HONOURING A CONGREGATION. ALIST.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 464, 24 March 1909, Page 4

HONOURING A CONGREGATION. ALIST.

SOCIAL A. M. LEWIS, A farewell Eocial • gathering cto Jtr. 'A. JI. Lewis, chairman-elect'd;f tho New ; Zealand Congregational Union, who leaves on Friday next, irith Mrs. and Miss Lewis, on a visit to the Old Country, was given in the Courtenay Place Congregational Schoolroom last evening... There was a crowded attendance, 'Congregational Churches of tho city aHd'Subiirbs beinsr well represented. The Rev. Macdonald Aspland presided. Re&rets for unavoidable absence and good wishes to Mr. Lewis were-received-from the Hoa. G. Fowlds. Mr. E. Meadoworoft, treasurerof the WeDington Congregational Committee, snid that ho had been co.iaected with, church work together with Mr. Lewis for 15 or 17 years, and ho thought that the Congregati3n.il Churches in "Wellington owed much to the zeal and energy of their guest. He hoped that Mr. Lewis would not conoiude from his London observations that there were no church leaders in New Zealand'to compare with those in the Old Country. He thought thet..the Wellington district was particularly fortunate in its religious leaders. He hoped that Mr. Lewis, Mrs. Lewis, and their daughter would enjoy a prosperous, and pleasant trip, and that Mr. Lewis would return invigorated and' inspired. The Rev. J. Reed Glasson agreed that the Wellington churches owed a great deal to Mr. Lewis. In proportion to their numbers and wealth Mr. Lewis would find nowhere in the world a Congregational community doing better work than that of Wellington. lie endorsed the good wishes of Mr. Meadowcroft. The Rev. AV. Evans «aid that 'it wonld pay the Churches of New Zealand to send their ministers Home at least once in seven years. In all the great movements in the Old Country that made for the amolioration of the nation Congregationalists stood second to none. There was a great deal still to do in New Zealand, and there was no polity so elastic and so adaptable to the needs of this young country as Congregationalism. He congratulated Mr. Lewis on his elevation to the' highest position whiph New Zealand Congregationalists could bestow, and wished him and his family a happy and useful irip. I Mr. W. G. Holdsworth, Sunday School superintendent, handed to Jliss Lewis a letter of introduction from the Wellington Sunday School Union to the' union at Home.

Mr. I. Forsyth, church treasurer, also spoke. ■ Miss Minnie Forsyth presented Mrs. and Miss Lewis with bouquets.: The Eov. Macdon.ld Aspland then presented Mr. Lewis with a - beautifully 'illuminated address, in allum form, signed by the minister and deacons of the church. The address said: We, the members and adherents of the church worshipping at Courtenuy Place, Wellington Aew Zealand, desire to express to you, on the evo of, your departure for England, our sincere* appreciation of your Christian character and untiring devotion , to the fellowship of tho church dunag your membership of 22 years. Your service as secretary; extending 6ver some 16 years, has been marked by an earnest spirit of loyalty to; Christ and the church. We acknowledge with gratitude the faithful and efficient service you have rendered as choirmaster, and desire to assure jou that vour labour of love in this particular branch of the church s work ha. been at all times greatly valued. Wo als-) take this opportunity to heartily congratulate you upon the honour your brethren have conferred upon, you and the church to which you Iwlong by electing you to the chair of tho Congregational Union o'f NewZealand." The address concluded with good wishes for tho holiday and «afe return of Mr., Mrs., and Miss Lewis.

■ Mr. Lewis, in replying, referred to the virtual foundation of the Courtenay Place Church, in which he took part 22 years ago. Ho traced the development of the church since that time, and returned warm thanks for the address and reforenees of the evening. Songs and recitations were given, and refreshment* wero' handed round at the conclusion of the evening. ;