West Cumberland Times 2 May 1931 Rev. E.H. FRASER, M.A.

Rev. E.H. FRASER, M.A.

West Cumberland Times - 2 May 1931

Article Index Rev. E.H. FRASER, M.A. Page 2 Page 2 of 2 Rev. E. H. FRASER, M. A.  Welcome Meeting   The church was crowded in the evening for a special meeting of welcome.  For over two hours Mr. and Mrs. FRASER, who were recently married, ministers and church officials spoke words of welcome and encouragement, and a letter was read from the former pastor, The Rev. A.A. SMITH, M.A. conveying his good wishes for the future.   The Rev. H.D. PURDY, M.A. , the interim moderator, presided and said that although the time of his departue was at hand, he was sure all would agree that "happy days are here again."  In Mr. FRASER the congregation would have a leader to be proud of and he hoped they would give him the whole-hearted support which he merited.   On behalf of the Presbytery of Carlisle the Rev. J. McKEE, B.A., welcomed Mr. FRASER to the Carlisle Presbytery, and the Rev. J. PATTON, Longtown, an old friend, said he was very much impressed with the way in which the congregation had received the new pastor.  He didn't think he had seen things done better anywhere on such an occasion.   The Rev. G.H. BANCROFT JUDGE (Wesleyan Church) on behalf of the Free Church MInisters of the town, extended a welcome to Mr. FRASER.  He said he was sure he had started well and would finish even better.  He hoped the church might enter upon days of greater prosperity and progress in the direction of the Kingdom of God.   Mr. D. GEE (session clerk) offered words of encouragement to the new minister on behalf of the Session and the congregation.  He also included Mrs. FRASER, whose arrival he said, they had been looking forward to very much.   Mr. A.G. KENNEDY (secretary to the Management Committee) also welcoming Mr. FRASER, said the Committee were quite sure they had made a wise choice and were confident that they had got an excellent man.  He afterwards presented a wallet, containg a cheque, to Mr. PURDY in recognition of his services as interim moderator, and spoke highly of his work in connection with the Whitehaven church.   At this stage Mrs. ROBERTSON presented a gown to Mr. FRASER, the gift of the congregation, and having been robed he took the chair.   Returning thanks for the splendid way in which his new flock had received him, Mr. FRAZER said he had come to a church with a long history of men who had left behind, upon their departure, a reputation which he was afraid he would not fulfill.  He would, however, do his best, and with the kind help and co-operation of the congregation he was sure they would get along very well.   The Rev. D.W. INGLES, of Langholm, who came to speak on behalf of Mr. FRAZER, as an old friend, said he owed the Whitehaven congregation an apology for having thought less of them than he did now.  He also owed them a debt of gratitude for the kind manner in which they had received his old friend.  When the call came to Mr. FRAZER he (the speaker) advised him not to go to Whitehaven, but now that he had seen the kind people to whom his friend had come to minister the gospel he might say that had he known then what he knew now, he would have packed him off the next day. (laughter).   The Rev. R. REID, of Dunfermline, who had travelled all day in order to be present at the welcome meeting, spoke highly of Mr. FRAZER's character during long association with him, and said the congregation would have no need to regret their choice.  He thought they had done well in selecting a man with years of practical church experience instead of a fresh  young clergyman who had barely left college.    Mr. J. DAVIDsON also welcomed Mr. FRASER on behalf of the Sunday School teachers and the choir, and which included Mr. PURDY, and the ladies for their assistance at the tea.   Mr. R.L. WYLIE (an elder of the Whitehaven church) seconded the proposition, which was heartily accorded.   Special services will be held in the church on Sunday, when the Rev. W.J. COUPAR, D.D., with whom the Rev. E.H. FRASER was formerly a colleague in an important Glasgow church, will preach and introduce the new pastor. __________ << Prev - Next

 

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