ST. MARY’S CHURCH.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 July 1922, Page 4

ST. MARY’S CHURCH.

FAREWELL TO MR. AND MRS. HARVIE. GIFT FROM PARISHIONERS. There was a large attendance of parishioners at St. Mary’s Hall, New Plymouth, last night to wish the Rev. F. G. Harvie and Mrs. Harvie a pleasant holiday and a safe return, and to welcome the Rev. E. H. Strong, who will be in charge of the parish during Mr. Harvie’s absence. The hall was prettily decorated. Mr. E.' Lysons (people’s warden), who presided, expressed the hope that there would be nothing formal about the meeting, and that it would help recent arrivals in -the parish to know each other and the church officers. He read apologies for non-attendance from Rev. and Mrs. Coleman, Rev. and Mrs. Stanton, and Rev. and Miss Gavin, and stated he had received many more from those who, through ill-health and other causes, were unable to be present. Mr. H. Robertshaw (vicar’s warden) formally welcomed the Rev. E. H. Strong to the parish, and the latter replied expressing the hope that at the end of his twelve months’ stay they would part with the utmost goodwill, ilaving happy memories and as few regrets tbs possible. TRIBUTES TO THEIR WORK.

After a musical programme, contributed by Miss Shaw, Mesdames Hughes, Wilkes, Thomas and Mr. Gooder, and a competition (arranged by Miss Thompson) was completed, the chairman remarked that it was now his duty to say, on behalf of the parishioners, farewell to Mr. and Mrs. Harvie. The large attendance was a better tribute to the esteem in which their vicar and his wife were held than anything he could say. He could only once more express the wish that they would have a pleasant voyage and return to the parish invigorated and ready to take up the work with renewed vigour. Mr. Stanley Shaw, as the oldest member of the vestry, «and until recently vicar’s warden, supported the chairman’s remarks in regard to their vicar, and in their welcome to Mr. •Strong. The ‘latter was coming to one of the most important parishes in New Zealand, and the speaker was sure he would' find it a profitable field -for his labors. The large gathering that night was most cheering to Mr. and Mrs. Harvie and to Mr. Strong. Sometimes ha had felt pessimistic about the apathy of their church folk, but the meeting that night, in which were members from all the outlying districts, would dispel any pessimism. The parishioners could be of great assistance to the clergy, and he was sure Mr. Strong could rely upon their help. He urged particularly that parishioners should make new arrivals in the parish acquainted with* the clergy and the church officers.

The chairman said it gave him great pleasure to hand to Mr. and Mrs. Harvie, on behalf of the parishioners, a cheque for £5O, with a letter which read as follows: “On the occasion of your leaving our town for a year in order to visit your homeland, your parishioners request that you will accept from them a small present as a token of their goodwill and esteem. You need not have the slightest hesitation or diffidence in accepting, because it is a freewill offering coming from many, and we hope that you will be pleased to receive, even as we have given, in pure goodwill. In order that you may be able to use it to the best advantage and to your .greatest good, we venture to make a cash presentation as being perhaps the most satisfactory in the circumstances. We wish you God speed and a safe return.” FIVE YEARS’ WORK. Mr. Harvie said the gift, and, indeed, the meeting, were almost overwhelming. The gift was a great surprise, and he and Mrs. Harvie were most grateful for it, anef for the kindness which had prompted their friends to give them such a happy evening before their departure. He had had a happy time during the past five years. He had made many good friends, and, after all, whether a district was a nice or a nasty one depended upon the people in it. In St. Mary’s parish they had people who had been in New Plymouth almost since the settlement was formed. In these circumstances they were bound to have a more conservative element than obtained perhaps in any other part of New Zealand. He felt ‘ particularly glad that he could count among his truest friends some of these older members, who, whilst they totally disagreed with the religious standpoint, and perhaps radical ideas, of a younger generation, were still able to extend their friendship and goodwill to a generation which looked at religious matters from a different point of view to their own. The past five years had been difficult. He came to the parish at the end of the war. Then there was the epidemic, and now there was the slump. In religious matters they had been years of changes and reconstruction. The town had grown enormously, and for the first time in the history of the parish, for a large portion of the time he had been there, i one clergyman had to carry on the work single-handed. It had not been easy; it would have been impossible but for the loyalty of one and all, and for which he now tendered them his heartiest thanks. St. Mary’s parish was essentially democratic. It was no priest-ridden parish. He did not intend to single out any individuals for thanks. He had depended upon certain organisations for assistance, and not in vain. He was sure they would find in the Rev. E. H. Strong a leader they could respect and work with, and ho appealed to them to be as loyal and friendly to him as they had been to the speaker. In conclusion, he urged them to get on with the new Sunday school. It was a matter the vestry had very much at heart, and he hoped on his return he would find something practical had been done in this direction. He thanked them again for the kind things said and the pleasant evening, and hoped his wife and he would be. safely restored to them.