FAREWELL TO PASTOR SPURGEON. Auckland, Nov. 5.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 418, 9 November 1889, Page 4

FAREWELL TO PASTOR SPURGEON. Auckland, Nov. 5.

A valedictory soiree and public meeting was held last night in the Baptist Tabernacle, when a large congregation assembled to bid farewell to Pastor Thomas Spurgeon. All the floor of the building was occupied. A large number of friends attended the tea, which was held in the schoolroom. Mr F. Battley presided, and there were also on the platform Revs. Best, Chew, Robertson, Monro, McCallum, Macnicol, Salter, Sotnmerville, Gilmore, Miller, Thomas, Reid, Hill, and Messrs Buddie, J. T. Garlick, J. Ellyett, S. H. Matthews, Brakenrig, and Sir William Fox. The Chairman read apologies for nonattendance from Revs. Worboys, Adams, Carrick and W. R. Woolley. He then expressed regret that their dear pastor was compelled to leave them. He mentioned that during the eight years that Mr Spurgeon had been amongst them the Tabernacle had been erected, and their pastor had byhisown personal efforts raised no less than £2,600. That was not, however, the greatest work he had achieved, for during the eight yeara 547 persons had been received into membership, Pastor Spurgeon had baptised 330 himself. The Chairman then spoke at some length upon the g"ood work done by their pastor, and also of the great love and esteem which was felt for him. Mr S. H. Matthews, church secretary, also made a few remarks. He said it was rather painful to part with one whom they loved and esteemed beyond measure. He testified to the great work done by their esteemed pastor, and then on behalf of the Church presented Pastor Spurgeon with a handsomely framed and tastefully illuminated address, which read as follows :—: — 41 The Tabernacle, Auckland, New Zealand, November 4th, 1889. To Pastor Thomas Spurgeon. Dear Sir and Brother, — On your retiring from the pastorate of the Auckland Tabernacle Church on account of ill-health and physical weakness, the members tender you their grateful thanks for your faithful preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, your loving ministry among them, the zeal and earnest efforts in the interests of the church during the eight years of your pastorate, and for your labours and interest in the various Christian and benevolent institutions of our city. The Tabernacle in which the church has for nearly five years been worshipping and labouring for Christ (opened free from debt and thronged from Sabbath to Sabbath with eager listeners) stands as a monument to your personal influence and testimony to your untiring devotion to the cause of God. Your friends at the Tabernacle most earnestly pray that the Lord will give you health, increasing strength, divine wisdom, and richly own and bless you in your future labours in the winning of souls for His kingdom. On behalt of the church we are yours fraternally. — Elders : Joshua Robinson, R. B. Shalders, Chas. Gaze, J. Batts, Wm. Spedding. Deacons : Fredk. Battley (Treasurer), S. H. Matthews (Secretary), Robt. Fry, Chas. B. Stone, E. Ellingham, J. B. Jackson, Wji, B. Baker, A. B. Shalders. Pastor Spurgeon said he was deeply grateful to the members of the Church, but would reserve his remarks until later in the evening. A hymn \«as then sung, after which the Rev. Mr Monro read the following address from the Auckland Ministers' Association :—: — "Auckland, Now Zealand, November 4th, 1889. To Pastor Thomas Spurgeon. Dear Brother, — We, the members of the Auckland Ministers' Association, having heard with regret of your intended departure from our midst, desire to assure you of the love and esteem in which you are held by your brother ministers of the several denominations, and especially by the members of this Association, with whom you have been so intimately and happily associated for the past eight years. Your ready and efficient co-operation with us in every department of the Master's service, and your fraternal intercourse with us individually —of which we shall ever cherish the most pleasing memories — have our deepest gratitude and love. We desire here to give expression to ourdeep and heartfelt sympathy with you on account of the state of your health which has necessitated bhe step you have taken, at,d oar earnest prayer is that by the blessing of God you may be soon sufficiently restored to again take up the active work of the ministry. We pray that the Divine blessing may rest upon yourself and Mis Spurgeon, and that wherever your steps may De directed your labours for the Master may be blessed to the salvation of many souls to be your crown of rejoicing in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His cominsr. — Signed — Ernest Best ( President ), G. B. Monro (Vice-President), J. A. Taylor (Treasurer), R. F. Macnicol, B. L. Thomas, H. W. J. Miller, W. Brakenrig, W. Laycock, A. M. McCallum, J. D. Gilmore, J. S. Hill, A. J. Smith, and James Chew.' The Rev. Mr Best as President of the Association formally presented the address, and expressed regret that Pastor Spurgeon was about to leave them. He also testified to the faithfulness of Mr Spurgeon. The Rev. B. L. Thomas" and Rev. R. F. Macniccol also made a few remarks ,on behalf of the Ministers' Association, expressing regret at Pastor Spurgeon's departure, and hopes for his future welfare. The Chairman pointed out that the three representatives of the Association were an Irishman, a Scotchman, and a Welshman, while Mr Spurgeon being an Englishman, completed Great Britain. Mr John Ellyett, senior Vice-Pre&ident of the Sunday-school Union, next bade Pastor Spurgeon farewell on behalf of that body. He thanked Mr Spurgeon for the valuable aid he had rendered to the Sundayschool Union. Sir William Fox, Vice- President of the Band of Hope Union, next bade Pastor Spurgeon farewell. He also spoke to him as President of the New Zealand Alliance. Mr J. T. Garlick, as President of the Gospel Temperance Mission, also said a few words of farewell. He referred to the assistance rendered by Mr Spurgeon to the cause of temperance. Mr T. Buddie read an address from the Young Men's Christian Association. "Auckland, .November 4th, 1889.— T0 Rev. Thos. Spurgeon, pastor Baptist Tabernacle. — Dear Brother, — On your resignation of the pastorate of the Auckland Baptist Tabernacle and consequent removal from our city, the Committee in the name of the Auckland V.M.C A. cannot allow you — as one of the vice-presidents of the Association — to depart, without taking thi3 opportunity of expressing regret at losing one who has always manifested euch a practical sympathy with, and willingness at all times to assist in the work of the Association. Since your coming to Auckland you have as Vice-Presidont taken an active personal share of the work as a member of the Committee, and have always been ready on public occasions to advocate the claims of the Association and to help to maintain the elForts made to provide religious, literary, and social advantages for young men. In the name of the members of the Association the Committee desire thus publicly to take farewell of you, as a brother member, and in doing so to express

