REV. J. S. HILL’S FAREWELL.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 458, 29 March 1890, Page 4

REV. J. S. HILL’S FAREWELL.

ADDRESS FROM THE PRISONERS.

Auckland, March 24. The Rev. J. S. Hill conducted a farewell service yesterday morning at Mount Eden Gaol. An affecting scene took place when he bade the prisoners farewell, many of the men being moved to tears. The following addresses were presented to Mr Hill: H.M.’s Prison, Mount Eden, Auckland, New Zealand, 20th March, 1890. To. the Rev. Joseph S. Hill. Rev. and Dear Sir, — The Protestant inmates of this prison, knowing of your early departure hence for England, expressed to me their desire to make known to you their appreciation of your past services amongst them, and the kindly feeling they cherish toward you personally. I consented to their doing so ; the following are the expressions of their feelings as conveyed to me :—Rev. Sir, — You have now been some seven years serving hero as their chaplain, and you have done so gratuitously, making your chaplaincy a labour of love and benefit for those in trouble, thus showing the great love and anxiety you have ever expressed for their souls’ welfare. You ever showed a kindly tact and delicacy whenever you deemed it necessary to use words of reproof and. admonition, which were always taken in the spirit in which they were given, never raising any feeling of anger against you Your unexampled happy and interesting manner of illustrating the lessons of your discourses ever rivetted close attention. You constantly preached of cheerfulness and hone, and you exercised your numerous powers to elevate and brighten their lives and alleviate their sufferings. Your monetary assistance, interest, and help to many on leaving here is also kindly remembered by them, though some have proved themselves unworthy of such, yet you were always ready and willing to help any who came to you. They also wish to thank you for the great treat of service of song at Christmas-tide, by the ladies whom your influence brought here to brighten and cheer their monotonous lives ; also your interest in procuring for them a new harmonium, a greatly-appreciated collection of sacred music-books; for both of the latter the choir especially thank you ; and books for the Gaol Library on more than one occasion, all of which good gifts when in use will be constant reminders to them whom the law dooms to remain hero after you have left, of your great interest and kindness shown in so many ways for them and their welfare. They also, at least some of them, cannot forget your ex treme kindness and attention to those unfortunates who were condemned to suffer the utmost penalty of the law. As chaplain, you are the one official whom prisoners can be permitted to regard as their friend, and not one of coercion. It is therefore in this position that their feelings are strongest towards you. In conclusion, they desire to say there is nowhere where you will be more missed and regretted and your loss so keenly felt as it will be in this institution, but their hearts’ desire and prayer is that God Almighty may ever abundantly bless you and protect you and your family, and may He crown your exertions in His holy cause with a great harvest.—G. S. Reston, Gaoler.

Reverend and Dear Sir, —On behalf of myself and the officers of the prison, I wish to endorse all that has been expressed in the above, and to record it as my opinion and belief that we owe considerably to your moral and religious instruction and influence in the cause of law, order, and discipline of the prisoners, and we join with all your friends in Auckland in regret in losing your ever bright and cheerful countenance from amongst us, as also we join in the above prayer for you and your family and for your future great reward.—Yours faithfully, G. S. Reston, Gaoler. Subsequently, Mr Hill conducted service at the Remuera Mission Hall, and in the evening he preached to a crowded congregation in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The Rev. Mr Hill’s final service wa3 in the City Hall. Such a large number of friends attended that some were unable to obtain admission. At the conclusion, the hymn “ God Be With You Till We Meet. Again” was sung. The Rev. J. S. Hill and his family left by the Mariposa to-day.