The Whitehaven News April 27, 1899 Whitehaven Congregational Church

Whitehaven Congregational Church

The Whitehaven News - April 27, 1899

Article Index Whitehaven Congregational Church Page 2 Page 3 Page 1 of 3           WHITEHAVEN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.               ______          PRESENTATION TO MR. WM. M'GOWAN, J. P.            PART ONE        Rare is the lot and unique is the record of the man who whilst immersed for the greater portion of his life in commercial undertakings and public life, is able to devote forty years of voluntary service as organist to the church with which he has always been connected.        Mr. William M'GOWAN, J. P., Whitehaven, is that musical celebrity, and on Monday night there was a large gathering of the members of the Whitehaven Congregational Church and friends in the schoolroom, to do him honour, and to show by substantial tokens their great appreciation of the remarkable work he has given as an accomplished musician to the church.        The presentation consisted of a very handsome 24 in. solid silver coffee tray, with handles, beautifully hand engraved festoon border, and in the centre was the following inscription:                      Presented to            William M'Gowan, J. P.,      in acknowledgment of his services as Honorary Organist of the Whitehaven Congregational                        Church,          during a period of forty years.       From past and present members       of the Church and Congregation                   January, 1889        There was also a massive solid silver coffee pot or tea and coffee service, engraved with festoons to match the coffee tray. The articles were supplied by Mr. SPITTALL.        The platform was beautifully decorated for the occasion with ferns and exotic plants, the audience was seated in circular fashion round the space set apart for the table which contained the articles of  presentation, the effect, with brilliant lighting of the room, being most cheerful and agreeable to the eye. The ladies who were responsible for the beautification were: the Misses. DAVIS (3) Miss. BRAGG Miss. OLDFIELD Miss. HODGSON Miss. WILSON.        The chair was occupied by the Rev. A. O. LOCHORE, pastor who was supported on the platform by Mr. John PEARSON, jun.        The interesting proceedings were opened by the singing of the hymn, "He liveth long who liveth well," followed by prayer offered by Mr. William LONGMIRE. The quartette, "Brightly dawns our Wedding Day" (SULLIVAN), artistically rendered by the Misses JACKSON and Messrs. JOHNSON and STOUT, was greatly appreciated and applauded. Mrs. MASON next sang with expression "Castles in the Air." Mr. WILSON gave "The Diver" with spirit and excellent finish. Miss. JACKSON rendered "The Auld Plaid Shawl."        At the request of the Pastor, Mr. John PEARSON, jun., who was greeted with applause on rising, made the presentation as follows:        "Before proceeding to the business which has brought us together to-night I wish to explain that the committee are sorry that neither my father, who is the oldest member of the church, nor Captain NELSON were available for making this presentation, and so fell back on myself, whose attendance, extending considerably over 50 years, covers the whole of the period during which we have had the benefit of Mr. M'GOWAN's services. During my earlier years the service of song in the old Providence Chapel now the Salvation Hall, was under the superintendence of  old Mr. James GIBBONS, assisted by a choir seated in the singing pew just under the old pulpit, and backed by some instrumental music, proceeding chiefly from James CRAINE's bass fiddle. But James GIBBON's vocal powers were being undermined by age, and James CRAINE went to Australia and the singing suffered.        It so became evident to the then members of the church that an organ would afford very desirable aid to the singing, and they therefore set about looking for one. But not as Father CANAVAN did when he wanted to help Father MATTHEW's services at Cork, and procured a barrel organ, which after pealing out the Adeste and Sicilian Mariners, to the horror and consternation of the reverand Fathers, after the reading of the 3rd Gospel, began to roll out "Moll of the Wad."        Our people held a bazaar in 1857, and raised funds to procure the organ which, after serving us some 25 years, is now doing it's best for the Congregationalists at Cockermouth. Up to this time Mr. M'GOWAN had paid little or no attention to music, and for some time the organ was played by  the late Mr. Fred STEWARD Mr. J. FREARS Miss. Hannah KITHIN (now Mrs. Dr. BOWES) Miss Agnes KITCHIN Mrs. J. S. M'GOWAN the late Mr. Tom KITCHIN Miss. MILES (now Mrs. H. KITCHIN) Miss. WOOF, who is still with us as Mrs. John KITCHIN and has so recently been showing her willingness to serve the church. There have been others more recently such as Mr. James NELSON (whom we will all be glad to see restored to health and strength by his stay abroad,) whose names it is necessary for me to mention since their services are within the knowledge of you all. These were more or less occasional players, but in 1859, Mr. M'GOWAN took permanent charge of the instrument which in 1882 after 25 years use, was replaced by the present one through the liberty of the late Mr. George JACKSON. That itself again is 17 years ago, yet we have Mr. M'GOWAN with his heart in the work as much as ever. Now 40 years to use the expression of a leading politician, is a big chunk out of a man's lifetime. And there is one particular feature of his tenure office.        Musical people - out of Whitehaven - have the reputation of being petted, but evidently we manage things better here, for during the whole of his long period there has been an utter absence of friction between the minister and organist or the organist and choir. In many congregations this long service, which almost constitutes a record, would probably have been the occasion of a series of testimonials, say every ten years, but we Congregationalists are not fond of testimonials, preferring to look upon church work as done rather for the Master than for each other.        Still, when Mr. M'GOWAN, about at the end of 1866, brought home a helpmeet from Scotland, the silver tea service which is before us to-night was given to  him in acknowledgment of his continuous attention to the organ so far. But since then an average lifetime has passed, and whilst everyone has been feeling that a further acknowledgement ought to be made for what he has done since then, no one felt it their particular duty to set the ball rolling until a short time ago, when, as you are all aware a committee was appointed to take the business in hand with the result of over  £60 having been given. The committee consider they have set a valuable precedent.        Every contribution, so far as they could secure it represent the contributor's genuine appreciation of Mr. M'GOWAN's services. There has been no canvassing, no importunity. There has been no inducement for anyone to give for fear or favour. There is no list of subscribers. No one knows what anyone else has given, and the articles are the gift of the congregation, not of individual subscribers.        Well, we are here to-night to do honour to Mr. M'GOWAN, not as a citizen, or as a prominent temperance man, or a Guardian of the Poor, or as a County Councillor, or as a magistrate, or as a Deacon, or as a special benefactor of our church, or even, which I place last..... Continued....... Prev - Next >>

 

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