FAREWELL TEA AND CONCERT TO THE REV. J. DUKES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1987, 2 April 1885, Page 3

FAREWELL TEA AND CONCERT TO THE REV. J. DUKES.

A I'VHMM-Hi tt\i and conceit to the Rev. J. Dukes, whose tonn *»f imiustiy oxpu< s in thts Hamilton Cilc\ut, and who is loav in,' f.>r \\lmi n 'iKi| took place m the Public Hall, Hamilton, on Tuesday evening last, and was a decided success. At the tea about 130 sat down, .and it is alnio-t needless to sxy th.vt ample justice was done to the good things pi ovided. The tiays woie gi\en by Airs Morrish, Mr Buttle, Miss Lovell, Miss Campbell, Miss. Mamuleiv, Mi-> Co\, Mis Home, Mi»s Trovvheelhu, Mis Tucker, Mrs French, Miss Thompson, and Mis Salmon. After the table had been cleared, a concert took place, the Wesh-yan Chon being as-istcd by fuendbof other churches. Mr Meachem acted as conductoi, and Mi R. Salmon as accompanist. The proceedings opened by the choir, hinging The Anthem "Piaise Ye the Lud," after winch tho Kov. J. Dukes offeied up a pia\er. ThoOhairman(Mi W. \. Graham, Mayor) on rising .stated that he took it as a great honour in being asked to preside that evening. It also ga\e him great pleasure m being present at the affectionate leavetaking of the Ke\. Mr and Mi\s Unices. Dm ing the timo that he had been acquainted with the rev. gentleman he had always found him ready to assist in any Chusti.in woik, and he felt sure that in leo.\ in" Hamilton, he carried with him the esteem and best wishes of the inhabitants In ueai ly all the in usical gatherings which had taken place m Hamilton, Mrs Dukes had taken part, and he especially refened to tho Jittle church at Tamahere, m which so m my ploasant evenings had been pa"-ud. It wax a sign of the times to see lniuiateis associating together for the common good, theieby .setting aside all petty piejiuhue and working together for Chnstian good. In conclusion he apologised for the Rev. R. O. Biggs, who was unavoidably absent, also the Rev. Mr Detn. A solo, "Consolation," by Miss Salmon; anthem, "This is The Day," by the choir, and a solo by Miss Winnie Muiray, " Gordon of Khaitoum," followed. The Rev. 11. R. Dewsbury, in a few well chosen reniaik«,afteraccountingforhis delay on the road, said he thoughtthoycould haidly expect aspcech trom him. However, when he received the. kind invitation from Mr Dukes he thought the least he could do was to put in c\n appearance, if only to say how deeplj he legretted that gentleman's depaituie. Ho dui-lt At H)i)«! length upon the inexorable law of their Conference as to the ltineiant h> stein. He had the utiuo-t dislike to it. It was not only a gieit fliscomfnit to the minister, but also to tlio congregation. However, it wns the law, and they must abide by it. He regretted Mi Dukes' departure, and in conclusion s,ud he expiessed the feelings of the Methodist congiegation also. The choir then sansf the anthem, " Deus Miseicatur;" duet, "Oh, Lovely Peace," Mrs Home and Miss Trewheellar ; anthem, "(Jreat and Marvellous," choir; solo, "Pestal," Mrs Murray; anthem, "Sing Unto <iod," choir, and a solo by Mi»b Trewheellar, •' The Better Land." In le.s ponse to an encore Miss Trewheellar sang " Low at Thy Feet." The Rev John Dukes said : It would more truly haimonise with my feelings tonight to continue a quiet obseiver, but when I look at this audience, repiescnting as it does all the various denominations of Christians, and representing all paitsof this district, it would be exceedingly ungrateful and ungenerous on my part to remain silent and unmoved. I thank you Mr Chairman, and I thank you all «:y fuends (I shall not apologise for that familiar term) for all your kind expressions* to-night. I don't know what I havo done to merit them. I have tued to do my duty, and it is very gratifying to me to find that you appreciate wh*t I have done. My thiee years' residence in Hamilton has been made, by the sympathy and support of my many fi lends, very happy and agreeable, and now the time has comeJor me to say farewell. The itinerant law under which we serve, and which locates a Wo-leyan minister in a ciicuit, is always enforced, sometimes b.foie, but always at tho o\|jiimtion of the maximum teimof thiee years, and h.Ms moved away to another spheie of labour. I shall not discuss the advantages, and disadvantages of this system to-night. When I feel ripe foi n vviang-lo on the question it w ill not be with mv fnend Mr Dewsbury. No.no; " discretion is the better pait of valour.' I shall choose another antagonist. Still wo must not overlook the fact that but foi the ltiuct.icy the Cambudge Ciicuit would not hue secured the sei wees of its esteemed and accomplished imnisti r. Tins system gives a-s well as take-. But we in N>>w Zealand think th it it ought not to ngidly demand the removal of a man eveiy thiee year-, nre-pec-tiveof all surrounding circumstance*. We as a Conference hive been contending for] Koine time for an extension of the teim to five yeais, with annual appointments, but unfortunately (I hope the poweis that be will foi give me), we have not as yet rate 01 independent existence. We in New Z Miami are one of foui Conferences which constitute the Austialasian Wesleyan Church, and no single Conference possesses legislative but simply administrative functions. Now, weareconvmcedthatbuilt upon the "pillar and ground of thetruth,"wccould stand and prosper without the others, but whether they feel afraid of maintaining their equilibrium if left t« stand upon thiee legs, and consider that the quadrilater.il i.s essential to the general well being, I don't know. One thing I know, they are very loath to part with us. It so happens that the other three Conferences are intensely conservative. Some of the finest fossilised specimens to be found in any modern ecclesiastical system, sufficient to foini a very interesting museum, were unpaithed at the late general Conference. De ir, good old men ; some of them. We love them for their works' sake ; we admire their zeal; we are dazzled vith the brilliancy of somip, but \v a , don't think that wisdom alone dwellu'with them, nor yet that she will die with them. But for these very sir.con> and honest obstructionists, we should be abl" to remain a longer time m your midst. This is not tho tune nor the place to buntf the matteis of my own church prominently b'foie you. I lecollect a certain tfc'itL.n.'ii lining placed in the chair. He was a printer and stationer. Whether lie had prepared n speech or not. I don t know. If he had it had depaited from him, .vui thcie lie stood, "tall and eiecl in sweet confu-ion ln-t." At length lie neemed to swoon, and fmcying him-df in his shop, he said: "L idles and gentlemen, I am no public speaker, but if you want any cheap piinting d<»ne, any book* 01 stationeiy, you c m not do better than at my establishment "—" — giving Ins name and address. Well, mi, I thought it was a pity that the ehaiiman on that occasion did not answer to Mr Punch s description of a gentleman, viz., " That he is a man who has no business in this woild' (keep to one interpittation of that, if you pleane). The people on that occasion did not want any "shop," and you tonight don't want all tho affairs of my church raked up before you. It is, however, due to my people that I should say, and my heai t leaps to say it, that a kinder, more sympathetic, more generous people I never laboured amongst, a more honourable circuit I never .served. Whether the money* have all cmae in to time or not, my stewards have always presented me with my cheque to the veiy day. Thanks to the sustained liberality of our people, thanks to the gieat exertions of my choir, assisted by fj ieii'js, who have travelled many miles to give these recent concerts, .and who appear before you to-night, and thanks to the liberal support we have received, when the proceeds of this evening's .soiree are known, I trust the stewards will be able to make the gratifying statement that the circuit in out of debf. As a minister I have had many advantages here, and my work] has been comparatively light and agreeable through the faithfulness of my numerous officials. I utterly abhor empty-beaded, cold hearted flattery, but I am bound to say that my stewaids and Sunday School supeiintendant and teachers have most faithfully i tttended to their work. I have had no anxiety about, and, thank God, nothing but harmony in the choir. It has been ably conducted by Mr Meachem, and throughout my ministry here, tho harmonium has been played by Mr Salmon. Of his fidelity \ md ability I need not speak. I can only say this, that I should like all these my I he'lpeis to itinerate with me through the connexion. Before I sit down lot me say that there are many things which endear me to Hamilton. It is a bright, clean, clieerfui, pretty little town, I have told my successor, quite an enjoyable place to live in. When all havo been so \evy kind to me it seems invidious to mention names. I cannot, however, refrain from publicly acknowledging my indebtednew to the Manager and the Editor of The Waikuto Times foi then unifoim kindm -s to in , and h- Ij> to tlin cau-e \i' fi. -« it and ni doing ho I wish to congiatul ite tho dis- ♦ ri,.(- mum the im.s n nhhion of alich a UHIXif

