ST. PAUL’S CHURCH, THORNDON.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5521, 6 December 1878, Page 6

ST. PAUL’S CHURCH, THORNDON.

PRESENTATION TO MB. W. MOWBRAY. On Friday last Mr. \V. Mowbray, who has just retired from the position of choir-master after a term of office extending over nineteen years, was the recipient of testimonials, one from the vestry, and another from the parishioners. The ceremony took place in the Diocesan Library, and there were present a large number of persons. Proceedings having been duly opened, The Rev. Mr. Harvey said Ladies and gentlemen,—The vestry have asked me to perform a very pleasing duty to-night, and yet it is one I feel very considerable diffidence in performing. lam sure if I expressed my own feelings and the feelings of those gentlemen who are working on the vestry, I should have to employ terms with regard to Mr. Mowbray which would almost be painful for him to listen to, for we know that an honorable sensitive man naturally enough shrinks from hearing his praises sounded in his own presence. As soon as it was decided that Mr. Mowbray’s resignation of his position as choir-master of tho church, which he had held ■ for over nineteen years I believe, should be accepted, thcro was an immediate expression of feeling by the vestry that they ought not to allow the connection to close without in some way, however poorly, exhibiting their sense of the very great value his services had been to the church during the time he held that position. I am sure you will all a°Too with me that no money could purchase that no money could pay for his services, (Hear, hear.) When a man enters so heartily, earnestly, and zealously into hia work as Mr. Mowbray lias done, there must always be a great debt of gratitude from those whom he has striven so thoroughly to serve ; and for myself, I must say most sincerely I feel deep gratitude to him for tho continual kind help ho has afforded me in tho parish. I have boon here seven years, and during that time he has co-operated with mo thoroughly. Wo have never had the slightest approach to a difference of opinion on any matter. Though I daresay as an earnest worker he often held strong views as to what ho would like to see carried out, ho has always endeavored to consult my ideas as to what was right and best, and has most thoroughly and loyally acted up to what I have wished to bo done. When I say I speak for myself, I ought to say I speak for my predecessor as well I came out from England with him, and remained bora with him for a time, and when leaving ho spoke to me in tho highest possible terms of Mr. Mowbray. So that really from personal experience I can testify to the services he has rendered for the past ton years It was with tho very greatest regret that the vestry accepted Mr. Mowbray’s resignation, and I ought to say that when it appoarod necessary there should be a change in the leadership of tho choir—that the office of organist and leader should be combined—Mr. Mowbray most generously came forward and tendered his resignation. Several times when it had been suggested that the two offices should be combined wo wished Mr. Mowbray to take charge, but be always reluctantly declined, saying the time had gone by when lie could acquire that manual dexterity with tho organ which was necessary. Nothing whatever would have pleased me better than to have seen him take the organ if such an arrangement could have been made. (Hear,

hear.) However, I think Mr. Mowbray crowned all his service* to the church when he came forward so generously 'and set aside all personal feeling to enable the vestry to

make other arrangements. (Applause.) I have now to present this tea and coffee service to you, Mr. Mowbray, and to ask you to accept it from the vestry as a small token of their regard for you and of their appreciation of your services. I hope that for many years you will have it before you, to remind you of times which I am sure have been as pleasant to you as to us. At any rate it will serve to assure you that we are not ungrateful for what you have done for tho pariah. (Applause.) Mr. W. H. Levin : Mr. Mowbray, I regret that the duty which I have been asked to undertake has not fallen to some more prominent churchman. However, I feel great pleasure in performing it. When I look back as I can to the many years you hsve been associated with this parish, and at the way in which you have overcome the almost insurmountable difficulties you have had at times to contend with, in order to provide the musical accessories to our services, I feel the parishioners owe you a deep debt of gratitude, and that they recognise that is proved by my being deputed on their behalf to-night to present you with this salver and a purse of sovereigns. We very much regret that the time has come when you have seen fit to resign the position you have so long and creditably held as choir-master. The circumstances attending that resignation are known to most parishioners, and the unselfishness of your action in giving up the position, in what you believe to be the interests of the parish, is fully appreciated. It is a satisfaction to a man to know that his services, after a long series of years, are appreciated by those whom he has served, and therefore I hope you will accept as au evidence that your services are appreciated this salver and purse of sovereigns. I don’t think I shall be travelling beyond the record when I say that the same goodwill whip'. we desire to show you wo also desire to Mrs. Mowbray, whose services are valued by the parishioners as one with yours, (Applause.) Mr. Mowbray, in replying, said : I can hardly find words in which to express my deep sense of your kindness in this matter. The presents and the kind remarks exceed so much what are my deserts that I can only attribute them to a generous sympathy with me in the peculiar circumstances that attended my resignation. I thank you heartily, and shall value the present highly. I should not care to venture to do more than thank you were it not that I desire to remove from the minds of same of my friends a misconception which has arisen. I know there is an impression abroad that some pressure was brought to bear to induce me to resign my position, and I wish to take this opportunity of saying such is not the case at aIL The resignation was entirely voluntary on my part. I have always held the idea of resigning whenever a better man should appear; and when Mr. Parker came I thought we had found a better man, and after a conversation with him at once sent in my resignation. Certainly it was a struggle to me to give up the position I had held so long, bub I am sincerely glad I did so, I enjoy the services under Mr. Parker’s direction much more than I did under my own, and I hope long to continue a member of the choir under his direction. (Applause.) I believe he performs his duty greatly to tho advantage both of the congregation and the choir. I can only say again that I thank you very much, and shall always look back to this evening with gratification. (Applause). The Rev. Mr Harvey thought a better man than Mr. Mowbray could not have been desired. They were more than satisfied with him. (Hear, hear.) It was not only his musical talents which were of advantage, but also that gift possessed by him of managing and keeping the choir together without any bickerings. The proceedings then terminated. The presentation from tho vestry consisted of a very handsome and valuable silver tea and coffee service, from the establishment of Mr. A, R. Hislop, of Lambton-quay, and that from the parishioners was a splendid salver, very costly, which was purchased from Messrs. Kolm and Co., of Lambton-quay, On each piece of the service was inscribed the following:—“Presented to W. Mowbray, Esq., by the vestry of St. Paul’s Cathedral Church, Wellington, N.Z., in recognition of his long and zealous services as Choir-master. November, 1878" Also, a monogram composed of Mr. Mowbray’s initials. On the silver salver ■was inscribed :—“Presented to William Mowbray, Esq., by the parishioners of St, Paul’s Church, Wellington, on his retirement from the office of Choir-master. November, 1875,” The engraving was beautifully done, and was, we understand, the handiwork of Mr. Boch, of Lyon and Blair’s establishment. It may be added that the committee appointed by the parishioners, at the final meeting lost evening, passed a vote of thanks to Mr. Garrard for the active manner in which he had * carried through the executive part of the committee’s business.