FAREWELL MEETING

A congregational meeting was held in the Assembly Room on Monday evening, to take leave of the Rev G C Leader, who for the past three years has been pastor of the Baptist Church in this parish.

The chair was occupied by Mr T Collings, who referred to the spirit of union which had prevailed, and said that Mr Leader would bear with him to his new sphere of work their heartiest good wishes for his success and happiness.

Mr C Barlow then handed Mr Leader a purse containing £10 in gold as a small expression of the esteem in which they held him. About 100 persons had joined in this gift, and they were all pleased to have the opportunity of saying how much they admired Mr Leader’s high Christian character, and how heartily they joined in the wish that he might be very useful and happy in his new home.

Short addresses followed by Mr Ward, Mr Lambert, Mr Gross, Mr Stokes, and others, after which Mr Leader acknowledged the presentation in cordial terms.

He said that his ministry at Burton Latimer had been very helpful to him, and he should always look back with gratitude to his pastorate among them. He had sought to be a faithful minister of Jesus Christ, and had made the Cross of Christ his one theme.

After offering some words of counsel to the church, Mr Leader concluded by wishing them God-speed in every good word and work.

A resolution was then adopted asking Mr Collings to take the provisional oversight of the church, an arrangement cordially supported by Mr Leader, and which met with unanimous support.

Mr Collings, in acccpting the resolution, asked the earnest co-operation of all present in maintaining the activities of the church.