CLAYTON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. - FAREWELL TO THE PASTOR. INTERESTING ADDRESSES. - The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929) - 11 Feb 1909 (original) (raw)

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Thu 11 Feb 1909 - The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929)
Page 6 - CLAYTON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

The dominant notes struck at the fare-

well which the congregation tendered to

their pastor, the Rev. Joseph Robertson,

M.A,, at Clayton Church, Kensington, on

Wednesday evening were sincere and deep

regret; and gratitude for noble services per-

formed. In honour of the occasion the

ladies had decorated the pulpit and the

communion table with lovely flowers and

asparagus which presented a charming ap-

Among a big sheaf of letters and tele-

grams read by the treasurer of the church

and Vice-Chairman of the union (Mr. W.

Herbert Jones) were communications from

the Council of Churches and the Y.M.C.A.,

testifying to the help which Mr, Robertson

The chair was occupied by Sir Edwin

Smith. who said they all deeply regretted

the projected departure of Mr. Robertson.

It had been to their pastor a matter of

much concern, and he had resolved to pro-

ceed to Ipswich, only after earnest and

prayerful consideration. It had not been

a question of pounds, shillings and pence;

but he was leaving Clayton because he rea-

lized that he should go to another sphere

of labour. Connected with the church of

which he was to take charge— one of the

best associated with Congregationalism in

the Commonwealth - were four other minis-

ters, a school of 600 children; 60 teachers,

and a number of mission schools. While

at Stow Church Mr. Robertson had wiped

off the church debt, and since the begin-

ning of his stay at Clayton Church he had

disposed of the debt there. Not only had

he done that, however, but he had added

materially to the membership of the

church. which was larger than it had ever

been hefore. and it was pleasing to note

that the Sunday school had never been bet-

ter attended than it was to-day. (Ap-

plause), Under his wise direction Clay-

ton had taken a prominent part in assist-

ing financially various missionary organiza-

tions, and in other good work. In Mrs.

Robertson their pastor had a wife whose

nobleness of character; kindness, and sym-

pathy:had won widespread esteem. When

Mr. and Mrs. Robertson and their family

left for the eastern States next .Monday

they would carry with them the best wishes

of all for a bright and happy future. (Ap-

The Chairman nf the Congregational

Union (Rev. T. S. Williams), after having

referred to the noble spirit, culture, and

large degree of Christian grace which Mr.

Robertson had given evidence of, read the

appended communication from the execu-

tive committee of the Congregational Union

of South Australia: -.'The executive com-

mittee accepts the resignation of the Rev.

Joseph Robertson, MA., with deep regret;

and places on record its appreciation of the

many and important services which he has

rendered to our union and to our churches.

Mr: Robertson, has filled nearly all the

important offices at the disposal of the

union in a most efficient way, and has

given valuable time to help on the work

of the various subcommittees and institu-

tions of the denomination. In losing Mr.

Robertson we are losing one who has occu-

pied a prominent place in our church life,

and also in the public life of the State.

The committee wishes him every blessing

in the new sphere of labour to which he

is going, and desires him to convey the

fraternal greetings of our union, to the sis-

ter churches in Queensland.

The Rev. J. C. Kirby. in a few bright

reminiscent sentences traced the rise of

Mr. Robertson, who, wherever he had

been, had had seals to his ministry given

him from above. (Applause.)

The.Mayor of Kensington and Norwood

(Mr. G. H. Prosser) warmly acknowledged

the many fine services rendered by Mr.

Robertson in his ministerial capacity and

among the poor. He had been on the

committees of nearly all the organizations

associated with the town, and his genial

presence, wise counsels, and cheering sym-

pathy would be sadly missed. Speaking

personally, he could say that Mr. Robert-

son's inspiring addresses had been most

stimulating, and it was mainly due to his

tact and foresight that the church had

been worked so harmoniously. (Applause.)

The Rev. T. B. Angwin (President of

the South Australian Christian Endeavour

Union) thanked Mr. Robertson, who is the

President of the Australasian Christian En-

deavour Societies, for his efforts on be-

half of the Endeavour organizations in

Mr. C. H. Goode spoke of the grand

work which Mr. Robertson had performed

in connection with the Y.M.C.A., the

O.B.I., the Missionary Training Home, the

Anti-Gambling League, the Deaf and Dumb

Institution, and other philanthropic bodies.

Mr. Peter Wood, on behalf of Clayton

Church and its auxiliaries, then handed to

Mr. Robertson a purse of 100 sovereigns,

and an address; which read as follows:—

"Clayton Congregational Church, Kensing-

ton, South Australia, February 10. 1909.

To the Rev. Joseph, Robertson, M.A.—

Dear Sir—We take the opportunity of-

fered by this farewell meeting to-night to

again express our grateful thanks to God

for all the good he has enabled you to do

since you came here as our Minister in

April, 1904. This church.has, under your

pastorate, enjoyed peace and prosperity.

