PRESENTATION TO MR F. H. TEMPLER.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2418, 10 January 1888, Page 2

PRESENTATION TO MR F. H. TEMPLER.

At tho conclusion of tho evensong at St. Pater's Church, on Sunday. Mr A. Swarbrick made a presentation of a handsome marble time-piece to Mr F. H. Templer, late choirmaster, and at the same time made the following address :— Mr Templer,—l have been requested by tho members of this congregation to thank you for the valuable services you have rendered this Church during the yoars that you have resided in our midst, and to express our regret at your departure from this district. As churchmen we profess to find in the worship of God at once our highest duty and our greatest pleasure, and certainly the highest form of Public Worship is Praise and Thanksgiving. Now, it is true there are some men so unhappily constituted as to be insensible to the charm of music ; nevertheless it is in some form of song that the vast majority of mankind most readily and naturally pour forth their praise and thanksgiving to the Giver of all good. It is manifest, therefore, that anyone who materially assists in perfecting our Church music confers one of the greatest benefits that a man can bestow upon his fellowworshippers. Even without injustice to others we must all admit that it is almost entirely to your exertions we owe the present most efficient condition of our choir, an efficiency which not only enables all who will to join heartily in our services, but has also made those services such as not to offend the most highly-trained ear. It is, however, not only in respect of music that you have rendered valuable service to our Church. Where there are many minds there must needs be many opinions. But however much we may differ in matters of details no man who is not blinded by prejudice will, deny tho great good you have done in infusing life and energy into our Church work, in which there is much of apathy and indifference. It is impossible for mo to more than thus briefly indicate the valuable services you have rendered this parish, and in asking you to accept this small present we are not actuated by any idea of attempting to reward or recompense you for thoso services ; wo know that you aro far too good a churchman to have laboured merely for the approbation of your fellow men, and that the highest praise we can bestow upon you is to say that we know that all you have dune has been done as a duty to the Church. But, although we eanuot hopo to acquit this debt to yourself, still it would be leaving us with an intolerable debt to ourselves, were we to allow that debt to go unrecorded. I ask you, therefore, to accept this clock, that you may havo ever a visible reminder that the congregation of S. Peter's are not altogether unmindful of the good work you have done in their midst. Mr Templer replied in suitable terms, expressing his deep thanks for the kind gift- ________________