A MINISTER TRANSFERRED.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 451, 9 March 1909, Page 5

A MINISTER TRANSFERRED.

FAREWELL,TO REV V , J. COCKER. Last night, at tho Primitive Methodist Church, Donald M 'Lean:> Street, a meeting was held to say farewell ito the Rev. J. Cocker, who, after five years spent in charge of this church, is going to a circuit in Auckland. Mr. J. P. Luke, M.P., presided,, and there was a largo attendance. Mr. Luke made very complimentary reference to the work done Mr. and Mrs. Cocker in connection 'with the Donald M'Lean Street Church. When they came to it, it was a small church, and now, owing to their efforts, there was a new lsrge church, which was well filled. On behalf of the congregations ,and' office-bearers at Newtown and at Island' Bay, he presented Mr. Cocker with a handsomely illuminated address. , Mrs. Wright, speaking especially for the women of the church, referred to the great kindness shown by Mr. and Mrs. Cocker to tho different members of the congregation,, their sympathy with every one ;in trouble, and the continual readiness to give help when needed.. Mrs.' Cocker had been an examplo, in many ways, to the women of the church, and they Iwould never forget her. '• . ■".).-,/, On behalf of the congregation, Mr. Luke then presented Mrs. Cocker with a fine timopiece, as a token of., the esteem in which sho was held by them. Tho Rev. 0. E. Ward made reference to the pleasant years which he had spent as a colleague of Mr. Cocker. He also regretted the 6ad circumstances which led to the absence of the Rov. John Dawson, who would have liked to speak of Mr. Cooker as a colleague. Mr. Cocker had been successful in all his circuits, in Ashburton, Feilding, Wanganui, and Wellington; he felt sure that he would have tho same success in; Auckland. Tho Rev. Mr. Thomson, minister at PoriTiia, also congratulated Mr. Cocker on the fine church which had been .erected owing to his efforts, ' » Mr. Cocker, in responding,, thanked tho previous speakers for their kind remarks, and for tho gifts to his wife, his family, and himself, and gave a brief resume of his work since coming to New Zealand. Hβ was anxious to follow the guidance of Providence, and felt that Providence 'called him to the work in Auckland. He had not preached the now theology—the old theology had done eiioiigh for the world. It had missioned foreign lands, built hospitals, and other institutions, it had illumined tho world for nearly two thousand years. He heldithat it was tho duty of a man to bring certainties, not doubts, into tho pulpit, and, while he had read about the new theology, becauso he believed a man should keep abreast of the times, he had not preached it. Ho was glad that they had succeeded in building tho new church. The circuit had required it, and it was doing good work, and he was glad of the improvement in'tho Island Bay Church. He had been able, while in England, to help tho Church here, and had recently had a letter from a college at Homo saying that two men there had volunteered to come to New Zealand. t > At tho conclusion of Mr. Cocker's remarks, tho congregation standing in silence recorded their sympathy with Mr. and Mrs. Dawson in the loss of their son Cliff. Mrs. Embury thon made, a graceful little speech regretting the departure of Mr. and Mrs. Cocker, and speaking very cordially of all Mrs. Cocker had done for tho Church during her five year 3 in Wellington. "ih. Smith, who proposed, and Mr. Miller, who seconded a vote of thanks to tho chairman, also eulogised tho minister and his wife. ; _ : During the ovening recitations were given by Mr. Fcltham and Mr. Hill, and songs by the Misses Oummings, Mr. Aiken, and Mr. Sandon.