PRESENTATION TO THE REV. G. BARCLAY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2178, 21 March 1891, Page 3

PRESENTATION TO THE REV. G. BARCLAY.

On Thursday evening a number of the friends of the Key. Geo. Barclay met at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Geraldine, for the purpose of presenting him, on the occasion of his leaving the district, with a testimonial of their respect end esteem. A very large number of Mr Barclay’s friends had signified their intention of being present, but the henry storm of wind and rain which came up from the south-west about 6 o’clock, and continued for the greater part of the night, kept many of them away. By 8 o’clock, however, there was a numerous and very hearty company gathered together at the hall, and the rain falling outside only served to make the room appear more attractive and comfortable. Mr and Mrs Barclay on their arrival were warmly welcomed by those who had come together to do them honor. Yery great pleasure was expressed at seeing the rev. gentle ■'•tin once more in Geraldine well and hearty after his recent accident. He was besieged with questions as to how the accident happened, but be appeared to have almost forgotten all except the humorous side of it as he kept the little knot of sympathising friends who gathered round him from time to time in roars of laughter with his description of bis fall, his broken leg, and its setting. After a short time had been spent in pleasant conversation Mr J. Mnndell took the ohair, and beside him on the platform were the Bevs. Barclay and Todd and Dr Barclay. The chairman said there was little need for him to state the object of the meeting, as they were all aware of its purpose. He expressed the pleasure he, with all present, felt at seeing Mr Barclay among them so well and strong again. He also expressed the pleasure they all felt at seeing Dr and Mrs Barclay there that evening. In the course of his remarks he created a laugh by saying that after Mr Barclay’s many bar breadth escapes by flood and field, people began to fanoy he was made of India rnbber, and could not be hurt, but it had now been proved beyond dispute, both to the rev. gentleman and his friends, that he had bones that could be broken the same as other peoples’. Mr J. Aitken contributed the song, “ The Meeting of the Waters,’’ and Miss Andrews “ The Last Bose of Sommer,” Mr N. Dunlop expressed regret that Mr B. Irvine, who bad been deputed to make the presentation, was absent owing to the inclemency of the weather. He, Mr Dunlop, was ill prepared at such short notice to carry out Mr Irvine’s part of the programme. He regretted thac the weather had kept so many away, and apologised for the absence of the Bev. J. Preston and Dr B. Fish. The former was attending an important meeting out of town, and Dr Fish had been called away on professional business. Many of the parishioners of the Mackenzie County portion of the district bad expressed their wish to be pressnt, but the distance had prevented their being there that evening. At the time it became known that Mr Barclay was about to leave Geraldine bis friends determined that he should not depart without receiving some recognition of their esteem and regard. Before their arrangements could be completed, however, be had left. His return had been expected some time ago, but be had been delayed by the painful accident they had all heard of. He went on to speak of the pleasure they all felt at seeing their old pastor back again on a visit, and referred to the many happy annual pariah gatherings they had held in that hall, and the great amount of work done in the parish and in South Canterbury by Mr Barclay during the 26 years he had resided there. In the early days Mr Barclay had to ride from Timaru to Pleasant Talley across unbridged rivers and creeks and unformed road*. He had been present at the building and opening of nearly every church between the Wt»itaki and the Bangitata, and as they all knew bad worked most arduously in the

cause of the Presbyterian Church and religion in South Canterbury. (Applause.) I'bey all knew something of his great labors in the cause of education. (Applause.) He (the speaker) regretted very much that Mr Barclay bad severed bis connection with the Board of Education. His residing at such a distance from South Canterbury prevented his attending regularly, hence his resignation. Jtfor his part he considered the loss of Mr Barclay’s services to the board was indeed a heavy blow to the whole of the district, and more especially to the country schools, the caute of which he had always championed with great success. (Loud applause) He then read over and presented the testimonial as follows: “ To the Bov. Geo. Barclay, “Reverend and Dear Sir,—We, the undersigned, hereby convey to you our sincere congratulations on the occasion of your competing a (jurats: of a century’s labors in the district, labors in your ministerial capacity that many a time involved peril, and always bespoke courage and devotion; labors on behalf of the educational interests of South Canterbury that have gained the admiration of all, and ate only now yielding their full fruition ; labors also in the public service in other departments that will ever link your name in the early history of tbit part of New Zealand, But it is in your ministerial capacity that you will be especially remembered, it having been your privilege to build up the Presbyterian cause in South Canterbury from its first beginning, and by your almost Apostolic labors to plant churches wherever a worshipping congregation was to be found. With tne parish of Geraldine you have been connected as sole pastor for the long period ot IS years. The severance of that connection carried with it a widespread feeling of regret at your departure from amongst us. But the hope is freely expressed that you may yet return to reside in the district with which you have been so long identified, and where yon have many friends who miss your familiar face and friendly counsel. However that may be, we trust that your life may bo long spared with nndiminiahed usefulness and vigor to see the fruit of your efforts, and to rejoice in the success which, by Divine favor, has been vouchsafed to yon,—We are, Beverend and Dear Sir, youra faithfully, “ If. Dunlop, “ W, Bbattib, “ A Cowan, “ R, Ibtinb, “Jambs Mailer, “B Skisnkb, “Jambs Aitebn, “ B. li. Macdonald, “And 100 others.” The address had been beautifully illuminated by Mr Geo. Wad*, of Timaru, and that gentleman had put some of his very heft work into it. In looking over it one noticed that Mr Wade had beautifully worked in the national emblems of England, Ireland,and dootland, the fern of New Zealand and the blue forget-me-not, with birds of humming-birds, and gorgeous buttei flies. Mr Wade’s work is so well known in S>uth Canterbury that it needs little description, It is sufficient to say that the one undor no *i a3 ij one ol his bast Enclosed a* it g in a heavy aft frame it forms a very h»nd^ mo work of art. Mr Dunlop also Resented Mr Bartlay with a handsome gold iHtob and gold albert guard. In doing so hv ma( j a jome humorous stud apt remarks with r>>ard to a tr'ok the rev. gentleman’s watched got of stooping during the course of wiu the result that his congrsgattj o [{; en received the benefit of an exoaptiu a ijy j oa g jjj. course. The watch bore e folio svbg Ascription“ Presented to tt Key. George

