KNOX CHURCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 40

KNOX CHURCH.

WELCOME AND FAREWELL. The office-bearers of Knox Church, and their families assembled in strong force on , Friday, 21st inst., to give a welcome to the Rev. J. W: Shaw, M.A., who has recently been appointed assistant minister, and to ■ay good-bye to the Rev. E. G. Guthrie, M.A., who occupied the pulpit for some two months during Mr Hewitson's absence in Australia. Stuart Hall, where the function was held, had been converted for the occasion into a most artistically decorated drawing room. Amongst those present were the Rev. Drs Waddell and Watt, Mr and Mrs T. S. Shaw, and Mr and Mrs Henry Guthrie. After a short musical programme had been gone through, Mr Hewitson called upon Dr Waddell to address the meeting, and said that Mr Shaw was a product of St. Andrew's Churoh, and that to Dr Waddell more than to any other was due the influencing of Mr Shaw to*. wards the Christian ministry. Dr Waddell said that Mr Shaw had had the inestimable advantage of Belonging to a home such as Burns had declared to be the true source of Scotland's grandeur. IWhen readying about popular heroes, he sometimes felt that both in the Home Country and here he h*d known many lowly people who, from _ the self-sacrifice they had exhibited" in order th&rtheir children might be fitted for good and useful service, were more worthy the name of heroes than many whom the world delighted to honour. It was to her pious homes that New Zealand would have to look for the springs of her national exaltation. Mr Shaw had been identified with almost every organisation of St. Andrew's, and -had borne himself in sach a way as ■to win universal respect and esteem. From his high Christian character, his proved intellectual powers, and his past experience in church work, he (Dr Wjiddell} was led to predict for Mr Shaw a faithful ministry in the Gospel. While St. Andrew's parted with him with regret, it rejoiced in the honourable position to which he had been appointed in Knox Churoh, and he besought for him the trust, the encouragement, and the prayers of the congregation — its trust even when he went wrong; its encouragement, for young ministers especially needed it; its prayers, for more was accomplished by prayer than the world dreamed of. Mr Hewitson. on behalf of himself and the Session and Deacons' Court, presented the Rev. Mr Guthrie with a number of books in token of their regard for him as a preacher and as a Christian gentleman. Mr Guthrie and Mr Shaw both spoke briefly and pithily. After refreshments had been partaken of and votes of thanks had been accorded to those who had contributed musical items, and to Mrs Hislop and her daughters for their work in beautifying the hall, the pronouncing of the benediction by Dr Dunlop terminated a very enjoyable meet\ng.