WELCOME SOCIAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 14 August 1907, Page 3

WELCOME SOCIAL.

TO THE REV. A. HARDING. A welcome tea and social was held at the Queen street Primitive Church last evening to welcome the Rev. A. Harding, who has arrived from England, to fill the position made vacant by the retirement of the. Kev. J. Nixon. The schoolroom at the. rear of the church was used' as a tea-room, about 200 persons sitting down to the abundance of edibles generously provided and dispensed by the ladies of the congregation. This part of the function was most sucucessful.

The welcome was held in the church, every available seat being occupied. Mr V. E. liellringer presided, and with him on the platform were the Mayor (Mr E. Dockrill), and the Revs. Drake (YTanganui), White (lnglewood), Armstrong (t'itzroy),. Lewis, Brooke, Cannell, anil Osborne (Xew Plymouth). After a hymn and prayer* the chairman briefly addressed the gathering, expressing his pleasure at seeing such a large number present. It was with great pleasure that he welcomed the Rev. Harding to the district. During the recess caused by the Rev. Nixon's retirement, there had lieen a good many difliculties to negotiate in connection with church work. These had been successfully overcome. Now that the Rev. Mr Harding had arrived, he felt sure that matters would go along successful I v.

lii'v. Drake, on behalf of the connexion, welcomed the. Rev. Harding, Mrs Harding and their child to the colony with pleasure, and expressed the sentiment that it gave him even more pleasure to welcome that gentleman to these parts. New Plymouth district being most historical in the history of the church.

Rev. Armstrong also addressed a few words of welcome. He felt sure that with the Rev. Harding's advent the •work of the church would prosper, and urged on the congregation the necessity of doing all they could to assist. His own experience with the. congregation was such as to make him sure that church work would go on in perfect haruionv.

Rev. Osborne (President of the Council of Churches), in a few remarks, welcomed the newcomer. In the course of his remarks, he paid a tribute to the chairman, remarking that in the old days Mr Bellringer's father took a keen and active interest in church matters, and worthily filled the office of chairman at, church functions, and it was with pleasure that he saw Mr C. E. Bellrirtger following on, and so ably taking up the good work.

Rev. Brooke had very great pleasure in welcoming the Rev. Harding. He spoke of the great work accomplished by (he church during the last century, and hoped that Rev. Harding and himself would work in perfect harmony; in fact, he had no doubt about it. Continuing, the speaker expressed the hope that the time was not far distant when there would be a union of the Methodist and Primitive Methodist Churches, and that, they would all be in the one fold.

Rev. Cannell, in making his address of welcome, supplemented his remarks by giving some interesting sketches, amongst which he told how Primitive Methodism was (irst introduced into Creat Britain.

The Mayor, on behalf of the people of the town, also warmly welcomed the Rev. Harding.

Til returning thanks for the hearty welcome accorded him, the Rev. Harding slated that there were two kinds of gatherings which were not altogether pleasant, i.e., receptions, and farewells. Ife much appreciated the very kind welcome he had received on all sides, both on his own account, and on behalf of Mrs Harding and their child. In taking up his work in New Plymouth, lie would make one promise, and that would be to do his very best. He hoped for success. It was a pleasure to .him to be in New Zealand. All hough he lielonged to the Old Country, which had many advantages, he preferred the colonic-, owing a- the excellent climate, ire had been in Queensland for many years, I and on returning to the Home 'land he did not like (he rigors of the winter, so decided to return to the colonies. He hoped in his association with New Plymouth even-thin- wold work in harmony. Hot!, he ■ ' ■: Harding would like to pay parti:-::;..,- attention to the boys and girls. They had always done so. lie would like, in addition to church affairs, (o identify himself with other matters. | H u, O old Country he had taken a keen nterest in public matters and had thus been afforded much pleasure. Respecting the union of the Churches referred l„ by Rev. Brooke he was entirely in sympathy with it. 'The """"' ,u<l ' " most successful in OueeiHlaml. and if he had a dozen votes he would give them all to the union of I the Churelicß.

Th.- .|,w)ms were interspersed wiili I lie follmviH.; vo(,,| itr-ms: Solo ATr ■li'iikms,,,,: solo, Mrs Kiel,: solo, Mr Muldoon Haieored): .luct, Afisses \insuorlh an.l Sole; snlo. Mr Harris (en'•"'•'•'II: 'li'Ot. Mi.ss,. s flilLcrt (eueored); solo M,,s Ainsumll,. Mr C'ol.ling onieiaied nt tin- iiiniio. j The rhainiiiin read messages of welcome from I!,h-. .1. Xixon and IJcv. l'of- , <•'■ (Amkland), ami thanked those who 1,i " 1 , " ,| 1'« 1 *" '""l-e U,e ( . V eni„ K ~ me .

''''"'. ~ ! ""' i "/; "[ " ''>■"'» :""! the prononiiciiifr o| (1„. McMiedii'tion liroiHit the jratliei'inj; io a elnse. °