WELCOMED BACK.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1611, 30 November 1912, Page 6

WELCOMED BACK.

REV. J. K. ELLIOTTS RETURN. 1 The congregation of the Kent Terrace Presbyterian Church gathered en masse at tbo schoolroom'last evening, to welcome back their minister, the Rev. J. Kennedy Elliott, who has been'on a trip to the Old Country extending oyer a period of eight months, At the time ol' leiiving New Zealand Mr. Elliot's health, was not good, and his congregation decided that, after his ministry of nearly a quarter of a century amongst them,-a trip abroad would be beneficial.. . Mr. David Robertson, the oldest member of the session, expressed the pleasure which it gave them all to have tnoir minister back again among them. ■ _ ■ On rising to respond, the t?ev. Mr. Elliott was greeted with hearty 'applause. He stated that as far as his health was concerned he had never felt better. "In fact/' he stated, "I never felt younger than I do at tho pwsoiit time." Continuing, Mr. Elliott *aid that he had come back more fit for wort' tfcan he had ever felt before, and it was his intention that his work for ',he future would, if possible, be more than ever directed towards tho welfare of the congregation. Speaking of things ecclesiastical, the Rev. Elliott stated that the Scottish Church in England was making itself felt. ' It was "manned' by vory able men, who had done, and would continue to do noble duty. In Belfast, »lso, which town ho had visited, he found that Presbyterians had made great strides. While he was in Scotland he had the opportunity of observing the movement which was on foot to unite all Presbyterians tinder one head, and, as to the colonies, one thing regarding Sydney impressed him very much. That was tno immigration policy adopted by the Australian Government, and he was glad to hear that New Zealand was about to. follow in their footsteps in that direction. The cost of living,in tho New South Wales capital liad doubled since his last visit there, which was in the free-trade days. The speaker also referred to what he termed "the Americanism of the Sydneyites." It was his impression that the people of Sydney wero not so loyal to the Crown as New Zealanders wero. He also touched lightlv on tho Home Rule Question and stated that if such a condition of affairs wero to come it would be disastrous to Ireland. The people in'the North of Ireland, were whole-heartedly against Home Rule. "Ireland is more prosperous now than, over it was," said the reverend gentleman, "and it should be left alone by politicians." In conclusion, Mr. Elliott thanked those assembled for the hearty welcome which they had accorded him. During the course of the evening a presentation was made to the Rev. W. Shirer, who had actcd as Moderiftor during Mi. Elliott's absence. _ A programme of musical and elocutionary items was also gone through.