WHITELEY MEMORIAL CHURCH

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 281, 20 April 1911, Page 2

WHITELEY MEMORIAL CHURCH

RECEPTION TO REV J. W. BURTOX. Whitcley Hall was well filled last evening, when the congregation assenihled to welcome to Xew Plymouth the Rev. J. W. Burton, who has just been appointed Minister of the circuit. The proceedings opened with a public tea at C p.m. The tables had been tastefully decorated by the young ladies of the church, and were well supplied with dainty provisions contributed by members of the congregation. The ladies who presided over them were Mesdames Cannell, Gibson, X. Okey. F. Okey, J. D. Sole, Wickham, Black. Chatterton, .Toll, and Carter, assisted by the young ladies of the congregation. After tea an adjournment was made j to the schoolroom, whilst the main hall | was being prepared for the meeti ing. Advantage was taken of this i interval to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Burton to the church members. | Mr. J. Gibson, circuit steward, presided at the evening meeting, and in a few well chosen words welcomed Mr. Burton to the circuit. Mr. G. Tisch, the Mayor, who was present, extended a very hearty welcome to Mr. and Mrs. Burton to Xew Plymouth. It always gave him great pleasure to extend a welcome to anyone coming to reside in New Plymouth, and he trusted that their stay here would be both enjoyable and profitable. It would, he considered, be a great ad- ; vantage to the community if all the churches united and took greater interest in getting in touch with the young men of the community. The. Rev.. Liddle (Primitive Methodist) extended a welcome on behalf of the sister churches. Referring to his own church, he instanced the growing sentiment in favor of Methodist union, and hoped that ere Mr. Burton's departure from Xew Plymouth he would have the pleasure of working with him under a united church.

The Rev. John H. White, Home Missionary in the Patca Circuit, spoke of his long connection with New Plymouth Methodism, and of the hearty co-opera-tion extended to him by the Methodist Church here, while he was engaged in mission work down the coast. He felt assured that that co-operation would be as freely extended to the Rev. Burton. The Rev. J. W. Burton, in reply, stated that on first learning of his appointment here lie had felt a slight disappointment, more particularly as he had been invited to labor in the Christchurch circuit, were he had many friends and relatives. However, a very short talk with the Rev. Chapman allayed this, as he was assured that this circuit would provide fuller scope for his ministry. It was not without diffidence that he undertook the work hero, as he realised his difficulty in following a man of Mr. Chapman's ability. However, he had come witli the full determination to do and to servo with the host of his ability, and his first request would be that (lie congregation should treat him with absolute frankness, and, instead of criticising him anions themselves, give him the benefit of their criticisms. If frankness existed between the people and the minister, there would he much loss misunderstanding, and greater confidence in each other would result. His second request was for freedom —freedom for bis own personality. A man's intellect and intelligence were his own, and could not be coerced without a loss of self-esteem. While asking this for himself, he was on his own part prepared to concede it to others. In the third place, he asked for their sympathy in connection with any work he endeavored to undertake. He had come with the purest motives, and his only desire was to serve the. church and community in the best interests, morally and spiritually. He made reference to the attachment he had for young people, mid expressed a hope that he might ho found among them on the tennis or golf field, and that he would at all times seek to put himself in touch with the young men, with the idea of being of assistance to thorn. He assured His Worship (bo Mayor that, as a citizen, he would be pleased to serve the community in any small war, as be felt it was the dutv of every citizen to conned himself in some way with the town in which he dwelt. During the evening solos wore rendered bv Mrv McMasler. Miss Ain~worth (encored), and Mr. Crawford: pianoforte sole by Mr. Smith, and an instrumental trio bv Miss IVrrv (piano). Mr. C. JL Lawn (cornet), and Mr. Renbow (piccolo).