PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 4, 2 March 1900, Page 2

PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.

FAREWELL SOCIAL TO REV. J, OLPHERT AND MR. J. BELLRINGER,

At the Primitive Methodist Church on Thursday evening there was a full gathering of members of the church to bid farewell to Mr. Olphert on the resignation of his ministry, and to Mr. Bellriager on the eve of his departure for England. An excellent tea had been provided, and after this had been disposed of the business proper of the evening was commenced.

The Rev. J'. Cocker,' of Wanganui, made a most genial chairman, his remarks being full of that homely and pungent wit which is always present in his utterances, On behalf of the congregation, Mr. Cocker presented Mr, Bellriager with a pair of excellent field glasses and case, and in the course of his remarks spoke in very high terms of praise of the many services rendered by Mr. Bellringer to the community and to the church, and alluded to the many tokens of est earn recently bestowed on him. There was, he said, a special appropriateness in the memento, for, as everyone knew, Mr. Ballringer liked looking thoroughly into matters that came before him, and the field glasses would often assist him in so doing, and he trusted that they would increase the pleasure of the recipient's trip.

Mr. Ballringer warmly and feelingly thanked those who had bestowed such a handsome memento upoa him, and expressed his gratitude to Mr. Cocker for the very kind words with which the gift was accompanied. His aim in life had been to try to do what he could in being of service to tho3e amongst whom he lived, and, if possible, to leive the world better than he found it. Referring to his business career, Mr. Ballringer mentioned that he was one of the two men who had carried on business in New Plymouth for the longest time, and it was very gratifying to him to receive so many evidences of kindness and sympathy, which quite efkoad all the ciiticisms made on his conduct from time to time. He again heartily thanked those present for their token of esteem, and trusted that on his return, if spared, he should find the church more flourishing than at present, (Loud applause.) Mr. Cocker then, on behalf of the Primitive Methodist Conference, presented the Rev. J. Olphert with the receipt for a set of silver mounted harness, a saddle and bridle, in token of their appreciation of the good work done by him and of the high esteem in which he was held. The gift, said Mr. Cocker, was very suggestive in that it seemed to indicate that Mr. Olphert need never be out of harness, and would be always available for use m conveyancing him to preach God's Gospel. Mr. Olphert, in feeling terms, expressed his thinks to the Conference tor their kind recognition of his thirteen years' work. He was not leaving the church, but merely changing his sphere of labour. He said that rumour attributed his resignation to the fact of his baing "starved out," but a complete auswar to such a false statement was that if it were a case of being starve 1 out it would only have been necessary for him to have gone elsewhere, but this he did not wish. He fully explained his reasons, and stated ho hop-jd often to be in the pulpit of shut church and also to help in Gad's .vork at the other end of the district, where help was much needed. His iuterests and efforts would still be with . the church, to which he was not saying farewell, but only quitting as a minister. !

The proceedings were marked with much geuuine feeling, and both Mr. BellringerandMr. Olphert were greatly touched by the kind feelings shown to them by the congregation, 1