THE REV. MR DUKES' FAREWELL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1033, 27 March 1882, Page 2

THE REV. MR DUKES' FAREWELL.

The Wesleyan Church was attended by an overflowing congregation last evening to listen to the Rev. Mr Dukes' farewell discourse. The Rev. gentleman has now labored amongst us for two years and durine that period the amount of good he has done both in his public and private life, has been such as to endear him to the members of his own church and gain the respect and esteem of all ilasses in the community, His address wbb based upon St. Paul's farewell to the Ephesians as described in the 20th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. He quoted Paul's words:—" And now behold Igo bound in the spirit to Jorusalem, not knowing the things that Bhall befall me there. . , .

And now brethron I commend yon to God, and to the Word of his Grace," The preacher alluded to the pain l it must have been to St, Paul to tear himself away from the Church he had fostered, and go forth to another place, and the comfort he must have derived from the fact that he had left them in better hands than hia ownin the hands of God. Mr Dukes earnestly besought his hearers to beware of false teachings, and to go to the word of grace for all their inspirations, audio; all their

spiritual instruction. He could not trust himself to say muoh about his departure, and he knew they would gladly Bpare him the pain of doing so. The reverend gentleman concluded an earneat and interesting address by bidding,'. them fare* well, and following St Paul's by ''commending'; tliern to God anpV/the Word'of his Grace." hymns appropriate to the occasion, during the service one being a very Bweet farewell .anthem, After service a collection was made, whioh amounted to the sum of £1 18a 9d. The Rev Mr Dukeavrill leave Masterton on Thursday next en route for Hamilton, Waikato, where he will soon' bocome to the members of the Wesleyan Church there what he has been to them here.