VALEDICTORY.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 8, 1 February 1914, Page 110

VALEDICTORY.

(By a Parishioner.)

It was with feelings of profound regret that the parishioners and people of this district learned that their Vicar, Mr Davidson, was about to sever his connection with the, parish m order to take o^'er the new charge of Otane. Immediately upon hearing of Mr Davidson's promotion, the local people set about to show their appreciation of his ministry m this district and decided to present him with a purse of sovereigns as a mark of appreciation of his ministry m the Tolaga Bay parish. As the local town hall has been demolished by fire it was decided that the best course would be for the committee to meet Mr Davidson privately to make the presentation. Accordingly a meeting of the committee was summoned at the Vicarage for Tuesday, the 23rd December, and at the conclusion of the ordinary business, Mr Holder (Vicar's Churchwarden) handed Mr Davidson a purse of sixty sovereigns, and m doing so referred to the Vicar's ministry m the parish m highly eulogistic terms. Mr Holder laid particular stress upon the fact that the departing Vicar had never at any time spared himself and had made almost superhuman efforts to systematically and thoroughly work the huge parish entrusted to his charge. He exhorted Mr Davidson to spare himself a little more m his new parish m order to conserve his strength to carry on the work for Christ that he has undertaken. Dr. Weeks (People's Churchwarden) spoke a few words of thanks for Mrs Davidson's work m the parish and laid particular stress on the good work that has been done by her. Mr Davidson was taken entirely by surprise, and was obviously deeply moved by the spontaneous expression of love and goodwill shown by his parishioners and the people of the district generally. He feelingly returned thanks for the many kindnesses he had been shown m the past, the presentation made to him that night, the good wishes for the future, and more particularly for the appreciative words spoken of Mrs Davidson. He said that his ministry m Tolaga Bay parish had been a very happy one but that he felt that the state of his health would not permit him to do •justice to the work of such a scattered parish. Keen regret was felt throughout the parish that circumstances would not permit of a .public farewell to Mr and Mrs Day"""' son, but the Church. officers were reJuctantly compelled to make the pre-

sentation m private as it was felt that whilst we have no public hall, there was no place suitable for such a gathering. Mr Davidson left for his new charge; oh Friday, the 2nd January, arid the prayers of the parishioners will go out that his ministry m Otane might be as successful as it has been m Tolaga Bay.