Rev. H. M. Bell Resigns Charge Of Knox Church: Presbytery’s Tribute

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 8, 19 December 1947, Page 5

Rev. H. M. Bell Resigns Charge Of Knox Church: Presbytery’s Tribute

Rev. H. M. Bell has resigned from the charge of Knox Church, Whakatane, in order to return to missionary work in the New Hebrides under the Presbyterian Church of Victoria. At its last meeting the Bay of Plenty Presbytery adopted the following minute:— “Presbytery received with very deep regret the resignation of the Rev. H. M. Bell from the charge of Knox Church, Whakatane. During the period of his all too short ministry within the Presbytery, Mr Bell has become a brother beloved by all. His sterling qualities of manhood, his readily given friendship and his deep devotion to his high calling have commended him alike to his congregation and to his brethren in the ministry and have won for him the warm affection of the whole circle of his acquaintance. “Mr Bell has proved himself ' a thoughtful and forceful preacher of the truth once for all delivered to the saints and has sought earnestly and faithfully to interpret that unchanging truth in relation to a WOi’ld of rapid change and pressing problems. • “His diligent pastoral care of his people is reflected in the healthy state of the .congregation which he now leaves. Young people have been attracted by Mr and Mrs Bell who Rave entered very fully into the life of the young folk of the congregation by whom, they will be greatly missed. The Bible Class movement of the Presbytery will be much poorer because of their removal from its midst.

“Mr Bell has given unstintedly of his time and interest to the work of the Presbytery, and during the past year he has occupied the Moderatorial chair thereof with dignity and ability, and to the satisfaction of all his brethren.

“While deeply regretting that the Presbytery is to be deprived of a longer period of service and fellowship from Mr and Mrs Bell, Presbytery bows to what it believes to be the will of God for them to return to the great task in the New Hebrides Mission Field and. prays that God will prosper them in their work for Him there, even as He has done in their labours within this Presbytery.”