VALEDICTORY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 265, 7 April 1914, Page 8

VALEDICTORY.

TO DEPARTING METHODIST MINISTERS. A REPRESENTATIVE MEETING. It was a large and renreseriuuivc gathering which a-vinblud at the Theatre Royal last night to say farewell to Hie ib-v. ,1. VV. Burton and the Rev. 11. T. Peat, who are leaving New Plymouth, the former to take up the position of secretary to the Foreign Missions of Victoria and the latter to take no a position at Uotorua. His Worship the Mayor (Mr G. W. Browne) presided. VARIOUS WEU.-WISHEm His Worshi.- the Mayor said his relations with Mr Burton had been such that he could address him bv no more appropriate title than that of"brotb"iv' for it had been in connection with his work at the New Plymouth Brothcvboed —that imsectarian movement which lie had founded—that lie had seen most of Mr Burton. He had seen there men who would have attended no religions or other semi-religions body, and it nad made them more unselfish in their family life, more brotherly in their outlook on mankind. Referring to the union cf the Methodist churches, ho expressed a wish to see it carried further, so that it might, by the inclusion of other churches effect economy and leave more money to spare for furthering Christian works generally. The Rev. S.'j. Serpen (President nf the Conference) was pleased to hear the splendid testimony to the work of the Rev. J. W. Burton, jusl given expression to by the Mavor'of New Plymouth. He had known Mr Burton since the hitter's student days, and had watchef his career with interest. He had hearf ■with pleasure of Mr Burton's appoint mont to the secretaryship of Foreig Mission in Victoria, and wished bin every success. As to the successors of the gentlemen whom New Plymouth was to lose, the Rev. A. B. Ohaonell was known from one end of the Dominion to the other. As to the Rev. C. H. Olds, all he could say from "his experience of him on the Timaru circuit was that the Rev. C. H. Olds was the one man he would pick as a colleague if he had the choice of the Dominion. He wished the Revs. Burton and Peat, and their wives, all success in the new fields to whicli they were goin". and to their successors ] lie would extend a hearty welcome. j The Rev. T. 11. Uoseveare spoke from the somowhat personal standpoint of one who had been associated with the' Revs. Peat and llurton on .the Ministers' Association. It was with sincere regret that he said farewell to them,'a sincerity which would be understood by thoso of bis hearers who were l members of the congregations of these gentlemen and thus bad their own personal regrets. As ministers, the Revs. Peat and Burton had entered their inmost lives, sharimr their joya and sorrows, and he could understand any foelhvs oi regret at their departure. Their "stay in New Plymouth had not been long, and he, with bis hearers, could have wished it longer. He regretted the absence sf the Rev. R. J. Liddell, who had already gone, carrying with liiin general regret. Dr. Home expressed, pleasure, tempered with regret, at having to add his personal testimony to the esteem in which the Rev. .1. VV. Burton was held in New Plymouth. Mr Burton was the last man to court a public demonstration of this nature, but every good worker was entitled to the encouragement it a Horded. It was not often so able and public-spirited a man as Mr. Llurton came to New' 1 Plymouth, and so he honored him and regretted his departure. He. had admired Mr Burton before he knew him, even by sight, nis first acquaintance with him having been through the medium of the admirable sermons published in the newspaners, sermons which filled him with a desire to know the writer, whom he was proud to say be now numbered among his personal friends. uu would particularly remember Mr Burton as the prime mover in the foundation of. the New Plymouth Krotlierliood. lie knew that Mr Burton would never retire from work while he was able to do it, but hoped that if he ever did retire, he would spend his declining years in New Plymouth.

Mr A. 11. .Johnstone appeared as a representative of "that somewhat nebulous body the New .Plymouth .Brotherhood," which was not connected with Liie Methodist or anv other church. He had no fear of contradiction xrhen. V said that New Plymouth narted with the R«v». Peat and.' Burton with regret. Air Burton, and he mentioned Jiim only because he knew him best, had taken a lively interest in a number of civic and other institutions, lie had founded the Brotherhood, and bad also been an active member of the Tourist League and the Carnegie Library Committee. He was n keen and wholesome sportsman. Mr Burton's had been the subtle iniluence of a good man who had gone on the principle that there was good in everyone. lie had displayed «' broadminded tolerance without the toleration which covered all the peccadilloes of all mankind. The town would be the poorer by the departure 0 f these two men. -Mr (.'. (.tarter voiced the regret of the Methodist, congregations at the loss of Mr Burton. Referring to his .work in the church, be said that TO members, principally yonnf people, had been admitted to the church during his ministry. Mr Burton was a Methodist statesman, a broad-minded man with a rin" of sincerity in all he preached and did" The. town had been the better for the cominjf of Mr Burton and his wife, as it would he the poorer by their departure,

Mr 0. K. IJcllnngcr made special reference to the got,,] Wo] .]. j 0I](1 ljy - V j-,. Pout rime the union of Methodism in the town. He was assured of a successful career, and carried with him the good wishes of the community. Mr I'eat siu'd it was with mixed feelings, tempered with a sense of ness, that lie had listened to the ;ippre-

| eiaiive remarks concerning him. What t lie. uiiii his wilV hud .been privileged to [ do in the town had been done for the tui*i! of Christianity, and with a desire to iuculealct the grand principles of iiitnliooii and woman hoed which the .'nmv'n laid down. He thanked all who had hcivied iiim in his ministry in the town.

Mr Burton thanked his hearers for tboh- expressions of appreciation, but felt the danger of bring praised for doma; the duty for which no man needed commendation. lie was glad to see so representative a gathering present. When he first came to New Plymouth, \u- had been told that he would last about six months: that he would "have a row" and then leave. He had been here three years, and had had no disputes, nor had lie any desire to leave. No minister ever had a better backing than he, and he had made lifelong friends in New Plymouth. He bad been told that he was'broad-minded, but he held that a broad-minded preacher must have a broad-minded congregation, a.s lie had bad. He would not like to pass an opinion --on the town. Perhaps it was not niarvellons'v intellectual or goahead, but it was a lovable place, and be hoped that the tide, of material wealth would never cover irn its lovable features. lie had been favored with ideal colleagues in the. Revs. Liddell and Peat, who bad done a vast amount of unseen work for which men get little credit. He had grown to love many of the townspeople outside his church, and if he had done them anv «ood. had certainly benefited by their friendship. He had been courteously treated by the Press of the town., which maintained a high moral standard and worked for the good of the place. It had been a great privilege to him to widen his congregation by publishing bis sermons, and the work, as he knew, bad borne fruit. His bad been the privilege of coming into the inner life of the,people, of sharing their joys and sorrows and their solemn and sacred moments, and be had valued it. The three' years he bad spent in New Plymouth bad been all too short. He bad onlv tried to do his duty, -and if his creed should have ever seemed narrow, it had nevertheless alwavs beer backed bv his sincere belief, and whether it was acceptable or not. he bad tried to preach the truth. To the young people he, had met. be extended one last word of advice—to be true to Ohristianitv. He thanked the neople of his church, and of the town, not only for their kindness that night, but for the kindness which had never wavered, the interest which hurt never flagged, and the which had never been stinted during the whole of his ministr" in the town, and he .hoped thev would extend the same measure to' his successor.