LATE REV. W. READY.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17805, 2 September 1929, Page 6

LATE REV. W. READY.

MEMORIAL UNVEILED. AN INDOMITABLE SPIRIT. A brass tablet In memory of the Rev. William Ready, who was minister of the Pitt Street Methodist Church from 1909 to 1913, and was also minister In charge of the Methodist city circuit for 10 years, was unveiled by his son, Mr 11. Ready, in the church last evening. Mr Ready, who was born in London in 1861, died while he was working as _a home missionary at Palmerston North in September, 1927. Great tributes were paid to the memory of the deceased preacher for his work in the Church. The Rev. W. Walker, the present minister of the church, said an epitaph had been chosen for Mr Ready, which was exceedingly appropriate. It was “ Faithful unto Death.” His mother died early, and from the age of six on he lived in the streets of London. At the age of 13 he did not know one letter of the alphabet, but was then taken in charge by a missionary and made an inmate of a Bristol orphanage. After serving an apprenticeship in a trade, he entered as a candidate for the ministry in 188 a, coming to New Zealand in 188/. After three years in Christchurch, Mr Ready went to Dunedin, where he did perhaps the finest work of his life in inaugurating the Dunedin Cenual Mission. At that time he was not 30 years old. Among his honours was that of holding the position of president of conference, the highest honour the Church could give, in 1912. During the Great War Mr Ready, although three of his sons had enlisted, offered himself as a chaplain on a hospital ship. Even after his retirement, for'the last IS months of his life, he carried on supply work, and Anally died during his labours as a missionary at Palmerston North. His lilo stood at a challenge to the youth to-dav, a standing example of what could be accomplished by an indomitable spirit and a daring attitude l® life.