M'Caw, elder, Mr B. York and Mr W. Blaikie, exteachers, also spoke in high terms of praise of Mr Garden, both as superintendent and teacher. They referred to the deep interest he had always taken in the children's present and future wellbeing, of his regularity and punctuality in attendance, and of the influence he had for good amongst the youngjnen in the district. Tea and cakes were handed round in abnnfowt! Sties' qt thanks were avoided all

those who teok part in the evening's entertainment ; to the ladies who decorated the churoh ; to Miss V. Patrick for presiding at the organ ; and to the chairman for the very able and hearty manner in which he had conducted the meeting.

The meeting was then closed by singing " God be with you till we meet again " and the pronouncing of the Benediction.