DR. MONRO GIBSON RETIRES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1687, 1 March 1913, Page 11

DR. MONRO GIBSON RETIRES.

THIRTY-TWO YEARS AT ST. JOHN'S WOOD. At the North London Presbytery's meeting on January 14 Dr. Thornton presented tho report of a special committee appointed to confer with Dr. Monro Gibson and St. John's Wood Church with regard to his resignation of the charge. Dr. Gibson's action, raid Dr. Thornton, was 1 not dictated by reasons of. health, but by a desire to give his successor a free hanil and a clear tield, and a recognition of tho fact that a dual pastorate does not always make for the best work, in London at any rate. Dr. Gibson then gave a brief address, and Mr. A. M. Peterson spoke for tho Session and Deputy Surgeon-General Don, M.D., for the congregation. Both testified most cordially to the splendid work which Dr. Gibson had done. On the motion of tho Moderator of Synod (Hev. D. Fotheringham), seconded by Hev, Alexander ltamsay,. 8.D., tho Presbytery adopted a resolution accepting with siiiccro regret Dr. Monro Gibson's resignation. of the charge of St. John's Wood Church, to which it inducted him in June, 1880. "As these thirty-two veto and a half," tho resolution proceeded, "constitute tho longest, and not the least important, part of a laborious, fruitful, and distinguished ministry, first in America and afterwards in England, extending over fortv-cight years, the Presbytery cannot accept tho resignation without recording its gratitude to God for His groat goodness to His honoured and beloved servant, and its warm appreciation of the splendid work Dr. Gibson has been enabled to accomplish as minister of St. John's Wood Church, which during his entire pastorate has been noted for its abundant Christian labours and largehearted liberality, and also as a mother of churches." After acknowledging the valuable servico Dr. Gibson has rendered to the synod in many directions, and recalling his prominonco as a foremost representative of Presbytorianism in England among tho sister Churches, the resolution concludes! "Tho regrofc of tlio Presbytery at the impending tavoranco of,

tlio pastoral tio in this case is, happily, tempered by the knowledgo that Dr. GibRon ia still to remain as an emeritus member of this Court, so that it 'A ill I'.et lose the inspiration of his cheery voieo and pleasant smile, nor the benefit of his wise and sympathetic counsel, the outcome of a clear head <irfd a strong and lender heart. And so it earnestly prays that ho may bo 6parcd for some \<<irs yet to meet his brethren in Presbytery, and to (jo in and out among the churches as a helper of the weak and an encounter of the despondent until the Master vliom ho has faithfully served sends His angel to open for him the gateway which U ads from earth's garden suburb to liervcn's happy and abiding home in the City that hath foundations.'" - Dr. Gibson's successor is the Jlev. A. M. Maclvea, B.D,