•is The W.ukato Tunes. I have mot with s inn' " mv.ill fiy ' m niv t» i\eK, hut the „'<kl hr> iltli\ moi.il toii'j <<t din lotil pipoi 1 vuv gi.'tih ing to .ill who seek the good ct till II Minus. 1 (k'MIV also to tll.Ulk till' \l vi 1 -\ md Tiewheellar families fni th<> h -ip tin / h i\i> so frequently and chei ifulK i iidiMod, uid to lKino outside my own < hutch do I feel mm o giatcftd th.m to .Mi .Mm r'dpecuinbe for the help given us m iho conceits M) lelatioiis with the vauoiis chinches h.tAebeen \oiy.\inic.ible thioiijjh out. Tn tho election of the Parsonage, f reeened very t-übstanti.il help fiom othei cliuiclil^, iind T tiu&t the pjood f h'liiijj at piesent existing bitween .ill the chinches will never bo broken, but will c mtiiino to grow. Many of my wi\kis have been \eiy cosnidpohtan indeed in (hi> dicuit. ] nse the Wesleyan Hjinn Book in the momma, Hymns Ancient and Mi'dern in the .iltei noon, and the Piosbjtonan Hymn liook in the evening, so that there is a danger of one fm getting ones ecclesiastical identity at times— no gieat calamity that. I must now reluctantly say farewell, heartily wishing yon a large enjoyment of every muteual and siuutiMl good. The rev. gontlomin resumed his seat amidst loud applause. Anthem.— "Behold How good and joyfiil,' choir. Tho Rev. Mr Dukes proposed, and the Rev. H. R. Dcwsbiny seconded, a vote of thanks to tho Mayor for presiding that evening, which was earned by accl.vma tion. Tho Chairman, in returning thanks rpfened to the excellent qualities of both Mr and Mrs Dukes, and the good they had done whilst in the district, and he ti listed the good wishes of those piesent would follow the tii. Mr French also spoke an to the esteem in which the lev. gentleman was held. He thanked the ladies, for their assistance at the table that evening and as senior steward expressed legiet at Mr and Mi& Dukes' departure. Mr Buttle m a few well chosen remaik.s seconded the vote of thauka to the ladieswho presided at tho tables, and also bore testimony and ability of tho Rev. Mr Dukes, whilst in the cucuit. The singing of tho " National Vnthem " bi ought the mtei opting pioeeedmgs to a close. ___________