MORRINSVILLE METHODIST CIRCUIT.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 77, 11 April 1918, Page 4

MORRINSVILLE METHODIST CIRCUIT.

Farewell to Rev. C. W. Brown. At the Methodist church on Wednesday evening there assembled a large number of adherents of the Morrinsville circuit, who, with several friends of other denominations, farewelled their popular minister, the Rev. 0. VV. Brown, who leaves immediately to take up the ministerial duties in connection with the Te Kuiti circuit. The chair was occupied by Mr W. Richards, of Matamata, and he was supported by the two circuit stewards, Messrs A Warren and W. Woodley. The opening hymn, “All Hail the Power of Jesu’s Name,” being sung by those present Capt. Foster, of the Salvation Army, contributed a prayer. In his opening remarks the chairman said : “ Do not think I am glad to lose our friend, although I am pleased to meet here and do hotaor to one who has done so much for Methodism in our district.” During his long term of office,, ; which extended back seven long years Mr Brown had, by his ability and untiring zeal, placed the Morrinsville circuit in its present strong position. He spoke of the big fight put up by various circuit officers to obtain Mr Brown’s services, but Te Kuiti being the strongest fighters eventually won. He mentioned this to show that Mr Brown’s abilities were widely known. He was not here as a circuit steward, and he felt honored at being able to welcome the two new stewards, Messrs A. Warren and W. Woodley, but he regretted they would not have Mr Brown to help and guide them as he had done for the speaker. He was pleased to see such a representative gathering present, and it spoke volumes for the respect in which Mr Brown was held by all through, no doubt, his v fearless upholding of the Word of God and his ability as an organiser, and as an exponent of social and moral reform. He wished Mr and Mrs Brown God speed and success in surroundings, and regretted the fact that Mrs Brown’s ill-health prevented her from being present. He would call upon Mr G. W. Brayshaw to say a few words.

Mr G. W. Brayshaw said the purpose of the gathering was to bid farewell to their respected friend and minister, Rev. C. W. Brown. He endorsed the remarks of the previous speaker, and regretted to part with Mr Brown, who had got on so well, and had won the respect of all denominations in the district. On the previous occasion when Mr Brown was transferred Matamata did not wish him to go, and he came back for a further period and had made the circuit boom. He could speak truthfully and say that Mr Brown had, during his ministry here, advanced Methodism and Christianity on a whole. His work was clean, straightforward and of the highest degree. The condition of the circuit was not too good when Mr Brown took over the ministry, but through his indefatigable exertion it now stood in its present sound position. He regretted that Mrs Brown was unable through ill-health to assist her husband. Rev. Brown deserved credit for what he had done, and he wished to officially bid him farewell and to express sorrow at his departure; he hoped to see him again, and he and all the members of the Church would always extend the right hand of fellowship to him. He would ask him to accept a wallet of bank notes as a small token of the esteem in which he was held, and in doing so would impress on him the fact that it did not represent the value placed upon his services. He expressed the best wishes of all adherents in the circuit for his and Mrs Brown’s future welfare and prosperity in their new district. (Applause). The chairman called upon Miss Connie Finn who presented a Waterman’s Fountain Pen to Miss Lizzie Brown as a mark of the esteem in which she was held by the Sunday School children. The Rev. C. W. Brown on rising to respond, received an ovation. He said that it was rather a peculiar position to be in as it was the second occasion on which he had been farewelled by his Morrinsville people. It was true that seven years ago Morrinsville was the worst place in New Zealand in connection with the Methodist church being cursed with conservatism. During the seven years of his administration this had been driven out and the spirit of progress and democracy had taken its place. He thanked them for their gift and also the ladies of the congregation for their visit and presentation to his wife that afternoon. He urged the people to have faith in God

