Social at Fordell.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11737, 15 September 1902, Page 5

Social at Fordell.

FAREWELL TO SIR OOWX

1 Tiie annual social of the adherents of the Anglican Church at Fordell and neighbourhood was held at the new hall in the township on Friday evening, when special efforts had been made to do honour to their clergyman, the Rev. H. P. Cowx, on th« occasion of his departure to Waipawa, whither h« goes to take up an extended sphere of usefulness. Mr Naylor (of Crrist Church, Wanganui) bi'ought out a strong musical contingent with a special raogramme for th« occasion, which proved when rendered superior to anything of the kind ever heard before in the neighbourhood. When we say that Miss Pawson, the Misses Delves, the Misses Slight, Miss Cummins, and Messrs Lennard, Dunn, and Pownall assisted in the singing, that Master Lennard attended with his violin, and that Miss McKenzie (of No. 1 Line) assisted, at the piano, those who know anything of musical Wanganui will bear us out in our remarks. Mr Burnett occupied the chair. In' the course of his remarks he expressed Ms personal regret, as churchwarden, at the approaching departure of their vicar, whom he described as devout, earnest, and scholarly, and a man capable and active in the administration of his duties. He went on to say that he was probably destined rather to preach one good, sermon to a large congregation, than a dozen to as many small ones, both on account of his mental bias and not very robust physique, which must have-made the long distances of his late district sometimes very fatiguing. But in spite of these drawbacks their vicar .had grappled manfully with a very laborious cure and completely fulfilled ■ its arduous duties. In wishing him and Mrs Cowx and family Godspeed, he was sure the feelings of those he left behind were altruistic as well as regretful, for our loss was bound to be Waipawa' s gain. The chairman went on to speak of the excellent relations that had subsisted between" the Presbyterians and Episcopalians in the long years during which they had worshipped in the same church. Owing to the centre of gravity of population having moved of late much around the Fordell Railway Station, however, St. Mary's Church, Warrengate, had been built, an interesting-account of which work was given to the meeting. This account showed that the church, with fencing and seating accommodation, including forty chains costing £10, and all extras, which completed the work in every detail, came to a grand total of £228. Of this £122 had been collected in donations, and: £100 borrowed, repayable in 28 quarterly paymenta of which ten had been already met, so that it" was safe to say that less than £100 would clear the building. The chairman referred in feeling terms to the loss they had sustained in the sudden death of the fete Mr Chamberlain, one of the donors of the land, 'and a devout worshipper in the church, and said that it had been well suggested that a tablet to his memory should be put in the church he had so much.helped to originate. It had also been suggested that a bell and picturesque lvch gate would be things that thei committee should aim at having in the not very distant future. Mr Hayward, in a few happy remarks), expressed his personal* regret at the departure of Mr Cowx, with whom he had laboured »n the best of terms, and from whom he had ever received courtesy and assistance.

Mr Cowx expressed, in reply, his great regret at leaving the district!. He was afraid that, owing to it® size, he had not been able to visit.the parishioners so much as he would wish," and made this apology toan- who might from any cause have felt themselves neglected. He said that the call to Waipawa was one that he felt it his duty to respond to. and believed that a worthy successor woulld soon be found to fill his place. Mr Naylor's singers^then <?ave some very choice and rousing items, lastly all joining in the National "Anthem, bringing to a .close a very successful social gathering. We have'been asked to acknowledge the receipt of the following subscriptions, not yet made public, to the St. Maa-y's Warrengate Building Fund—Mr Henry Sarjeanfc £5, Mr Shaw £1, Mr Cowx's Mangamahu entertainment £1, a friend 3s, various subscriptions for chairs £10, a friend (towards extras) £10, H. I. Jones £1 Is, J. G-. Sharpe lOs 6d.