GILL-STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 222, 15 November 1900, Page 2

GILL-STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.

WBLGOMB TO THB'BBV. J. INGS. The "welcome" tea meeting to the Rev. James Ings, {tendered by the congregation of the Baptist Church, was a very pleasant and social gathering. The tables were very tastefully decorated and well supplied with eatables of every description, and filled two, and in some cases, three times, with the large number of the congregation and their friends assembled to welcome their new pastor. The tables were presided over by the ladies of the congregation, who left nothing undone to make the affair a complete success. After tea a very successful public meeting was held in the Wtiiteley Memorial Hall, which was well filled. The chair was taken by the Rev. Drew, the retiring pastor, who, after a hymn and devotional excercises, spoke of the mingled feelings of pain and pleasure experienced by him that evening. No one, ho said, liked to be put on one side, and it was painful to him to feel that the day had come when ha must resign his work to another. Ha hoped the young men pi'csont would take f.ho lesson to heart, as the day would come when their faculties would he impaired, *nd they would have to give place to others. Ho hoped this would induce them to do. all the good they could, while they had health and strength. He had great pleasure, however, in I welcoming Mr. Inge, who had youth, health, and strength to cirry on the work he (the speaker) was giving up, and he folt that ho had the qualities that were needed for the welfare of the congregation. He bad great hop*s for the futuro, and believed, under the ministration of Mr. Ings the Church would grow and prosptr, and while ho was yet .spared he would bo abla to do something to help forward the work. New Zoalandera liked the local product, and whilo he was only an imported article he was glad to introduce Mr. Jngs as the real colonial product.

Miss Andrews then favoured with a nicely-rendered solo, " Rock of Ages." The James logs returned thanks for the cordial welcome he had received, and spoke at some lungth en the kindnesses he had mot with on all ,nides since his arriv.l i» New .Plymouth. As regards the Rov. Mr. Drew, he hoped ho would long bo spared to assist them with his advieo, and, as he was not one of those who thought young mon knew everything, he hoped personally to often have the pleasure of profiting by the ripe experience of his venerable predecessor. After a brief review of his past life, Mr. Ings spoke of his hopes for the future, and believed, as Mr. Drew had sud, that there was a great and prosperous future for the Baptist Church in New Plymouth. As he would have many other opportunities of hddressing thom, he would sum up all he had to say in the two wcrds " thank you."

The Rev. Joseph Olark then, in a powerful, eloquent, and exceedingly interesting address gave the charge to , the Rev. Mr. Ings. He fully and admirably set out the duties of a pastor, to his people, his God and himself, and exhorted him with great earnestness to I so order his walk and convarsation as to honor God, his call to the work, and to the profit of his people. In the course of his address, Mr, Clark road Martin Luther's qualifications for a Minister and urged Mr. Ings to take them as his guide. A beautiful solo, by Miss Drew followed, The Rev. A. Dewdney then congratulated both pastor and people on the union that had that day hb-.n consummated. He proceeded to address the congregation on its duty to the Pastor of the Church, and pointed out that unless there was full sympathy botwoen pastor and people, no good work could i be done. He asked for their sympathy for their pastor, and said a praying people made a successful preacher. ° I The Rev. A. H,,, Collin* also made a j few appropriate and congratulatory remarks. A hymn was then sung. The Rev. Osborne, Presbyterian, welcomed the Rev. J. Ings on behalf of the Church to which he belonged, and congratulated tho Baptist Church on possessing such able men as those they had heard that evening. He was glad to say the Baptist Church was marching shoulder to shoulder with the». Presbyterian Church in maintaining civil and religious liberty and freedom from clerical domination. Ho hopi'd Mr. Ings' settlement in New Plymouth' would be followed with great spiritual blessing, The Rev. Serpsll, Wea'eyan, ateo, on j bshaif of tho Wcsluyan Church, garo' Mr. lugs a hearty welcome. Rjfomng ' to the Rev. Mr. Dww, he said it was J t'uch us he and his family that did at towa good, and did. nic.iO to pju down; lumkinism than a-.'.ythi.i;.; c'so, ah Iho - hoped to sea him long spurad, :; 'The sinking of Sir: J}o.vAi'*y, ;tti;!<!:c : Benediction brought a ve;y pleasant/, iii'd pro.'ituile g!.'iik<in;j to ;i flo.-o at ■ i 10,30 o'clock. ' ' i