VALEDICTORY.

Taihape Daily Times, 8 April 1918, Page 4

VALEDICTORY.

At the conclusion of his farewell sermon in the Taihape Methodist Church last night, Eev. E. E. Fordyce, who has been transferred to Taumarunui, was the recipient of a presentation on behalf of the'members of tne Methodist connection in the district. [Mr. J. E. Cunninghairie, circuit stew-' ard, in making the presentation, said the members, of ; the church felt they could not allow Mr. Fordyce to depart from Taihape without expressing their esteem for him personally and appreciation of his labours in the circuit during the past twelve months. Possibly Mr Fordyce had not achieved all -he had set out to do but he had undoubtedly done a lot of good during his ministry here, and had sown the seeds from which ultimately good results would be obtained. They were sorry, extremely sorry, to lose Mr. Fordyce, but Conference had decided that he should go to Taumarunui, and they nlust bow to that decision. Mr. Cunninghame then presented the departing Minister with a handsome rug on behalf of the Methodist connection, and another presentation from an anonymous donor, with the remark that it had been handed to him as an expression of the good Mr. Fordyce had personally done to the donor. Eev. Mr. Fordyce, who was much affected, said he thanked the Methodist connection for the very kind words voiced by Mr Cunninghame. He had done the work of his Master to the best of his ability. While regretting that he had to leave Taihape, he felt it was in the best interests of the Church that the Conference had decided. He would look upon the presentation as a tangible mark of the goodwill of the members of his late charge. Again he thanked them all for their many kindnesses to him in the past. The congregation then sang an appropriate farewell hymn, and the service concluded. Eev. E. E. Fordyce left for Taumarunui to-day, to take up his new charge.