METHODIST CHURCH.

Woodville Examiner, Volume XXVI, Issue 4467, 28 April 1911, Page 3

METHODIST CHURCH.

V. Welcome to the Rev. W. Beckett v In spite of the weather over a hundred people tinned cut t'» ■■> social held in tho Mutbodist Church on Tuesday night to welcome the Rev. W. Beckett and Mrs Beckett to the circuit. The chair was taken hy Mr John Harding, Senior Circuit Steward, and seats on the platform weie occupied by the fievs. Cunon Eceles and li. (iarduer and Ensign Tatton. The chairman w< loomed the incoming minister on behalf of the congregation geneiaily, Mr Richards spoke on behalf of the church, and Mr E. T Bendle on that of the trustee*, all expressing their hope and expectation that Mr Beckett and the church would have a good time with each other. The Rev. il. Gardner was sure that Mr Beckett would, fie hoped that he would be on as pood term 3 with Mr Beckett as he had heeri with his predecessor, and had no doubt he would.

Ensign Tatton said he had had considerable experience of farewells and welcomes, and they were the worst sort of meetings he had to deal with. He urged the members of the congregation to support their minister, which was the only way he could Pave a successful time amongst them. The Rev. Canon Eccles, in a racy speech, said that he bad met ten Methodist ministers while he had been here and had got on with them all. He hoped he would get on with Mr Beckett, too. Although he could not ask a minister of another church to preach in his pulpit, that was about the only thing he could not do with him, and he desired to meet them all, as far as he could, in brotherly work. Very soon his church would have a good room in which they would be able to meet as they were doing that night, and he would be glad to reciprocate the many invitations he had received to the Methodist meetings. Mr Stevenson spoke on ‘‘Sympathy ” and what it could do, urging the people there to show sympathy with their new minister. The Rev. W. Beckett, in his reply, thanked the people for their welcome- He had never had a heartier one, nor had he ever met with more consideration horn any circuit stewards on arriving in a circuit than he had met horn those here. He could not tell how much Mr Harding had done fur the comfort of the parsonage since he and Mrs Beckett had arrived. He thanked the other ministers also for their welcome, and had often heard of the goodfellowship that existed in Woodville among the churches. He looked forward to having a good time in Woodville, but he wished to remember, first and always, that he was a Methodist minister, and the minister of the Methodist church here. He would wish to take a friendly in- • terest in other'bodies, to take an interest in the affairs of the town, to help in local matters, but, first of all, he had given his life to the Methodist ministry, and if matters clashed, then his church had the first call on him. Although he and his wife had not expected to be stationed at Woodville, having set their hearts on another station, still they were not in any way repining or fretting over that. They had accepted the appointment cheerfully, and would lay themselves out to do their best in it. He hoped soon to make the acquaintance of all his people and to have a good time with them.

The chairman said that, h« had altogether omitted tn mtmtiuu Mrs Beckett when WI I'.'omim: !n r husband, and H(>ol' Lise : Ibr having forgott-!i r. . -m He welcomed her vviih Beckett, very heartily.

The Eevs. Gardner and Canon Ecclea and Mr Stevenson followed suit.

Mr Beckett responded on hehall (of his wife, to whom he bore high tribute as to the assistance she rendered him by making his home a happy one. During the evening the choir rendered several anthems, a duet being given by Mrs W. Hartstone and Miss G. Thomas, a solo, “ The Flight of Ages,” by Mr W. Eecles, and a recitation by MrFennell. After Mr Beckett had pronounced the benediction, supper was handed round by the ladies of the congregation, and the meeting dispersed about half past ten.