WELCOME SOCIAL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9437, 6 May 1909, Page 2

WELCOME SOCIAL.

REV. O. GRIFFIN ENTERGAINED. ' : k The Rev., O. Grifflu,' who has taken up bis duties at Marten Methodist Ohuroh, was entertained by numerous friends at the schoolroom last evening. He received a very warm I welcome and a most enjoyable evening was spent. A programme ot vocal and instrumental items was gone through in the early part of the evening, and the solos contributed > by some very young members of the audience, were . heartily applauded. The welcome speech was made by the circuit steward, Mr K. Mos.sman, who said he was voicing the feelings of the congregation in extending to their new minister a hearty welcome to Mar ton and district. They had jus■ bidden farewell to the'Rev. MrOarr, and, of course, they had something to say about what he had_ done during his term. He con Id not find so much to say in the P reß e nt n ®fffi ’ Because he had not known Mr Griffin any length of time. However, with Mr Griffin’s long experience in Methodist work, the congregation realised they had got a minister; The social had been arranged to enable them to become more closely acquainted. leit that Mr Griffin would have too much work to do if members of the congregation did not'take their part in filling offices in church work and encouraging the' young jpeople to attend a place of worship. There was also good work to be done in the Sunday School, which was the nursery of the oburoh. He was gratified to find the young folks assisting in the programme that even- ' ing, a fact which should be encouraging to the new minister. It was a matter for regret that so lew yonng men took £n part in cbnroh work. This was quite a u*mtrast to the olden times. He felt strongly on this point because young men identifying themselves in oburoh work, naturally strengthened • the hands of the clergyman. He again extended to Mr and Mrs Griffin a hearty welcome, and hoped their time in Marton would be prosperous, profitable and happy. - The Rev. 0. Griffin first expressed his thanks to those who had planned snob a pleasant gathering. It was just the kind of gathering he liked * as the items, furnished always put him in a good hnmdr. When they had good singing in the oburoh he oond preach a good sermon, because he seemed tuned up. He did not claim to be ah expert, but he did Know that whether mnsic was simple and heartreaching. or of a high-class, he felt that he could prehoh batter. It was, therefore, a good thing to have a good choir and a congregation that was not afraid to sing. , He had already got his eye on several 'promising, singers, and the choir should get the benefit their voices. He was thinking that day that if anybody had a chance of making a lot of friends in New Zealand the Methodist Minister was the mah. The poor ministers—not poor but rioh really—had to move about pretty frequently. He had been in , New Zealand a little over 80 years and he was simply surprised to find out about three months ago, at a time of great sorrow, how many friends he had. They had shared With him in that grief and he had received i over 500 messages _ from friends in all parts of the Dominion. He had come to Marton practically . a total stranger—he only knew a few whom he had met before, i However, he was not going to take the place by storm and he did not want to feel like a walking menagerie. He was going to be a plain, homely' and he hoped a oommonrsense individual. He„would help anybody ■ whether Methodists or not. He wanted to be counted one of them. He was not going to tell them alf that he was going, to do—he -never made a practice of that —’but he wanted to know what they were going to do. He would put in 'his best work in every respect. That was a general confession, and he wanted them to be ready to join in that confession! He was not going to give the yonng men up as a bad job. After the Conference had appointed hinf-to Marton it got abroad that he was an ancient kind of individual and. would probably have to resort to crutches. This bad got a hold of people in the district, for on his first trip to the country to preaOh he was met l?y a man after service who looked him up and down, and then finally Isaiid “Yon are not so very old after all,”. This, man was 75 years and old enough to be his father. Appearance did not indicate age, in bis own case. He was, however, getting on in years, but still felt as young in heart and life as he did a quarter of a century ago. He bad a.big place in his i;heart for the .boys and girls and if they made a friend of him it would be mutual. He was determined the Marton Oburoh should be a centre of Christian activity. He hoped the social would ha. a forerunner of. many enjoyable meetings. A dainty supper was supplied by the ladies.