CHURCH FAREWELL TO MINISTER

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27397, 9 July 1954, Page 3

CHURCH FAREWELL TO MINISTER

TRIBUTES TO REV. L. J. i BOULTON SMITH OUTSTANDING WORK IN PASTORATE Tributes were paid to the outstanding work of the Rev. L. J. Boulton Smith, who has been minister of the Oxford terrace Baptist Church for the last 15 years, by many church leaders at. a farewell held at the church for Mr and Mrs Boulton Smith on Wednesday evening. About 500

persons attended. Mr Boulton Smith, who has accepted a call to the Linwood Baptist Church, will end his pastorate at the Oxford terrace church on Sunday evening. During his term at the church Mr Boulton Smith had held his congregation together in the difficult years of war, said the secretary of the church (Mr S. T. Reddell). These were times which made great demand on a minister and his wife, but both Mr and Mrs Boulton Smith had met the challenge with helpful understanding, friendliness and unfailing good humour. The church had been a happy one because of its minister—and his had been the longest pastorate in the history of the Oxford terrace Baptist Church. Mr Boulton Smith had represented Baptist church members on many organisations with sincerity and dignity, he said. t “Your pastor has been one of the great ministers the church has had during this century,” said the Rev. R. J Thompson, president of the Canter-bury-Westland auxiliary of the New Zealand Baptist Union and secretary of the Baptist Ministers’ Fraternal. He had carried on and enhanced the work of the interdenominational fellowship—in fact no Baptist minister in New Zealand had done more to promote inter;church relationships, Mr Thompson said. “Your minister is almost a genius as a speaker and writer, but he has escaped the extremist views and eccentricity. of the usual genius,” he said. “He is a great conciliator and in many a crisis he has led his denomination through.” The Rev. A. T. McNaughton, secretary of the Christchurch branch of the National Council of Churches, said that Mr Boulton Smith, who is a mem-

ber of the executive, had brought a warmth of friendliness to executive meetings. “He sees far beyond ttie immediate question and to interdenominational matters brings a far vision." Mr McNaughton also paid tribute to Mrs Boulton Smith as the gracious lady of the manse.’ Mrs M. Bain, speaking for the women’s organisations of the church, said Mrs Boulton Smith was deeply loved for her kindly understanding, her helpfulness and her courage. She had carried out her duties as a minister’s wife with graciousness and

friendliness. . x . Mr C. K. Smith, superintendent of the Sunday School and Mr Warwick Brawn, representing the senior men s Bible Class, also paid tribute to Mr and Mrs Boulton Smith. Minister’s Reply Replying to the speakers, Mr Boulton Smith said: “I am a dyed-in-the-wool Baptist but I can see Gods work through other churches and I have been greatly impressed by the work of the ecumenical movement. I hold that the Bible is an Ecumenical Book, God is an Ecumenical God and that Christ is the Saviour of all men. . “The Church is not a kind of glorified department store, it is a fellowship of people who love Christ. We are one in Christ and in that fellowship, God s work is to be done. Play the game, he urged. “Be true to God and man; do justice and be charitable; be willing to forgive and forget.” Mrs Boulton Smith thanked church members for their friendship and cooperation, which had made her work so much easier. Mr Reddell presented Mr and Mrs Boulton Smitti with a cheque from the congration. Mrs Reddell presented Mrs Boulton Smith with a bouquet. Many messages of goodwill were read, including letters from the Bishop of Christchurch (the Rt. Rev. A. K. Warren) who is now in Britain, and from the secretary of the New Zealand Baptist Union (the Rev. P. F. Lanyon). , x The choir sang two hymn studies, under the conductorship of Mr G. McCann and accompanied by Mr J. Hosking at the organ. At the close of the meetmg Mr McCann sang a solo, “How Great Thou Art.”