their heartfelt sympathy with you and Mrs \ Spurgeon in the circumstances which have j compelled you to retire from the position which you have filled so long and so honorably, and in which you have made so many i personal friendships, and their earnest desire that your future course, as a servant of Jesus Christ our Master, may be made an increasingly happy one, and your labours be greatly blessed to young and old. In most places you may visit you will find branches of the V.M.C.A. with which you will doubtless associate yourself, and where you will meet with true Christian brotherhood, and find opportunities of doing good, but you may be assured that your presence will always be most heartily welcomed at the V.M.C.A., Wellesley-street, Auckland, if in the order of Piovidence you revisib our city. Again wishing you " God-speed," and assuring you of our brotherly interest in your welfare and our hearty prayers for the complete restoration of your health and that of Mrs Spurgeon, we remain on behalf of otiiceis and members of the Association — J. S. Hill (President), Thomas Buddle and Alex. Knight (hon. secretaries), and T. Bbakknbig (general secretary)." The Rev. J. S. Hill next addressed a few valedictory remarks to Pastor Spurgeon and testified to his virtues. Pastor Spurgeon next returned thanks to all those represented by the addresses to the speakers, and to the many friends who had come to bid him farewell. He referred to the many pleasant experiences of the past eight years. They mijiht ask why he was leaving. But they must remember that there was a vast amount of work connected with so large a church. It was physical impossibility for him to do that work as it should be done and he felt that the cbui-ch was suffering, and it was better he should stand aside and let some other take up the Work who was better fitted to carry on the work. He noticed that one of the Christian papers at Home had circulated the report that Thomas Spurgeon was leaving his church in Auckland on account of want of success. Well, the congregations of yesterday and the gathering that eveningdidnotspeak of want of success. Still, he felt that the church had suffered. 1 here were also some folks who were diligently circulating the report that he was giving up the church because he had an ample fortune. That was a delusion He had no fortune, neither had his wife. All he had, he had received from the members of that church in the ordinary way, and £100 of that he was glad tosaci-ificeeach year during the depression. He mentioned these things because he did notwish it tobeunderstood that he could travel round and preach for nothing. The labourer was worthy of his hire. He was not leaving the ranks of the minister?. He should still continue the | work and endeavour to die with his nets I set. He simply wanted to point them to Jesus. At present his future was undefined. He had accepted the care of Mr North's Church at Dunedin for a month ; after that he should go to Tasmania and help the churches. God would point the way further on. Mr Spurgeon then spoke in high terms of the pastor-elect, Mr Birch, whose arrival was expected during the present week. Mr Spurgeon, in concluding, thanked his congregation for many kindnesses shown in the past, and presented the church with a new Bible in which was the inscription "From Pastor Thomas Spurgeon. *' May the Word of God dwell in you richly." The choir then sang "God Be With You Till We Meet Again," which caused many of those present to be moved to tears. The Rev. James Chew closed the meeting with prayei .