and not take too much interest in makin gm o n ey, th e Chris t wh o m he served was not going to make a failure of this world, and he would urge them not to forget that the future success of the Church lay not with his successor but in the people themselves. Morrinsville had become like home to him, he having lived in New Zealand nine and a-half years, seven of which had been spent in Morr insville. Only when he looked back did he see the great advance Methodism had made here, there was still room for greater extensions. He urged them all to put their faith in God and He would not fail them. Speaking of the development of Methodism in the Auckland district he said 25 per cent, of the increase had been made between Taumarunui and Mercer. He returned thanks to the Sunday School children for their gift to his daughter and he knew she fully appreciated the spirit in which it was given. He impressed upon the young people the necessity to “ seek ye first the Kingdom of God,” and the dangers that the coming years may bring. They were passing through a great crisis and they would have to be prepared. The world would never be the same again and he agreed with Mr Lloyd George that the world was in a very morbid state. The younger people would be called upon for greater efforts and he hoped they would be prepared to stamp the imprint ‘‘for God, humanity and truth ” upon it. PRESENTATION TO MRS BROWN. \ Owing to Mrs Brown’s inability through ill-health to attend the farewell at the Church in the evening, several ladies of the congregation waited upon her at the parsonage on Wednesday afternoon, and in a neat, speech Mrs Finn asked her to accept as a small token of their esteem,, a handsome dressing gown. Mrs Brown suitably replied, and afterwards the visitors entertained her at afternoon tea. The total circuit present to the Rev. C. W. Brown was £46.

AN APPRECIATION. (Contributed). Seven years ago the Rev. C. W. Brown came to Morrinsville as second minister in the Upper Thames circuit, Te Archa being then the headquarters. . To few ministers is it given to see such progress as has attended his labors in this district. While the prosperity of the district has wonderfully increased it must be gratifying to the officials to note the marvellous growth of Methodism in every place. Mr Brown’s district stretched from Tahuna to Putaruru, and seven years ago it was impossible to travel by train to Putaruru and back in the same day, and often to economise time the minister had to make the journey by road. After two years faithful ministry in Morrinsville, during which the present parsonage was built and a site secured for a church at Tahuna, Mr Brown was removed to the Matamata end of the circuit, where great development was taking place. Matamata was now separated from the old circuit and made an independent station, while Morrinsville became the head of the remaining portion of the circuit, Te Aroha taking the second minister. For three years Mr Brown labored at Matamata, during which time the present church and parsonage were built, and a section secured at Hinuera, where a church was erected two years ago. At the expiration of three years Morrinsville and Te Aroha were constituted separate circuits, and the Rev. Brown was brought back to Morrinsville to organise the new circuit. Mr Brown’s skill as an organiser is evidenced in the two live, liberal circuits which exist to-day, where only two poor conservative sections existed before. To have seen the erection of 3 churches and 2 parsonages in a period of seven years is a record of which any church or minister may be proud. Mr Brown’s business ability has been shown in the successful manner of his administration of trust and building funds, large amounts of money having been raised for these purposes. The outstanding amounts on the properties are at present very small. Numerically the Church has flourished, the total membership being trebled during the seven years.

Mr Brown is a young people’s man, ever interesting himself in all that pertains to the young life of the Church, and to-day there are several flourishing Bible classes which owe much of their success to his untiring zeal. Mr Brown has been more than a minister. He has ever proved himself a good citizen, taking a prominent part in questions associated with the development of the district; and when the history of the past

few years is written Mr Brown’s name will occupy not the least place. To many Mr Brown’s removal to Te Kuiti will be a great loss. They will always remember the fearless stand he took in all public and moral questions. He is no trimmer, but loves a fair fight, for which his friends love him more sincerely, and his opponents cannot but respect him. His capacity for work is wonderful. He has method, grace, grit and gumption which appeal to all who know him. Often his preaching has reached a very high level, and he has never failed to declare the “ whole counsel of God.” As a pastor MiBrown is best known where sorrow, sickness and bereavement have come. Bearing his own burdens cheerfully he has constantly carried into the homes of his people comfort and cheer in their time of need. It may be prophesied for MiBrown a successful ministry at Te Kuiti, where his gifts will be a force in the whole life of the district. He carries with him the good wishes of a large section of this community. MiBrown is to be succeeded here by Rqy. T. R. B. Woolloxall, of Blenheim.