VALEDICTORY SOIREE TO REV. W. J. WILLIAMS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1778, 2 April 1874, Page 3

VALEDICTORY SOIREE TO REV. W. J. WILLIAMS.

JjAst evening a soiree was held m the Wesleyan Church, G-rahamstown, to take leave of the Rev. W. J. Williams, who is going to Balclutha, Otago. After tea, the chair was taken by the Bev. J. Cbump, wlij spoke of the cares and duties of a Christian minister. He spoke highly of VTr Williams, and said he carried with him' their best wishes in his new.sphere of labour. ,

Mr Eebnick was' the next speaker, and in referring to the Wesleyan system of changing their ministers, said. that they did not read of the Disciples being in one place for more than three years.

Mr Eandebson, of Ooromandel, then addressed the' meeting. He referred to the feeling entertained at Coromandel, where Mr Williams had lately been stationed, with respect to that gentleinm, and spoke of the largely attended meeting they had when they bade him farewell. He (Mr Sanderson) had not come to the Thames to speak at that meeting, but to induce the quarterly meeting to send liev. Mr Dewsbury to Coromandel, which he was glad to say was to be done. . Kev. Mr Dewsbury then addressed the meeting. The JJev. W. J. Williams, on rising to deliver his valedictory address, was received with applause. In the course of his remarks ho alluded to the depressions which at times set in on tlie goldfields, especially to that which existed some three years ago. But ho said there was no reason to suppose that the glory of the Thames had departed, and indeed from analogy it required no stretch of the imagination to think that brighter days were about to dawn. Of < course their church was a good deal influenced by these fluctuations. When he came to ■the circuit a great depression existed, and their people thought that a second minister would plunge the circuit into debt, but at the end of ? tke year, instead of debt it was found that there was a balance of £15 or £16 shown by their stewards. Things went on prosperously, and another minister was introduced, but they all knew the unfortunate change of events which compelled the Conference to withdraw the third minister, and they would all regret that the btev.JMr Dewsbury was to be sent to Ooromandel in his (the rev. speaker's) place. He sincerely trusted that the circumstances of this circuit would soon improve so to enable them to have a second minister here. While he had been happy in his work yonder in Ooromandel, it was always a Bource;of pleasure to him to ome to the Thames and have the privilege of preaching to them in their churches here, which of course were much larger than that which he usually preached in. He felt happy T in declaring to them the unsearchable riches of Christ, and in meeting new proofs, of their goodwill and friendship. This was his first circuit, the first scene of his labours as a minisrer. Those engaged in the ministry would look back with- mingled feelings to their first ministry. He recollected that he used to be puzzled how he was to get out two or three sermons a week. While looking back now he felt that he had much to mourn, but ho had to bless God for many tokens that he was called to this work, in being granted some measure of success. From the experience which he had here, he felt that he ought to go to his new circuit much better, prepared than he had been. Ho considered it a high privilege to have been with Mr Buller—a man who was ever kind and ready to give good advice. He had enjoyed that privilege,. and he also enjoyed his association with the Kev. Mr Crump, and with his friend Mr Dewsbury, and by being brought into contact with those men he felt that he ought to be bettor prepared for his new sphere ot duty. He would always think with ■ pleasure and satisfaction of his connection with the Society here. In January, 1871, when the circuit stewards decided to send him to Coromandel, he thought they were making a great mistake. ■ He thought he was far too good for such a place yet when looking back he felt he had many advantages from his residence in Coromandel which, he would not have had elsewhere. He found it was far from being a joke to have to meet the same congregation three limes a week and preach to them, and in looking back he felt that he ought to be. better prepared for the work of the ministry than when he came to it. It was a mitter of grief to him that he had not met with a greater measure of sue-, cess in his labours, The proceedings were then brought to; a close by Biaging and prayer.