VALEDICTORY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 537, 4 June 1920, Page 2

VALEDICTORY.

<MISS E. W. ROOGERS. Miss E W. Rodgers, an esteemed member of St. James' Presbyterian Church, who is shortly leaving for Ireland, was tendered a farewell social in the Presbyterian Church on Wednesday night. There was a lar<(e attendance of members of the church and personal friends of the guest of the evening. Mr. E. Allen, of Buck land, presided,' and the function was opened by the rendering of the 100 th psalm, followed by prayer by the chairman.

During the evening vocal items rendered by St. James' choir, Miss Nellie Perkins, Messrs W. T. Jones, Bear, A. D. Young, and. a quartette by Messrs W. T. Jones, D. Blake, J. Roulston and A. D. Young, and instrumental Items by "Messrs Murgatioyd ('cello) and bass) were appreciated. The accompaniments were played by Ruth Penman and Mr. Murgatroyd. Supper, provided by the ladies, was partaken of, and full justice was done thereto.

During an interval in the proceedings, the- chairman, on behalf of the congregation, piesented Miss Rodgers with a solid leather travelling case and companion as a token of esteem f'tid a mark of appreciation in which she was held. In the course of his' remarks Mr. Allen said he would rather welcome a person ! say good-bye. He eulogised the*work ac .complished by Miss Rodgers during "her seven years' connection with St. James' Church. She had determined to return to the Emerald Isle, and he trusted she would have a safe and pleasant passage to her homeland. Miss Rodgers, he added, was i lady possessed of considerable musical ability, and her musical faculties had introduced her to the choir, where she had always willingly rendered valuable assistance. She was a great helper at The Manse, a worker in time, of need and sorrow. She wis also a regular attendant at church when it was possible for her to do so. The guest of the evening was a lady of. a quiet and .unassuming disposition and her man}' good qualities had. made for' her many loyal frientfs throughout the whole of, the Presbyterian charge in., this district. In Miss Rodgers they were losing a ' valuable church worker, whose placet would be exceedingly hard to fill. She had heard the call of "Come Back to Erin," and when she heard the call of come back to Pukekohe, he assured her that she would be welcomed with open arms'. (Applause.) He regretted vet y much her departure from and she would thus leav.e a great gap behind her. When she ueached Ireland she would remember the Manse, St. James' Church "hnd" the poor -preachers she had often fistened to. He did not wish her to draw a comparison with Pukekohe's laymen and the* preachers in Ireland. A? a mark of esteem and as a token of respect he asked her acceptance 6t a solid leather travelling bag and companion, and hoped that when she was carving it in the itreets of Dunlin. Deny and Co., her mind would go back to her friends in far-off Pukekhoe. (Applause.) The recipient thanked them for tlfte valuable present, and called on k 1 er brother-in-iaw, Rev. S. Nixon, to rosily her behalf. W.' N-is'on said that Miss Rodgers had ceiite, t* • New Zealand seven years ago. *She was one of two sisLeft wkfl Vafl been brought up in a in Ireland. During her residency in Pukekohe she had done what coukl for St. James' Church, but to her own way of thinking £he 'had* accomplished little. He added Hat niost of her church work kas .dfcne while the congregation was in bed. The work- she had done in tHe choir was a source of real pleasure She was musical to her finger-tips, and he claimed that a musical person was bound to be a very religious person. In Pukekohe Miss Rodgers had found some of her best friends. This night week she would be rolling on the mightv deep, carrying away many pleasant recollections of one of the most beautiful places she had ever lived in- Pukekohe-and a - so pleasant memories of the church she had done so much for. If ever che desired to leave Ireland, Mr. Nixo „ added, there was only one country .she would go to and one i lace in that country, and that olar was beautiful Pukekohe. He thanked them on her oehalf for the valuable P iunction was brought lo a close by the rendering of "Auld Lang Syne," and the pronouncing ot the