FAREWELL SOIREE TO THE REV MR. KEALL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 165, 6 April 1871, Page 5

FAREWELL SOIREE TO THE REV MR. KEALL.

A soiree took place in the Wesleyan Church, T,awrence, ou Monday evening, after which a valedictory service was held for the purpose of takine leave of the Rev. W. Kea'l, who has be?n appointed by tho late C-nfcrencs to Spring!-on, in Canterbury. Mr. Keall has had the oversight of this district for two years, and has laboured assiduously to promote the moral and spiritual well being, not only of those of his own church, but in conjunction with his ministeri«rbreLhten, tho Rev. Dr. Copland and the Rev. Mr. Mraz'e*. has endeavoured as far as he could to Jet his influence be felt by a wide circle : nor has he laboured in vain. ; his powerful pnlpifc oratory has been widely felt, and his outspoken, earnest Christianity lias won for him the esteem of many. We were glad to observe th.it Mr. Keall was ably supported on this occasion by the rev. gentlemen afore-n-xined, as also l.y the Chinese Missionary, P.ml Ah Chin. Th<? tables were provided by Mrs. Coverlid and the b-ichelor mt>i!ih'jrs of the con<m>L'ation, and laid out in the good old Wosleyan style, plenty of tie substantiate and tea — fit' for drinkincr. Justice having bpen done to the good things, the Church was prepared f>r the public meeting. A hymn was iriven nut, and the valedictory prayer offrved by ths Rev. Mr. iM.-nzies.

The chair w is fa-en by Mr. Henry Bloxham, one of the Circuit Stewards, who, in a slvrh and fc-ling address, stated that the object of this meeting was to t-ike leave of the I'cv. Mr Keall, who, for two yeai*s has had the superintendence of this important dislrict ; and woll the brethren hid worked together with Mr. Keall. Tie bore testimony to his excellent Christian deportment and his great exnenence in everything relating f o them as Wcteyans, and by which teaching and counsel their interests had been largely promoted.

The Chairman called upon Mr. Tonks to address the meeting, but on the call of his name, Mr. Tonks was non est.

The Chairman said that the next spea'<pr (and he would be the first) would not " bolt," he alluded to

Mr. M'Lelland, who, upon rising, said that the lasb thr.e their Chairman presided at a similar mpeting afc the Blue Spur he was hitting all around him, both minister and sclirfbl-master, friends and foes. lie had got such a creat man since he had become a dealer in "black diamonds " that he made the sparks fly abou t in all direction*, however, he (the Chairman) had given the speaker a veiy kind invitat'on to come to this rneetinsr and give him a dressing, but he (Mr. M'Lelland) would forbear as the Chairman was doin'j; agood work ; let- him hit ever so hard we will wish him GcW speed ; buUn the matter which had callewtiliem together this evening, lie could wish the whole affitir put off, for he did not like the idea of saying "farewell." This was a more formidable word, horrever, in his young days, when people of the " canny" side 'of the Tweed used to consider that they had been abroad if they had crossed the border. He hoped they would again see their friend. He had no doubt that Mr. Keall from his wall-known talent at a preacher would turn up some of these fine days in one of the grand centres of Methodism in these islands. He hoped the people would profit by Mr. Keall's teaching. It behoved us to be all priests to God, and in our daily life live out the great principle of the gospel. We hava only a very short time to labour and we should make the most of ifc, for the advancement of Christ's Kingdom amongst us. He felt that he wa? standing upon the verge of time, that he he had arrived in the vestibule of that glorious temple which would soon meet his istonishedgaze, the music of which would soon fall upon his eai\ •

After the singing of a hymn, the Chairman called upon Mr. Paul Ah Chin, Chinese Missionary, to address the meeting, who was understood to say that his feelings were similar to what they wore

