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VALEDICTORY.

During this and next week many of the Wealeyan minister of the colony will, m theatrical parlance, be "on the wing," and the sentiment — " the King Is dead ; long live the K.rg," will In most cases be expressed — farewell meetings to the outgoing, being followed m quick bucceßalon by gatherings to welcome the inooining, pastor. Among others who are being transferred to fresh fields of labour is the Rev David MoNiooll, who, daring the three years he has been io. Ashburton, haa not only earned the estimation and affjction of his own congregation, bnt, by hia liberal views and hia Interest m every good work, has made a wide circle of frienda of all denominations throughout th 9 county, A meeting for the purpose of bidding the rev gentleman goodbye was held m the ohuroh on Thursday night, Mr .Robert Aloorn m the chair. Representatives from other churches were present, aa well as friends from distant parts of the Circuit, and the proceedings were of a very homely character. After devotional exercises, Jed by Mr J. Aliaoa, the Chairman referred m brief terms to the occasion which had brought them togethor, and then called on Mr Ctudea Dixon (m the absence of Mr W. EL Coliinß) to present the following addr I i to Mr McNioo!'. To the Key David McNicoll — Dear Sir, — The me:nbers and adherents of the Wesleyan Methodist Ohuroh of Ashbur. ton dealre to place on reojrd their testimony of your faithful and Buccesstnl labors daring the term of your ministry m this Circuit, The subscribers to this raemento will always remember withßatisfactlon and pleasure your untiring and sucoflssful effort m the liquidation of the deb*- upon the ohuroh. Your iateroourse with your people has invariably been that ot a uympathetio friend, as well aa of a true Christian pa&tor. Your pulpit ministrations have ever been acceptablo to your congregation,, being characterised by deep spiritual earnestness and breadth of Christian teaching, untrammuled by conventionalism. W9 shall not soon forget yuur cheerful presence and faithful counsels, and m wishing you goodbye shall oontinao to pray that Heaven's ohoioest blessings may be your privilege, with a continuation of yet greater tucoess m (he exalted work of preaching the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Ohrlßt. Signed on behalf of the members and adherents of the Wealeyan Ohuroh, W. H. Collins, 3. .8. Chapman, and others. The address, which was enclosed m a neat frame, had been engrossed and elegantly illuminated by Me W, &. Wade, of Timaru, and reflected the highest, credit on that gentleman's taste and skill. After Mr H. M. Jones had given a short speech m support of the address, Mr W, H. Collins, Senior Oiroult Steward, reviewed the ministerial carear of Mr MoNlcoll m Ashburton, and at the same time referred to the difficulties with which the church had to contend m the early days of the settlement. In a very happy and racy way Me Collins spoke of Me McNlcoll's efforts to liquidate the church debt by a series of bazaars, m whioh he had been ably seconded by Mrs MoNiooll, to whom, on behalf of the ladies of the Oircuit, he had much pleasure m handing a combined sealskin muff and bag oontainlng a number of sovereigns. The choir than sang with admirable expression an appropriate hymn ontitlod "God be with you till we meet again," Mr McNicoll, m acknowledging the address to himself and presentation to Mrs MoNlool), said it was not an easy matter to make a speech when one w»b going I away. He thanked them for all the kind things which had been said, but he must take exoeption to what had been advanced concerning the spiritual sucoess which had attended hia labors here, la this hs had been disappointed, and it was difficult to receive tha flattering remarks tbat had been made, Cortainly there had been revivals m different part? of the Circuit, but m view of this an increase of only sixty-five church members for the tiree years' work was not sufficient to date Mm. He admitted, however, that tsbalated figures did not always represent the trae position. He f jit that he would be known not as a soul-winner, but the nan who had got the debt wipec off the church. Ho would rather that hia reputation had been that of a soil-winner. Concerning any success whia had attended hfa eflorts finanolally,jfcr MoNicoll reminded the meeting that A was only because he had been ausrouded by men and women of grit, and uojss this had been so any organisation orfforts of his would have boon futile. At this stage refreshmentsrere handed round, after whioh Mr Ledley gavo a capital speech, and was folftved by Mr W. Harding, whose forcibleadvooacy of the itlnorant system, with itiadvontagea, • must surely have reconcileanv disarm- I

tented spirits who chafed althe inexorable lavr which removes lr MoNiooll to other fialds of pastoral vrk. While speaking from the heading— : Where are we 1 " numerically, spiritual, and financially, compared with the jsition three yeara ago, Mr Leadley note that while tha list of mambora ahowed rlao of 150 to 215, It must be borne i mind that about 90 members had ion written off In congequence of tip removal from tho district or ritli. Both Mr Laadley, Me Hatding, a; Meases H. M. Carson, Alison, and Airewa, who alao addroasod tho meebingpoko of the bold, original, and emphatloulpit utterances of Me MoNlooll, anovishod him God epaed. A report ofiis meeting would be incomplete wlthoureforenoa to the beautiful music diaco'ed by the choir, and It 1b open to qitlon If ever Mr Gamble and his well-died band of aingera sang with such ocMon and effdot as on Thursday nigh Mias Potter at the organ and Mlsa L'a;loliniat lending valuable assistance, wa Miss Ulara Steel'ea solos were faultiest he Doxology terminated tho procedingc Mr MoNlcoll preach< hla farewell sermon to-morrow night*

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AG18880331.2.8

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1803, 31 March 1888, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
987

VALEDICTORY. Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1803, 31 March 1888, Page 2

VALEDICTORY. Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1803, 31 March 1888, Page 2

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