Farewell to the Rev. G. Clement.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 209, 5 March 1895, Page 2

Farewell to the Rev. G. Clement.

A farewell tea was held in the Primitive Methodist Church last evening as a " send-off " to the Rev. G. Clement, who has been in charge of this circuit for the past two years and who will leave Feilding on Friday next for Stratford. The tea, which was held in the Church was largely attended, including numbers from the outlying portions of the circuit, and the Salvation Army Barracks were crowded for the after meeting. At the tea, tables were give by Mesdames J. Gould, J. C. Thompson, and Trevena (one each), and two other tables were made up from contributions from various members of the congregation. The tables were presided over by Mesdames Trevena, M. Belfit, Evans, J. Gould, J. C. Thompson and the Misses M. Heald, A. Foster, M. McKeague, and Hodge. At the after meeting in the Salvation Army Barracks, Mr J. Gould presided and introduced the speakers, who were the Revs. Grinley (Primitive Methodist Minister of Halcombe), H. M. Murray (Presbyterian, Feilding), W. Dawson (Wesleyan, Feilding), Captain Renshaw (Salvation Army), and Mr G. Adams, each of whom eulogised Mr Clement's services to the Church. The Rev. Mr Clement read a statement showing the progress of the Church since he came to Feilding two years ago, at which period Halcombe separated i and formed a circuit independent of Feilding. They had succeeded in raising amounts for the following purposes during his two years' residence here : — New vestry, £25 14s 3d ; organ, £21 ; £80 had been paid off the debt of £134 which was on the Church when he came.; anniversaries, £29 7s 7d ; parsonage account £33 ; they had raised £33 8s Id in Campbelltown ; Sunday Schools, £25 8s Id ; Colyton Church (new), £50 ; Awahuri Church (new and opened free of debt), £100; missionary moneys, £17 4s 4d ; circuit income, £325 16s 2d ; Total, £741 5s 9d. It was estimated that the tea and meeting that evening would produce £12, and the Campbelltown tea and circuit meeting on Wednesday (tomorrow) would show further receipts amounting to £50, which would bring the total receipts up to £800 for his two years' term here. There were two Churches in the circuit when he arrived in Feilding, now there were four ; th.ore were now 89 members, being an increase of 16 ; 6 Sunday Schools, heing an increase of 1; 257 Sunday scholar an increase of 16 ; 28 teachers, an increase of 4. He had baptised 46 infants; solemnised 24 marriages, and conducted eleven burial services. On the motion of Mr J. C. Thompson, hearty votes of thanks were accorded to all who had assisted at the tea ; to the Captain of the Salvation Army fox the. use of the hall ; the ladies, of the. Clturch j those who addressed the meeting ; the choir; Mr and Mrs Clement for then? services for the past two, years,. Mr H. Curran. seconded, and Mr A. Linton supported, the motion. During the evening several saored selections were rendered by a strong choir-, conducted by Mr Simpson, Mrs J. C. Thompson presiding at the organ.