A POPULAR MINISTER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8078, 6 April 1906, Page 3

A POPULAR MINISTER.

FAEEWELL TO EEV. J. N. ' BUTTLE. Whiteloy Hall was crowded almost to stilling point ou Thursday evening, when tlio Kev. J. N. Buttle and Mrs Buttle were entertained by Hie congregation of tkc AVhitelcy Church, at a social, prior to their departure for Masterton. The gathering was representative of all weeds and sects of the New i'lyuioutli community. Mr C. Carter, as Circuit Steward, occupied the chair.

I The proceedings were opened by the congregation singing of " The Nativity," followed by prayer offered by llev. Caunell.

The greater part of the evening was occupied by ten speakers, although they were limited to five minutes each. The Chairman said it must have been gratifying to Mr and Mrs Buttle to find, at the close of their mission here, so many friends of their own congregation and others present to bear this last testimony of appreciation. Mr Carter considered the New Ply. mouth Methodists had been favoured in tUeir MinistCs, and referred his listeners to the names of Eevs. Lee, Beck, Fuirclough, Gray, Garland, Serpen, and last, but not least, Eev. J. N. Buttle, who had been the first New, Plymouth minister appointed President of the Conference. Mr Carter paid a warm tribute to Rev. Buttle as a personal friend, and as an example of gentlemanly, dignified, and manly Christianity, who had won the esteem of all with whom he had come in touch. He referred also to the minister's exceptional administrative ability, and his value as a confidential friend.

Kev. Osborne spoke feelingly ou boLalf of the Ministers' Association, who regretted the loss of a valued member and co-worker. As Superintendent of the Whitley Sunday School, Mr Pikett referred to the great interest Kev. Buttle had shown in the work among the juveniles. Similar expressions were voiced by Mr J. Asher, on behalf of the Local Preachers Association, Mr V. Griffiths, for the Monday evening Bible class; Eev. William, on behalf of the. South road congregation; Kev. Posto'n, speaking for the Methodists ou the Coast; Mr G. H. White, for the choir; Mr C. E. Bcllringer, for the temperance workers in New Plymouth, and as President of the Primitive Methodist Conference; and by His Worship the Mayor, who testified to Mr Buttlc's usefulness as a townsman and a worker in the interests of the whole district.

The Chairman, on behalf of the Whitley Church congregation, Sunday School teachers and scholars, the choir, and the workers of the church presented to fiev. Buttle a very handsomely bound and inscribed volume of views of Whitley Church, New Ply. mouth, Urenui and Mokau scenes; and to Mrs Buttle, a very fine piece of Doulton ware, Kcv. Buttle, who spoke under evidently powerful emotion, thanked the speakers for their kind expressions that evening, and the congregation and friends for their many kindnesses dur. ing his residence in New Plymouth. He had, he said, to fulfil his duties in the manner in which he thought they should be conducted, and live his life near to God. None !)ut himself knew how much, in all his works, he owed to Mrs Buttle. " Every man considers he has the best wife " said the minister.

" and you are all welcome to your own opinion, but I have a wife who jus I siu'ts me, and as years go on we understand each other better, and are able to better help one another." Eev. Buttle, referred to his pleasaut associations with the choir, the young people's Bible class, and the various branches of church work, and in saying good-bye, asked that the congregation and friends would extend their sympathy and assistance to the new minister.

EofreshmenU were handed round, and between the speeches a splendid musical programme was rendered. The gathering sang " God be with you till wo meet again," after which the Kcv. Buttle pronounced Benediction, and the next half-hour or more was taken up with "good-byes."