FAREWELL SOCIAL TO MISS M. G. WOOD

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 72, 17 December 1937, Page 11

FAREWELL SOCIAL TO MISS M. G. WOOD

Miss M. G. Wood was the guest of honour at a farewell soeial lield in St. Andrew's Llall, Hastings. Tbe soeial was organised by tbe young people of St. Andrew's congregation in appreciatiun of the fact tliat Miss Wouu lias been a Bible CJass leader for eight jeurs and lias more reeently been presideut oi the Young People's t'Juli. The chair was oe upied by tlie Rev. D. J. A. Shaw, and tlie atinosirhere was that of wanu iriendiiness and uappy iellowship witbout undue fonnality. ltexns oi eutertainnient weie conInbuted by the following : Miss Betli i'hompson, violiu solo; interinediate gir.s' ehoir, part songs (2) ; Miss Lassie Baird, eloetition ; Miss Hazel Turner, vocal solo. Games and comyetitions were interspersed. Before supper the Rev. D. J. A. Shaw presented to Miss Wood, on ueualf of the young people, a beautil'ul traveiliiig emjluon in toolecl leather with Maori design, and a l'ouiitaxn pen. In dping so he referred to the eharaeteristie Iriendiiness and helpiulness of the guest of the evening. Possessed of more than average ability and with liigli academic attainments, Miss \\ ood kud never taken an attitude of superiority, but had won the regard of all by her readiness to help and her easy, brigbt approaeh to the difiident and shy girls in the Bible Class movement. bhe had been a tovver oi strength m thcir midst toi, m addition to her ability, she possessed an untiring energy and unhagging enthusiasni. The speaker referred to his own seuse of ioss. He had always adnnred Miss M ood's natural, sincere manner ; she had dared to be herseff. They would all miss her gracious iiresence and the help she had so ehectively given in so many ways, but they rejoiced with her in the liappy prospect of the years ahead. The gitts were just a siight token of their vvarm a±tection, sincere gratitude and best wishes. Mr. R. D. Sutherland, session tlerk, spoke on belialf ot the office-bearers, refering to the gieat infiuence for good exerted by the departing guest. bo many girls had passed through her Bdble Class and had been in touch with her in other spheres of work and socail activity. The presence of so large a number of these girls was a trihute in itself. He appeaied to them to embody in their life the prmciples of Uhristian faith and service they had learned from their departing leader. Miss Wood, in expressing thanks, said that she had come to Hastings eight years ago as a stranger, hut soon telt tliat she was among triends. She had always found the people of St. Andrew's congregation so friendly and hospitable that she had been very happy in all lier associations with them. Her work had given her much pleasure, and though she was looking forward eageily to her ncw spbere oi Jife on the other side of tlie world, she would miss the many friends these years in Hastings liad afforded her. She 'appeaied to the girls to maintain m their life the vital trutlis they had discussed in c'ass, the things for which the Cliristian Church was working through all her organisations. These were the things that mattered more than anytliing elae in life. The singing of "Auld Lang Syue" brought a memorable eveniug to a close Miss Wood lea>es Hastings on Saturday, and is to be married in Scntland early nest year.