MINISTER BIDDEN FAREWELL

Southland Times, Issue 24881, 22 October 1942, Page 3

MINISTER BIDDEN FAREWELL

The Oreti Hall was filled when a social was held in honour of the Rev. Mr Hay and Mrs Hay and family who are leaving the district. The interim-moderator, the Rev. John Newlands, of Winton, presided and had associated with him the Revs. J. MacGregor (Centre Bush) and R. McKenzie (Browns). The chairman expressed the regret of the church community that because of ill-health Mr Hay was reluctantly compelled to resign his charge. His pastorate had lasted three years, but pastorates were measured not by their length but by their depth; not by their duration, but by their quality. Judged by that scale Mr Hay’s ministry had been rich indeed. Mr C. McLeish (session clerk), Mr James Findlay (clerk of the Deacons’ Court), Mrs Campbell, representing the P.W.M.U., Miss Fleming for the Sunday school, and Messrs V. Horner and H. Hubber for the Bible classes, Mr MacGregor and Mr McKenzie also spoke. Presentations were made by Mr McLeish for the congregation, and Messrs Horner and Hubber for the Bible classes. The P.W.M.U. had already presented gifts. Mr Hay, in replying, said he felt deeply the severing of the pastoral tie; but there was no alternative. He could sincerely say tiiat the three years he had spent in Oreti were the happiest of his life. Mrs Hay also spoke briefly.