FAREWELL TEA MEETING.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1091, 5 April 1883, Page 2

FAREWELL TEA MEETING.

Tho farewell teu meeting given to the Rev. T. Fee last Tuesday evening in the Volunteer Hall passed off very successfully. The tea, which was provided by Mr Darroch, was excellent, and was presided over by ladies of the congregation. About 200 persons sat down to it. The following are the o&mss of the ladies presiding at the tablesT—Mrs Fee, Mrs Fraser, Mrs and Miss Brown, Mrs J. Spooner, Mrs Thomas, and Miss Young. After the good things were disposed of, which was not before half-past eight o'clock, Mr Thomson, of Pleasant Point, was voted 1o the chair on the motion of the Rev. T. Fee. The Chairman then introduced Miss Brown, who phiyed ' Home, Sweet Homo,' or. the piano, capitally. The Rev Mr Slaadage, of Ashburton, said he felt in an awkward position that

evening- He had intended to deliver his lecture on 'Love, Courtship and Marriage,' but owing to the lateness of the hour and the number of clergymen present wbo wished to say a farewell word to Mr Fee, there would be no time. He was glad to notice that no one appsared to be disappointed. Another reason for not delivering it was that this was an occasion of mingled pleasure and melancholy. In place of speaking of union, which would form a great part of his lecture, they were that evening to speak

of severance—the severance of Mr Fee from them, and as he wished to keep in harmony with the prevailing thought he would postpone it until the arrival of Mr Fee's successor. He was glad to be present that evening with so many clergymen of other denominations. It was a sign of the times that they could meet on cne platform, sympathising with each other, and assisting each other in the cause of religion. There were plenty ready to declare their enmity to religion, and it was the business of the Churches to stand up and defend the truth and extend the of it. Ho had to congratulate Mr Fee on the social position he occupied in Temuka, and heartily wished him and his family good-bye. The Rev Mr Lindsay, of Otepopo, Otago, who had come to be present at Mr Fee's farewell tea, said he felt much disappointed about the lecture. Expecting the lecture to be delivered, he thought he would not have anything to say himself, and so he did not know what to say now. He was surprised how the people of Temuka supported so many churches. It reminded him of an anecdote. A committee of men met in Ireland to start a windmill, but as there were two windmills in the district already, they came to the conclusion that there would not be sufficient wind to turn them all. Dr Cook once preached in a certain clergyman's church, and at the conclusion he was congratulated on the result, the minister stating that tho collection had been doubled, being on that occasion Ninepence ! ' That speaks well for me,' said Dr Cook, ' for I put in sixpence myself.' He thought some better system of collection should be adopted. If people put by a tenth of their income for the church, as in the olden lime, things would be better. The cause needed sup porting. He had come there that evening because of his friendship for Mr Fee, with whom he had worked in Waimate, where his congregation, as well as Mr Fee's congregation had sad hearts after him. He sincerely hoped his successor would follow in his footsteps. The Rev Mr Welsh would have been very sorry if he couli not have been present that evening, as he had never met a more honest, honorable, or straightforward man than Mr Fee. When he first saw Mr Fee he did not take him for a parson at nil. He looked to him like a captain on board of some ship. (Laughter.) There was some individuality about clergymen that distinguished them. An English parson appeared to him to be neither a man nor a woman. (Great laughter.) It w»s not so noticeable out here. Th 3 reason was because a parson was mostly among the ladies, who do the greater part of the work of getting up 'tea-fights' etc., and he supposed being so much in their society made parsous forget they were men. That was not the way with Mr Fee. While a thoroughly earnest and true minister he never forgot that he was a man. Mr Lindsay had brought up as übject which he honed would never occupy too much of bis own thoughts—that was the subject of collections. A lady in England once asked a clergyman what he wanted money for, as 'those who preached the Gospel must live of the Gospel.' That lady read the scriptural text in that way that 'he minister should live on the words he preached, and there were others who thought so too. As for Temuka supporting so many churches, he was of opinion that if they had one good large church and one good large minister they would do well enough. The question was frequently asked, Can we do without clergymen? He would be very glad, if they could be done i without, to see them abolished. • He would like to see parsons and doctors, and lawyers—especially lawyers—done away with if they could be done wilhou,t ? but he did not think they could ;so they would have to feed and clothe them. There were some people who found fault with a minister of his acquaintance because he engaged in agricultural pursuits. He thought it a very healthy occupation and if parsons went in more for it, and were partly self-supporting it would be better. Clergymen as a rule had very little knowledge of business or of men, and they should require this. If a clergyman could not conduct business honestly, honorably and above suspicion lift was not fit to be a clergyman. What he had spoken of may be regarded as subversive of old institutions, but he believed it would have to be faced sooner or later. As regarded Mr Fee he really regretted his departure. He was reminded of a fable he*had read.

