VALEDICTORY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9636, 30 October 1909, Page 5

VALEDICTORY.

FAREWELL SOCIAL TO MR AND MRS McLEOD.

There was a large gathering of the congregation in Knox Hall I ast evening, when a farewell sociaX was tendered to Mr and Mrs P. W. G McLeod.

The chair was occupied by the Rev A. T. Thompson. E. A. The chairman stated that they had met to bid farewell to Mr and Mrb McLeod, who during their residence in Masterton had served their church loyally. The congreagtion felt that they could not let them depart without an expression of good wishes for iheir future success. The church was not going to be behind hand in recognising its worthy members Mr McLeod had been a constant and faithful member of the choir, an energetic worker in the outfields, and a valued member of the congregation in other respects. He was also an honoured resident of the town, and a conscientious and fiithful business man. In Mrs McLeod he had a great helpmate —the power behind the throne—whose counsel had helped to fit him so admirably tor the various duties which he had so satisfactorily filled in connnectiun with the church. The members of the congregation had decided to show their appreciation of the many good services rendered in some tangible and material form, something that would always remind them that they were" not forgotten by the congregation of Knox Church. The meeting had been somewhat hurriedly arranged, but the representative gathering that had resulted tes tifi-d to the general appreciation of the sterling qualities of Mr and Mr s M )Leod, to the regret at their departure, and wishes for their future success.

The chairman thrn handed to Mr McLeod a pair of nilver mounted military hair brushes, and to Mrs McLeod a silver mounted bottle. MrJas. Macgregor, senr., in a humorous speech, statd that from amongst a chorus of regrets he intended to strike a chord of gladness at Mr McLeod's departure. He wai always delighted to see young men. in whatever profession or trada they undertook, swing forward t> bettor things. There was ahva a room for gool men at the top, and if Mr McLeod displayed the same ability and energy m his new home that he had done in Masterton they would soon hear that he had reached the top. He was pleased to know that Mr McLeod was going to where there was greater scope for his talents and energy. His success up to the present had been the result of downright graft, ability and integrity—no such thing as luck had entered into the question. Mr McLeod had worked on the principle that good positions W3re always available for nnn when good men were available for the positions, and whilst imbued with that spirit he must always be on the upward grade. On behalf of thja congregation the speaker wished Mr and Mrs McLeod every hapiness and prosperity it was possible for them to enjoy.

Messrs Wingate, Sutton and Gor-1 •'on also expressed sorrow at the fact that Mr an I Mrs McLeod wre de parting from Masterton, and voiced the opinion that the Church was losing two untiring workers, whose places it would be difficult to fill. j In responding on behalf of him | self and wife, Mr McLeod remarked I that he was pleased to see many present that evening who had greeted him when he first entered the <-hurch some ten years ago. He had met sterling friends during is connection witn the church, many who had given practical assistanca at a period when things were not going too well, and when he was in danger of beoming disheartened. Anything he had done to help forward the good work of the church had been a labour of love, but whilst he was always alive t3 his own imperfections, he could state that he had always done hia best. He assured them that the kindly sentiments expressed were greatly appreciated, and both Mrs McLeod and himself would always have the most kindly remembrances of their association with the good people of Knox Church. During the evening songs were rendered by Misses J. McGregor and M, McKenzie, Messrs F. J. Hunn, J. Gray, R. J. Young, and Rev. A. T. Thompson; recitations by Miss Logan and Mr E. R. Wilson; piano solos by Misses Winnie Jones and H. McGregor. Accompaniments were played by Misses I. McKenzie, W. Jones, J. Hozg and H. McGregor, and Mr H. S. Claughton. Refreshments were distributed by members of the choir, an 1 proceedings closed with the company singing i ••AoM Lang Syne."