The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1920-12-30
RETIRING PASTOR :.
WASAPPREC,!!ATED !!

tt: following is tax : from tn the
Daily s5ar-Courier of vance, H.,
and is all about the new Castor Of the
First Congregational Slrch of this
city, who will be he1 s for his first
oficia: service next $ Sday:
4. Christmas gift ~.th while was
received by Rev. Tho So. Nugent last
night when the Rot g Club present.
ed to LIS. Nugent ,Snd himself a
dca1t tor 5000. 2 presentation OF
the draft was one the features Of
the fa2evell banqt rendered Mr.. and
Mrs Hugent by the club prior to
their departure for Valley City, North
Dakota. where Mr.. Nugent becomes
pastor Of the First Congregational
church with the new year. s.'' ~
The event was one that will be re-
membered by all present as Of deep
est interest. Although it was a fare
we'll affair marking the close Of Mr..
Nugent's active connection with the
organization, it was not sad nor
melancholy meeting. The spirit was
rather Of cheer and good wishes. Re-
grets were voiced by the speakers
and by Mr.. and Mrs. Nugent that the
ties are to be severed but there was
rejoicing in the prospect of larger
work ahead and an appreciation of
past services here.
Varying the custom of meeting at
the Parkside, the members Of the club
with their ladies assembled last night
in the spacious Elks' hall which had
been kindly offered for the event. The
place proved splendid one and the
large company of about 200 was de-
lightfully accommodated. With Jake
Mayhem as Generalissimo and Bert
Shadley directing operations in the
culinary department, the we'll prepared
dinner was faultlessly served. The
service was by company of Boy
Scouts. The speakers table was at
the west end of the hall extending
east and west. During the evening the
Elks were given special mention for
the kindness and generosity not only
at this time but on many other occas@
ions by one of the speakers on the
program, Mrs. Morse. -,
The music last night was one of the
most attractive parts Of the program
Miss Lois Arter appeared as sololst
with Miss Mary Clears as accom-
panist. Her group Of songs which con-
stituted her first number was en-
Enthusiastically received. She was
Obliged to respond to an encore call:
She sings with unusual expression and
her voice was we'll suited to her choice
of numbers on last nights program:
The Rotary quartet put added life and
snice into the program with both it's
old and it's new numbers. Several
original compositions for last nights
progran had been prepared and made
"a hSt with the audience :..3,a "
The speakers on the pro gram were
Mrs r. c. Morse, Rev. FIR. 2: II. Dur
kin of Rock Island, E Baker, ReV.
Thos. E. jNugent anud Mrs. Nugent'
The chairman was L. H. Lowe. Mrs.
Morse, the first speaker, told some
thing Of the work here OF both MR..
and Mrs. Nugent and Of the person
alities Of each. She told Of the long
step from the sod house in Nebraska
where Mr.. Nugent was born to the
great university in the east from
which he took his degree and traced
that influences that had been exerted
on his life in the Journey. He hao"
come out from this period of prepara-
tion for his life's work real man.
The gracious little woman who came
with him to Kewanee as his wife mas
been true help meet in his work mere.
Mrs. Morse, in an appropriate way
Introduced two poems which well IL
instrated the points she desired to
make. Her remarks were most httlng
throughout and were keenly enjoyed
by the audience. . T.
Rev. Fr. P. H. Durkin of Rock Is
land. who was closely associated Win
Mr. Nugent, especially in the war
work In KeWanee, had made the trip
to Kewanee for this meeting and 1t
was with undisguised pleasure tnat
the audience received him. ana agaln
hoard him. Father Durkin toucneo
mnon the various phases Of our ma
t;onal life as the country passes
+hro,ph period Of readjustment after
Tho war and spoke words OF counsel
and M wisdom. Two or three little
stories e DELIGHTFULLY."- emphasized sev-
eral Of his thoughts. Referring to
Mr.. Nugent he spoke OF tne vaiue aud VI .
his services in the community +ha+ d
mentioned some OF the quantiSes S .mas .,,as
impressed him in the years ne MSs
working with him. Father DuIkim a4 >
remarks nel0 Lne uI1uASAu~
of his hearers and he was roundly ap-
plauded. n.,-.. fa,, tho
duty Of taking care Of the presenta..
t;on Of the draft. He had worked OUT
= very novel method Of arranging 1or
Joseph Saunders to make the presen-
tation in song. Standing behind Mr;
Nugent, Joe sang several Original
verses referring to the clubs regret
over his departure and mentioned
that perhaps a little extra cash would
not come amiss as he journeys torth.
AZ the last words of the song came ne
placed in Mr.. Nugent's hand the dra1t: !
Before introducing Joe, Presldent''
Baker discoursed briefly on several
things with rare felicity. He had al
rich store of humor from which to
draw and his shafts struck home every
time. Many thought he made the
best speech he has at any time deilv-
cred.
Mr.. Nugent, thoroughly moved by
the expressions of the evening and oy
the unexpected gift, spoke with marx