CALLED TO BLENHEIM.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20277, 20 August 1937, Page 8

CALLED TO BLENHEIM.

THE REV. A. C. WHITELAW. 1 | PRESBYTERY PROCEEDINGS. , 1 A pro re nala meeting of the Wai- • kato Presbytery was held in Hamilton, | this morning, to consider a call ad- ! 1 dressed to the Rev. A. C. Whitelaw, L.E.8., of To Awamutu, from St. An- , drew’s Church, Rlenheim. r l'lie call was signed by ■> •_»i.) of an effective mein- ! bership of 232, and was accompanied by a document of concurrence signed bv adherents. The Moderator Rev. C. 1.. French) presided, and there was an unusually ance of presbyters. The Rev. it. (i. Gilbert spoke in sup-! port of the call. Rlenheim, he said,! was a rising centre and there were j groat possibilities which it was felt) that Mr. and Mrs. W hitelaw were par-j I leularly titled to develop. The sigtialoi'ic.H In the call ImliiMlml a spirit I of unity, and while lie regret toil Hie! loss of Mr. Whitelaw to the Waikato' lie felt that Rlenheim offered a niueli | larger Held for Ids talents. Messrs. It. M. Stewart and H. Mandene here tribute to the work dmio I by Mr. Whitelaw in To Awamulu during his ministry of six and a half years, i which had commenced in a season of. depression, but which was largelv due! to Mr. and Mrs. Whilelaws energy! and enllmsiasm. M'liere had been no! depression in the Te Awamulu con-] gregalion where the youth work was: particularly flourishing and had prospered and increased. Whilst preally regretting Ihe prospect of losing their minister, the congregation had decided lo place no obstacle in Ihe way of Ids acceptance lo Ihe call as I 1 hey recognised Rial Rlenheim had the greater need. It was decided lo place the call ill Mr. Whit claw's hands, and he in noli- I lying its acceptance, staled lie did so lion with the Te Awamulu congregation and the Waikato, had been most happy. He had not sought Hie call from "the blue," loil In* felt, after the most careful consideration. I hat lie. , I could not reject it. pressed regret ~| Hie departure of Mr.' I Whitelaw, who during Ids ministry at Te Awamulu, bail rendered immense bis experieuee of youth work being] particularly valuable. Presbytery derided to sever the pr* * - | sent pastoral tie as from Hit i date of Mr. Whitelaw ‘s arrival at Rlrn- i hr ini ( tentatively lixed for September ; 22 ' and Hie Rev. 11. G. Gilbert was by 1 special request of the Te Awamutu congregation, appointed interim-moder-ator during the vacancy. |