The membership roll has increased, the

Sunday school, and mid-week services have

been well attended, the Sunday school and

other auxiliaries have flourished, the mis-

sionary spirit has been encouraged, and

the debt that remained on our beautiful

buildings has been wholly paid off. We

also desire to place on record our high

appreciation of Mrs. Robertson's worth

and influence, and are happy to state that

the ladies are showing their affection for

her in a tangible form. Your sons, too,

have been of great assistance in the Sun-

day school, and in other work. We are

glad to know that one of them is intend-

ing to enter the Christian ministry, and

we trust that he may worthily follow in

his father's steps. We very deeply de-

plore your resignation, but believing that

you have been divinely guided, we assure

you of our hearty goodwill, and pray that

God's best blessings may rest upon you

and your loved ones in your new surround-

ings. In token of our warm regard, we

have great pleasure in asking your accep-

tance of the accompanying purse of sove-

reigns. We are, dear Sir, on behalf of

Clayton Church, yours very affection-

ately, Edwin T. Smith (Chairman at the

farewell meeting), Peter Wood. Charles

Hope Harris, H. T. Harris (secretary);

G. H. Prosser, Henry Dunstan, W. Her-

bert Jones (treasurer), Thos. Latta. C. J.

On behalf of the ladies of. Clayton Church,

Mrs. G. Hope Harris presented to Mrs.

Robertson a silver salver and a tea and

coffee service, suitably inscribed; and Mrs.

Stewart, representing friends at Stow

Church, handed to her a silver tea kettle,

and wished her joy and prosperity.

The Rev. Joseph Robertson. who was re-

ceived with enthusiastic applause, said 19

years ago he came to Adelaide, and now.

after great goodness from God, and exceed-

ing kindness from hosts of friends. he was

even more sorry to leave than he had been

to come. He was deeply in love with the

fair city. which he regarded as the cleanest

and sweetest in Australia. Many people

had said to him lately; - Why do you go?',

His heart said, 'Stay,'' but his judgment

bade him go. He saw a hand they could

not see that beckoned him away: he heard

a voice they could not hear forbidding him

to stay. Some of them would never know

what it had cost him and his to make

the wrench which had to be made on ac-

count of the act which he felt he had to

perform. When they left, however, they

would leave part of their hearts behind

them. He was proud of his people at

Clayton Church, and know full well how

truly and sincerely they loved him. (Ap-

plause.) All of their relations had been

of the most pleasant character. The church

and he had been exceedingly fortunate in

having such a splendid helper as Sir. Edwin

Smith, who would never go out of his old

minister's heart, They had also been for-

tunate in having such a successful business

man as Mr. Peter Wood as senior deacon

and superintendent of the Sunday school.

He regarded Mr. Wood as simply invalu-

able. (Applause.) . Mr. Robertson then

paid a tribute to the work of the other

deacons, and eulogized the teachers, the

organist (Mr. Sanders), and the choir. He

was keenly grateful to them for all that

had been said about his wife and family,

who, like himself, appreciated to the utmost

the kindness, goodwill, and affection which

had been bestowed upon them. When. he

went to Stow Church there was a debt of

£4,000 on mortgage and £500 on flowing

debt. He had never preached money, but

he left that church without a penny of

debt. If he had been able to labour a

little longer at Clayton they would have

had a beautiful stone wall. and a grand iron

railing, and there would not have been a

pennv.of debt on either. (Applause.) He

thauked them for the gifts which they had

presented to himself, and his wife, and

although they were not necessary to recall

the donors to their minds, they would take

a delight in showing them to their Queens-

land friends as visible tokens of grace and

goodness the love and affection of those

they had left behind them in sunny South

Prior to the meeting an organ recital

was given by Mr. Sanders, and subse-

quently the choir rendered an anthem.

After the benediction had been pro-

nounced by the Rev. J. Hope (who will

act as Moderator of the church) an ad-

journment was made to the lecture hall.

where refreshments were served. At an

appropriate moment Winnie Rist (a mem-

ber of the Junior' Christian Endeavour

Society), on behalf of that body, pinned a

pretty brooch on Mrs. Robertson's dress.

A meeting of the Clayton branch of the

Mothers' Prayer Union was held in the

lecture hall on February 4 to say farewell

to its President (Mrs. Robertson). A let-

ter : from the members was read, and a

small silver vase, suitably inscribed, was

presented to her. Mrs. John Hill (Presi-

dent) and Mrs. J. G. Raws (secretary) of

the Central Union spoke appreciatively of

Mrs. Robertson's work as a.member of the

executive council. There were also pre-

sent some former members of the Stow

branch of the union, who joined with the

local branch in expressions of deep regret

at Mrs. Robertson's, approaching depar-