VALEDICTORY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 86, 7 April 1903, Page 2

VALEDICTORY.

FAREWELL TO MM AND RSV. 8 X fciiltrlißL. Pehiodio ehan».- -if ministers is ce of the rules of the Methodist Church, and tie cuet rn good or ha-*, nl point if-view it is a matter for |ti. cere regret in cas"s where a minister ' tuts endeared himself to his oongrege* tion and withl proved himtelf a worhy citizen. Such is the position so far as Mr B<*rpell is oooerceJ, ••nil the town will b. po'rer through the departure of one wh«e aim has been, cot only to perf rm the duties of hit ! 'particular office, but to do good to those aou'd him as a man of the' wo. Id.

Iu via* of t'.is it was not surprising to s°e a large attecdanoe at the Whiteley Bchonlroom on Monday evening to* b,i> good-bye to Mr and Mrs Serpell, Mr Whittnker, one of the ciroait stewards, was ch-iirman, and around him were ranged the ministers of the f'iQVrent churches of tbo town and tha ollice hoarets of the church. After* hymn, a short prayer by the Rev. Nizoa and a vi lin solo (which by the way was un excellent item) by Mrs Butterwortb, the Chairman referred to the >ues of the Church, which made changes imperative, and said he was sure hj« was only echoing the fet lings of ever} one when he said that Mr Sarp il'd ministry had b?en productive 11 f mush good, and that his work had been highly appreciated by the oongrt- ' patio a and townspeople. Since Mr S rpell's adveat they had continued to 1 have prosperous times and large eon* Mr Serpell too had had an uphill fwht, for on his arrival they J had just finished building the new church, and as a eonsrqnenoe the fiaancei were not in a robust condition. j A weak man would have sank under the load, but Mr Serpell roes to the) occason and bad reduced the circuit debt fom £ISOO to £BSO. Mr Whit-' taker then went on to refer at length to Mr Serpell's valuableand faithful service in the different branches of ohuroh work, especially the Bibb Class for young people, which, he said, would ever remain as a monument to his seal and ability. He also mentioned his work in the Council of Churches sad as a ciiizan, all of which made it m matter for general regret that he was leavit-g. They all wished him "God speed," and he hoped their Minister would be able to look back with pleasurable feelings on his work iu New Plymouth, and with the knowledge that his labour had not been in vain.

The Rev. Oannell, in a short bat humorous speech, spoke of Mr Serpell as a manly man, who like a big brats* had purified the moral atmosphere of the town during his stay, Mr T. Ohattertoo, on behalf of the local preachers, spoke in feeling term terms of Mr Serpell's kindly influence and hslp, adding that bis influence would never die. On behtlf of the Minister! Attechtioo, the 'Rev. Drew alluded to tht worthy manner, in which the Methodist body had been represented by Mr Serpell, and the Rev. Nixon with a mixture of pathos and humour, referred to the los* he would Butts' {a parting with a friend and brothei!^

Mr Neal, speaking on behalf of the) stewards and Circuit Board, alto added his tribute of praise, aa alto did Mr Wells, as representing the Oarringtoeroid congregation and Sunday School. Mr Carter, is Superintendent of the Sunday School, devoted himself particularly to the very great service Mil Serpell had rendered in the Sunday School, to whi-m the parents wan under a deep debt of gratitude. On be-half of the teaohere, he then handed her a hand bag and a purse of eoveringt as a mark of their appreciation of their esteem, and appreciation of services rendertd.

Mrs Serpel', in a few well-chosen | words, retui ned thanks,concluding with 1 tbe earnest hope that the echoura of to-day would grow up to be Boble men and women. As a parting word aba quoted from Frouie, "You cannot dream yourself iuto a noble character, you must hammer and forge youmlf into one,"

Mr Victor Griffiths (on behalf of the young men) made a neat and appro* dktive speech, at the conclusion of which be handed Mr Serpell a set of Olivers as a.token of tbe young men'a esteem.

Mr Griffiths, senr., speaking for the congregation, endorsed what had ben said by the previous speikers aa to Mr Serpell's faithful ministry and hk may virtues as a Christian and a gentleman, and, as a mark vfthe people's esteem, banded him a purse of awaraigaa. Mi Serpell, in replying, slid be had tried to avoid such a gathering, tat be hoped be wos not such a Boor at to under-estimate tbe good wishes of tbt people amongst whom he had laboured for four years. H-j was deeply grateful for th-sir many kindnesses to hfmsilf and f <mily - kindnesses whioh he would never forget. After thanking Mr Canneli for past kindnesses, be went on to refer to the faithful service of the local preachers, and to the loyal co-operation of his brother ministers. Much had be«n sud of his citizenship. He wtea loyal M'thodist. but ho was a Christian first, arvt, as a Christian citiaen, he had felt it his duty to try to do good to aO men, and he knew to soma extent ha had succeeded. The best way to reach men was to go on tre principle of "helping a lame dog over a atita." Speaking generally, he predicted a great future for New Plymouth, and would always be pleased to hear of its wooes*. Mrs Serpell and he would carry away memories as pleasant and reooUectiou as sacred as from any other circuit. As a paring word he urged his bearer* to give his successor a warm weJooma, and not to wait until he was leaving to show their affection. He hoped to see great material as wtll as spiritual prosperity in New Plymouth, and, aa their minister during the creativa pciod, he hoped to live to sa« it. During the evtning excellent vooal items wei-e given by Mesfcmes Pikett and Brown and Mr Lee, and the proceedings closed with the hymn "OSS' be with you till we'meet again" aad the Beoediotion.