PRESENTATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2147, 8 January 1891, Page 3

PRESENTATION.

An exceptionally pleasing ceremony took place at Geraldine on Tuesday afternoon last, when a deputation from the Presbyterian Church, consisting of the Rev. A. B. Todd, and Messrs James Aitken, 8.A., A. Irvine, F. B. Cochrane, A. McKenzie, R. Skinner, and K, McKenzie, waited upon Miss Dunlop, at her parent's residence, for the purpose of presenting her with a small token of their appreciation of her services as organist of the church during the past six years. Mr J. Aitken, leader of the choir, made the presentation, and first of all read a letter which had been sent by the session to Mies Dunlop upon the receipt of her resignation of the position of orgamste. He also read a letter from the committee, in which the latter body stated that they fully concurred in the regret expressed by the session, and in the prayer for Divine blessing upon Miss Dunlop in her new sphere of life, and recorded both in their minutes. He (Mr Aitken) hardly dare trust himself to refer to the time during which Miss Dunlop and himself had worked together in connection with the psalmody of the church. They had worked together without a hitcb. He had long felt that some recognition should have been made of Misß Dunlop's valuable services. People did not always receive immediately the meed of praise which was their due, but he had always greatly appreciated the kindly, the most obliging, and warm-hearted manner in which she had entered into her duties during all these years, and it was with the utmost regret they now parted with her. He felt he was losing a very dear friend, and the years during which they had worked together would ever be a green and pleasant Bpot in his life. He had now great pleasure in handing to her a purse of sovereigns. It was not anything like payment for the service rendered. It was only a very small mark of the appreciation with which they had looked upon her work. He regretted very much that the Rev. | Geo. Barclay had not been present to perform the duty which had devolved upon the speaker that day, but the rev. gentleman, as they all knew and deeply regretted, was stretched upon a bed of pain. The Rev. A. B. Todd, pastor of the church, said he had been sueh a short time among them that he had nothing to add to what Mr Aitken had already said. They had been tardy in recog-. nising Miss Dunlop's services, but those services were thoroughly appreciated. They hoped she would consider the present in no way an equivalent to the services she had rendered, but simply a recognition of the help she had given in the work of the church during the last five years. He concluded by trusting that the sunshine of prosperity might ever shine upon her. Messrs Cochrane, Skinner, and K. McKenzie fully endorsed the sentiments of the previous speakers, And testified to the unswerving kindness, good will and ability with which she had carried out her duties as organiste.

Mr Dunlop replied on behalf of his daughter. He was very gratified to hear of the respect and esteem in which she was held, and of the way in

which her small services had been appreciated. He was sure he was expre»Bing her feelings when he heartily thanked them for all they had said and done. Whatever Bhe might have | done for the church had been purely a labor of love, Having a love for singing and music ehe had delighted in her work. He regretted exceedingly the accident which prevented their old friend the Key. &- Barclay being with them, and concluded by again expressing on behalf of his daughter his thanks for the kind letters Bbe had received from the session and the committee, the present they had given her that day, and for all their expressions of kindness and good wishes. He also thanked them on behalf of Mrs Dunlop and the other members of the family for the good wishes expressed on their behalf. ,

This terminated a very pleasing little ceremony, and the deputation withdrew.