in Melbourne the first time he heard the piano played— that, it would break hi? heart to listen to such sweet miisic. Hie heart was now neir breaking tr.rui a different cause, the ta'diu away of *Ir. Keall. He (Mr. Paul) did nor uniKr-st-md these changes, and could 1,->' _■ wished Mr. Keall to lia\e stay-id . lie s-iid that he culd no, pp.;ak ini'ch, l.v' he prayed God to Moss Mr. Kc.ll 'I. " hoped the la-ly and gcntlemens would excuse him saving any n:oiv." Mr. John Caivy was n?>-r, called upon, who said that if Paul conKl s-pe.-k so well and never having le.uviod J n.jl'sh, he (Mr. Carey) considoied that hadn:* had an English education he should at least be ahle to Fay something on the proSent occasion He did nol thi'ik at one time that he would grieve at tho loss of Mr. Kea.ll, hut now it had so near b <co:uo a fact he cmld not help bcii'g deeply moved. God, he taid, had nsi-d Mr. Keall as an instrunie.it for goo-l. ilo said it was a common t:\pie-siun, " D.>n*t fire too low," but Mr. Kcall had on en fired so low as to lake '.he feet from under him. He trusted Goii would t.p.iro him, and bless his labours to the ingathering of precious souls to Christ. Another hymn was srr.g. after which The B.ev. Mr. McnzL's addro^sed the meeting. The bidding good-bye, he Faiii, was not the formidable afl'.nr it, used to be. He could n>tg >so far b .ck as hij fiiend Mr. M'l.ellau.l ; he I elougul t<what he would t> rm thu mid !te a^e, 1 etween the slow aire of our fathers and thu " fast age " of the present, and yot he remembered the time when people tikini; such a journey as Mr. Keall uas about to do, • would 1 aye made their wi 1 He (Mr. Menzi^s) should never foignt the welcome Mr. Keall gave him when ! c came to Tuapeka, and ever since the.r fellowship together was of the most cordial nature. He could iind tiie ymin^ man cropping out of Mr. Kcall — always sanguine and cheerful over his w ork, while he heartly sympathised with tho.se whose temperament was nv»i\j sedate than his own. Many a time he had called up->u Mr. Keall, and ha 1 come away cheered It may be said now that another faithful servant of God is passed away from among3t us, whose warning vi ice we may not again hear. We, who have sn/ under his ministry, and have bi.neli'ed by his teaching, to you this L> a solemn season, and he leaves us in a respov.sil L> position as regards the coming ministry. He would c.030 his remarks h y quoting the words of the Apo&tlos, " Tako g od heed to youvselvep.,"

The Rev. Dr. Copland then .rWress»d the meeting, an-i observed ihat 3k> nevor liked to advance anything as iv^crch himself, but there was su.'h .1 tiling as iving tired out. Some people ma nad io regard mm sbtrs [as they Avonkl a pnnri — that they had only to a:«ply the handle and they would yet any amount of water, lie (Dr. Copland) had often the pltasure of meeting uit-h Mr. Ktvil on the various platforms which affected t'seir ii'ntuil interests, and he had g-eot pleasure ii b'iing present that evening to bear feslimony to his unwearied l.ib-uir 3 ! amongst Ihem, and he hoped that his labnuis in hi? new sphere would prove as g^cit a success as they had been in this distriu!:. He would occupy their time for a liitlo on Sabbath observance, not fivm a Christian poinr, of view, butfr.nn the opposite side, and endeavour to point out what the world thought a' oi.t it. an.l from his own observation he had following. Some thought that it was intended as a day of rest only, otheis made it a clay of pleasure, others for pio'R. Thpi'o was more visiting on this d.iy than any oilier : and if they possessed of a hi-r^e, there was all the racing and chafing up and dow-n the lani^s aitcr cattle, tho howling and bxrkinec of dogs ; ana if a friend was in the path who- kept a road-side ii>n, then there was tho u^ual drinking ;;nd " shouting," until, if we saw them lvturning from thoir rambles wo should think +h;»t both th ■ horse and his ruLr weie " powerfu ly refreshed." We could 530 men engaged playing quoits on this holy day, and men in hivjh place pl.iyin^ croquet; wagoners cirrying yoocU ; miner.* preparing r.K-wos d ; i-nd nun in many other ways, all cgai"-'! in breik-nj; dow the sanctity cf tin- Sih'a'h, v-ln.i| leaves them little time .and 100 disposition to worship G >d in 1 i- i.-'.ric{/.i, n-y.

Mr. Dnwoey, fiom Iran's Fi-'t, in a few well eho r en wovb here tesi^eii t<> the esteem in which in (his part of tho district they held Mr. Kcall.

The Chairman had now, ho said, arrived near the close of hi-, programme, unn would now c-il! upon Mr, '•">•;:!!

Mr. Ke-il ! , w"io was {isT-oii mitcly roceived, said that ho woull r.'k-j a thort review of his labours r.mi.ni' t't.rnu of what had been done, and hnr/ h" )v\c\ left the "round to his so o-r-^ir and !o ihem. and in diing so be de'iven d an csnu 31 appeal to "holdfi-t the f<T.n of -:omd words," to pull well together, a :d render all the assistance to hi-j succ< >c -3or which they had so zealously rendered him With the local preachers and oHicr officers his connexion lir-cl been of the most affectionate kind, and he thanked the different officers for (heir uniform kindness and sympathy. Ho had listened to the Doctor's excellent address <-n the Pabbath observance, M\d he thought that Christianity was able to put down any amount of evil were Christians in earnest in the matter.

After a few words from the Chairman, and the singing of a hymn, this interesting service was brought lo a close.