A missionary who wore spectacles and a belltopper.—(laughter.)—was tryiDg to convert a native in soma outlandish place. The missionary was expatiating on the foolishness of idol worshipping, and said you could cut down that palm tree make a club of a part of it, and kill me with it. Then you could make afire ot another part and roast me, and cat me, and then

you could go and worship the remainder of the tree as a God.' I So I could,' said the native, ' I never thought of it before I'll do it at once. He hoped nothing of that kind would happen to Mr Fee, and he would now wish him good hye. The Rev Mr Hamilton said that ab thf.'.igh he bad not been long in the dis* trict he had learned to feel such a friendship for Mr Fee that he would miss him. He had also learned from the pipers, and from the people with whom he had con versed, the good that gentleman had done. He was glad tJ meet ministers of other denominations, for while differing on certain points there was noireason why they should not unite in combatting infidelity, drunkenness and so on. He would bid farewell to Mr Fee, and would be ready to extend the hand of fellowship to hissuccessor He hoped the ladies would give a warm reception to the new minister. A story was told of a Scotch woman whose husband brought the Dew minister heme to dinner with him. The husband showed the minister into a room to wash himself, and while engaged in that opera'ion the wife came, and believing ifc was her husband who was there took up a large book, and striking him on the bald head, said ' there, take that for bringing hungry parsons here to dinner.' Her discomfiture was great when she found her mistake. He would not suggest that they should give such a warm reception as that to their new minister.

The Rev. D. Gordou expressed a hope that the tragic end which happened to the missionary spoken of by Mr Welsh would never occur to Mr Fee. He believed if Mr Fee saw arything like that going to happen to him, the Native would not leave that tree for some time afterwards. He was there to bear testimony to the manliness, honor and integrity of the gentleman they were now going to bid adieu to. At a meeting of the Presbytery he asked some of his own Church to be present, and one of them replied that he had once asked Mr Fee why he remained in such a small church; why he did not go into their church . If that gentleman had been present, he would have given his opinion of Mr Fee. He was sorry that Mr Fee and Mr Welsh were gone. Saturday after Saturday they met and sought powers from the enthroned Saviour, and he felt sure they had profited by these meetings. Both were now gone, and he only remained, and perhaps those \\'hr, vere idignant at his agricultural pursuit .. v.:l soon send him after themHe di 1 not mind that; he was ready. He had read a story somewhere about a fox who saw a bunch of grapes on a wall, but he, after many efforts, failed to reach them, and so he said they were sour. It was so with those who criticised his agricultural pursuits, they were sour grapes to them because they could not reach them. He thought a man who was able to do two things was not the worst. But coming back to Mr Fee, he was the cause of doing away with a good deal of sectarian bitterness, and he sincerely hoped his successor would follow in his footsteps He was glad to see his friend Mr Lindsay from North Otago here to bid farewell to his old friend. The congregation ought to be ashamed of themselves for letting Mr Fee go, and the best thing they could do now was to use their influence to get him back again. The following address was then presented to the Rev Mr Fee by Mr Russell, on behalf of the Good Templars ; To the Kev. Thomas Fee.

Rev. Sir and Brother,—ln view of your early departure from our midst, the Good Templars of Temuka desire to bear testimony to your valuable co-operation in the work of temperance in their midst, and to express their regret at losing so enthusiastic a co-worker in the cause. We rejoice that you have so willingly responded to all the calls we have made upon you for the purpose of explaining your views on all questions of Temperance. We would also bear testimouy to-night to the singular disinterestedness and high principles which have characterised your whole condu"t since it has been our good fortune to make your acquaintance. We pray that your future may be abundantly blessed, and while yen sesk the good of your feilowmen may a double portion be your own. It is a source of giatification, (hat although losing in you a dear brother and a faithful friend and counsellor, your presence and company will be pleasant and profitable to others, and what we may term a loss to ourselves be a blessing to our distant brethern; in this matter we would be unselfish May the Gracious Master whom you serve protect, guide and bless you and yours until the end, is tho fervent wish of your brethern and sisters of the Temuka Lodge. Signed on behalf of all the officers and members of the Good Hope Lodgp, No 43, Thomas Turner, W.C.T. John Cooper, P,W.C.T. William Coltman, L.D. A. Russell, Hon. Sec.

The Ilev Mr Fee, who on rising was loudly cheered, said he did not know very well vvha 1 - to say, A gloom seemed to have settled on everything. Since he came to the colony he believed he was orowing less of a Wesleyan and more of a

Christian every day. When lie worked with his friend Mr Lindsay in Waitnate lie learned to love him to an extent, that he thought he could never meet one foi whom he could oare so much again. In Temuka he had met two ministers whose love he would cherish in his heart wherever he would go, and whom he would sorely miss. As regarded the address presented to him by the Good Templars, it was a pleasure to him to do anything in the cause they espoused. It was a grand cause, and he felt it his duty to do all in his power to forward it. He would now

offer all present his heartiest thanks for their presence that evening and for their kindness to himself. He might never again meet some of them in this world, but he hoped to meet them where there were no partings, and nothing but rejoicings. He then moved a vote of thanks to the ladies who had presided over the tables, to the clergymen, to tbes singers, and to the Chairman, which were carried b) acclamation. During the evening songs were given by Miss Brown, Mi Rutland, and Mr 'and Mrs Esmonds* Misr Brown presided at the piano, and contributed largely to the entertainment of these present. Mrs Edmonds sang first-rate and was loudly encored. Miss Brown was also honored with a wellmerited encore. The Rev Mr Fee gave a capital recitation. The proceedings came to a close at about 10 30.