WELCOME SOCIAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1039, 4 May 1912, Page 3

WELCOME SOCIAL.

A welcome social was rendered to the Rev J. M. Thomson m.a., by the Tiakitahuua Presbyterians on Tuesday night. There was a large gathering in toe hail and the proceed lugs were of a very hearty character." Mr McCully occupied the chair and tendered, on behalt oi the congregation, the heartiest of welcomes to tue minister of their choice and his wife, and voiced the deep satislactiou of jthe people at having the vacancy at last so weil-filied by so able and acceptable a minister. He relerred to the absolute unanimity of the call sent by the people to Mr Thomson, mentioning that very rarely indeed did so large a proportion of those entitled to sign a call exercise the privilege as had been done in this instance. He further emphasised the democratic principles that lay at the basis of Presbyterianism, conferring as they do full freedom on the people, while yet securing due independence to the minister, and pointed out that the problem of union might readily be solved by the powers of absorption possessed by the Presbyterian Church. He assured Mr and .Mrs Thomson oi the hearty co-operation of the people in all the work of the church.

Mr Passey, on behalf of the Sabbath School, and Mr Roland on behalt of the choir, also conveyed a hearty welcome to Mr Thomson from their organisations, Mr Passey particularly bespeaking for the children the minister’s deep interest in them.

Mr Rockell, the local schoolmaster, also expressed his own personal pleasure and that ot the people at having Mr Thomson, whom he had known for many years, settled amongst them. Mr Thomson, on rising to reply, was warmly greeted by the audience. He said he telt the difficulty of adequately expressing the warmth of his feelings in response to the exceedingly kind welcome he and Mrs Thomson had received from one and all. The voluntary system of call such as operated in the Presbyterian Church always secured this for its ministers, and the altogether unique heartiness of the call he had received gave him just ground for his assured confidence in their loyalty and support and co-opera-tion. He followed up Mr McCully’s remarks by further emphasising and illustrating the catholicity of the Presbyterian Church in its polity and doctrine, and in its charity, in that it gives full recognition and standing to all Christian believers individually and collectively, neither unchurching nor unchristianising any, and granting full admission to every member ot any evangelical church. And, as a remarkable illustration of the catholicity of Presbyterian Doctrine, he instanced the brief statement ot the Reformed Faith edited by the Rev. P. B. Fraser M.A., a few years ago, which, while it was avowedly a statement ot Presbyterian Faith and Doctrine, yet received hearty endorsement as a statement ot true Christian Faith from high Bishops of the Anglican Church and irom leading ministers of practically all Fvaugelical Churches, one of the warmest tributes being from Dr. Fitchett, of the Australasian Methodist Church. The compilation of the Westminister Confession and Catechisms also emphasised the endorsement which the standards and symbols of the Presbyterian Church have received from Divines other than those ot its own strict orders. Such catholicity of polity and doctrine and charity, must strongly commend the Presbyterian Church to such a mixed community as this, and Mr Thomson assured all, that, as minister, he would ever endeavour to give full place to this catholic spirit 01 his own loved church. As regards the children and the Sabbath School, he declared that his whole heart was with the little ones, and he would gladly avail himself of every opportunity of ministering to them specially. And, in his housevisiting, he said, he would never forgive the fathers and mothers it they scurried the children off to the back kitchen .. acn he appeared, instead ot letting him see them and meet them as well as the older members of the family. He warmly appreciated the welcome from the choir and exhorted all to make the praise of God as worthy as might be ot the great Being to whom it was offered. We should never be satisfied in such case: “Divine discontent” had a right place here and should always spur us to higher endeavours. He again thanked one and all on behalt ot Mrs Thomson and himself and pleaded tor their full confidence and friendship in all their relations, in home and private life as well as in church relationship.