MASTERTON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9183, 4 September 1908, Page 6

MASTERTON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

FAREWELL TO REV. A. HODGE,

At the St. Clair Congregation Church (Dunedin), on Monday last, a very large gathering assembled at a farewell social to the Rev. A. Hodge, pastor of the church, who has accepted a call to Masterton. The Rev. W. Saunders occupied the chair, and there were associated with him a number of clergymen. The Rev. Mr Saunders, in the coarse of a happy speech, said those who were not of St. Clair were ever delighted with the great success winch had followed Mr Hodge's labours. Speaking from the ministerial position, they would miss Mr Hodge very much, for he was a kind and gracious man. During the past ten years Mr Hodge and himself had seen a good deal of each other, and he could safely say he had never heard that gentleman say a bad Word of man, wuman, or child. Further, he was optimistic, and saw the best of everything. In speaking of St. Clair, Mr Hodge always used terms of endearment. As they all knew, Mr Hodge had done yeoman service in the Bihle-in-schools question, he having laboured in vain to bring in its institution. So far as Mrs Hodge was concerned, reference to her should be made by the ladies of the church or the ministers' wives; but he could say that in St. Clair she was lovef. with the utmost sincerity for her infinite sympathy in all the little troubles which came to every home and other Jittle things. However, what was their loss was Master/ton's gain, although it was hard to congratulate them on their securing Mr Hodge. But they must wish Mr and Mrs Hodge and their family every success in the great work which he was about to undertake, for Mr Hodge was to start a new Congregational Church in Masterton, and they knew that by his genial manner and his j kindly visits to tha homes he would | achieve the great success fur which they wished. Others present spoke in a similar strain. In presenting Mr Hodge with a purse of sovereigns on behalf of not only the church, but practically all St. Clair, Mr Moody referred in terms of appreciation to Mr Hodge's past good work in the district. Mr Duncan, on behalf of the Sunday School, presented Mrs Hodge with a large and beautifully-framed picture of the Sunday School teachers [ and workers, and Miss H. Hodge [ with a couple of books—one as a present from her own class in the ' Sunday School, and tbe other as a memento from the school. The Rev. Hodge, in reply, said it did not seem ten years since . he first came to St. Clair, but in reality it was more, and he had never spent a happier period of his life. He felt leaving St. Clair and its 5 people very much, and had, indeed, ' told his children that they must never expect to find such a niie place [■ as St. Clair—on this earth, anyway. J He and his family had all been moved by the various individual gifts which ] had been presented to them. He j. thanked them all heartily for the pleasing memoirs which- they had S given to his wife, and daughter, and the'really useful present which they had made him—for ministers were f only human.

REV. HODGE ARRIVES AT MASTERTON.

Matters in connection with the opening of the new church at Masterton are advancing rapidly apace. Last evening the Rev. A. Hodge and family arrived by the 8.30 train from Wellington, and were welcomed at the station by a party of church members. The church will be formally dedicated on Thursday next, and the ceremony will be auspiciously carried out with the assistance of a large number of visiting Congregational clergy. The induction of the Rev. Hodge will be performed on Sunday week by the Rev. J. Reed-Glasson, of Terrace Congregational Church, when the church will be formally opened.