Barclay upon the occasion of his levying Geraldine after 25 years of devoted service to the cause of religion and education.” He also presented Mrs Barclay with a beautiful gold broooh shaped in the form of a orescent and set with pearls, with a pearl star between the two points of the orescent. The Bev. GK Barclay, who on riling to respond was received with prolonged applause, said he found the very greatest difficulty in giving expression to what he felt on the present interesting occasion. He had listened with very great gratitude to the speeches of Mr Dunlop and the chairman, and had also listened with a great deal of thankfulness to the great many beautiful and glowing sentiments in the address. He could not think of appropriating all the beautiful aud kindly things said there. He supposed most people were aware that he was not an egotist. He had very seldom raid or written anything about himself, and he would be far from taking to himself all that was said in the address. He supposed, however, he oould hardly hide from himself that ha had upon some occasions, and during a considerable portion of his life, done what ha could in the various spheres to which providence bad called him. fie then went

on to give a brief resume of the growth anc progress of the district and parish during the many years he had been associated wit! them. His account of the work to be dom in the early days when there were very fen roads and bridges, when the population was scattered, and the task of visiting his parishioners a difficult one, was very interesting. He paid a very high tribute tc the kindness and hospitality of the people among whom he had moved. He conld not remember a tingle instance whose he had not received hospitality and kindness, more than he could possibly tell them. He had been reminded that evening of some of the things he had done. Well, he would admit having done a few things. Some of these h« enumerated. He was not boasting, bnt he was thankful to bo able to look back and realite that by the help of Hod and the help of friends he bad been able to do so much. There were also some things which be regretted. Things which during his ministerial career bad in a certain measure been a source o! regret to him. Mr Dunlop had referred to his watch (topping and to the long sermons he sometimes gave them. (Laughter.) He could asanre them that it was a fact that time after time be would look at his watch when he started speaking and resolve to speak till the hands pointed to a certain time, and during bia sermon his watch wonld stop, with the result that he was led to greatly exceed the time he had given himself. He regretted this exceedingly, and be was sure a great many of bis congregation regretted it also. Ho was certain the watoh they had given him that evening would prevent any such accident occurring in the future. Another thing which he

regretted very deeply indeed was that the amount of work he had to get through had prevented his coming into contact with the younger members of bis congregation. This was especially a cause of regret to him, aa he held the opinion moat strongly that it was not so much by declamation as by the careful and minute instruction of the young people in the tenets of the bible that good would bo accomplished. His inability to carry out hia desire to meet the young people of his congregation was among the deepest regrets of hia past life. Ho hoped that God would guide them all into a life of peace and everlasting joy. He thanked them again for their very Kind and generous sentiments towards himself aad family. (Loud applause.) Dr Barclay returned thanks on behalf of his mother for the very hsndaome and valuable present they had given her, and for all the kind expressions of goodwill towards herself. He was certain that Mrs Barclay considered that there was no place in Hew Zealand like Geraldine, and no people like those who lived there, (Applause.) Dr Barclay’s remarks were supplemented and endorsed by the Rev. Mr Barclay, who fully bore out all that hia son had said respecting Mrs Barclay’s affections for Geraldine and its people. The hope had been expressed, both by the speakers and in the address, that they might yet return to live in Geraldine* He was sure Mrs Barclay would gladly do so. and as for himself if it was so ordained by Providence ho did not know that he should object so greatly. Mr G. Steven, of Hilton, endorsed all that had been said with regard to Mr Barclay’s many good qualities. He had known him now for over 11 years, and had formed a very high opinion indeed of him. He thanked nim for the way in which he had championed the cause of the teachers, especially in the smaller schools.

Mr Barclay thanked this speaker for his kind words and good wishes. Ue bad always found Mr Steven one of the most conscientious and trustworthy teachers ia the board’s employ, Solo, Misi Andrews, "Oft in the Stilly Night." Solo, Mrs H. N. Hiakens, “ Land o’ the Leal.” Messrs B. Skinner, J. Aitken, A. McLean, and the chairman also spoke in the same strain as the previous speakers as to Mr Barclay’s earnest and arduous labors in the district in the cause of religion and edcuation. Each one of them regretted that be bad severed bis connection with the parish, and also with the Board of Education. His absence from the board was an almost irreparable loss. They expressed the hope that ha would yet again come to live in the district, and takp his place again on the board.

During the evening the company sat down to an excellent supper, prepared by Mesdames Dunlop, Beattie, and Skinner. A most enjoyable evening was spent, two or three hours being whiled away very pleasantly with music and chatting. Votes of thanks to the ladies who had provided the supper, the singer*, and the chairman were passed- The proceedings terminated with all present joining in singing “ AuLd Lang Syne.” The address, it may bs mentioned, is now on view at Mr N. Dunlop’s store.