FAREWELL TO REV. W. LAMB.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3305, 25 August 1911, Page 3

FAREWELL TO REV. W. LAMB.

A FITTING SEND-OFF. The congregation' of the Baptist Tabernaclel, together with a large number of friends, last evening tendered a farewell tea and subsequently a social to the Rev. W. Lamb, who leaves 'Gisborne to-morrow morning for Sydney. About 300 people sat down to tea, and a very pleasant hour was spent. Later in the evening the church was crowded to overflowing, when the Rev. Mr. Lamb was entertained at a social. Mr. T. E. Tcneycliffe presided, and read letters of apology for their unavoidable absence' from the Rev. F. W. Chatterton and Mr. J. Bedcover. The Rev.'W. Grant said that he considered it an. honor to speak a few avoids in connection with a gathering swell as that. He reviewed the energetic career of the Rev. Mr. Lamb in this district, and said that his coming to Gisborne bad advanced the cause of the. church in all its branches. He was there that night to offer his condolences to them in the loss of their minister—and of such a minister they would surely fee] the loss. They had to admit that Mr. Lamb had broadened somewhat since lie had come heie—(laughter)— not only physically but also in experience. He did net wish to emphasise the sad carting, but Sydney was not very far away, and be invoked thorn to follow the Rev. Mr. Lamb with earnest prayers for Iris success on the other side. The Rev. J. A. Lccltoro; said that he was in the. unfortunate nosition of being the last of the ministers to arrive in Gisborne, and the others had tlie advantage over him in regard to the early work of the' Rev. Mr. Lamb. He had, nevertheless, been in close association with Mr. Lamb in many movements for the uplifting of the people. Ifixe speaker had learned to regard him as a very strong type of man, and he thought tihnt the Church would, have lo go a long way before they would find a man with such good gifts. Since he was going to a larger field of labor, they ought not to grudge him from their midst. On behalf of the congriegatio.n. of the Methodist Church he wished tlie Rev. Mr. Lamb anti Iris family God-speed. Mr. Aneurim Jones heartily endorsed all that had 1 been said, and wished to add a word of praise to the work of Mrs. Lamb. There was a lot of work done out of the glamour, and the minister’ s wife did 1 an enormous amount of quiet but effective work. He wished 1 both Mr. and Mi's. Lamb a prosperous sojourn in, Sydney. Mr. F. S: Malcolm, representing the Y.M.C.A., spoke very highly of the wide influence exerted over the members cf that institution by the Rev. Mr Lamb, and wished to- publicly thank him for his services to the Association.

Mr Colemam, representing the Gisborne" branch of the New Zealand Labor Party, added a few words of tribute to the Rev. Mr. Lamb, and wished lnm Gcd-speed. Dr. Porter said he wished to assure them that he had known Mr. Lamb very well since he (the speaker) came to Gisborne, and he felt that his mony good qualities would be. fully appreciated 1 in Sydney. Mr T. E. Toneycliffe, on behalf of the Church, said that Mr. 'Lamb in leaving was taking their best wishes with him. When a minister had an opportunity of widening his scope he thought that he was perfectly justified iu embracing every such opportunity. He referred to the large congregations which had sprung from the handful of people who 'greeted Mr. Lamb' on his arrival here four yearn ago, ami said that any on© who had noted this fact could not but be struck with the' wonderful personality of the man who had accomplished that. At some length the speaker enumerated the work don©' by their minister, and mentioned particularly bis relations with labor. He bad mulch: pleasure on behalf of the coperegation'iu presenting Mr. Lamb with a purse of sovereigns. The Rev. Mr. Lamb responded feelinffiiV. and thanked the congregation, for their gift and said that he. appreciated the kindly sentiment that prompted them to make it. The meeting, concluded with tine singing of “God be; with you till we meet again.” Tlie programme was contributed as follows: Harp and whistling selections, Messrs' Vita: and Dods; song. Mr. Heathcott; duet, Miss Glover and Mr. Hood: violin solo, Mr. Rhiwesmitli; song, Madame G leave.