28 April 1914 – Mr and Mrs John Horrell celebrate their
Golden Wedding.
In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of their
wedding day, Mr and Mrs John Horrell, of “The Maples”, Raunds, invited the
Sunday school teachers, the local preachers, chapel trustees, members of the
Leaders’ Meeting, representatives of the choir, and other friends of the Raunds
Wesleyan Church, to the number of about 120, to a meat tea and social evening
in the Wesleyan Day Schoolroom on Tuesday evening.
The catering was admirably carried out by the staff of the
Raunds Co-operative Society, and the following ladies presided at the trays:
Mesdames J C Horrell, W F Corby, T C Jeeves, G E Smith, John Adams, J Gant, W
Hall, and F Lawrence, Miss Pulpher, and Miss Sharp.
After justice had been done to the good things provided, the
Rev J Burrows, who presided, remarked that the family of Mr and Mrs Horrell had
suddenly grown into a large one, and they were delighted to meet in that family
gathering on such an auspicious occasion. (Cheers). They were to have a number
of short complimentary addresses, interspersed with some songs, and he would
first call upon Mr George Lee and Miss Pulpher, as old co-workers in the Sunday
school with Mr and Mrs Horrell, to address the gathering.
Mr G Lee, in a most appropriate address, referred to his
long association with both Mr and Mrs Horrell in Sunday school work and
expressed the hope that the eventide of their life might be a bright and happy
one. There was a beauty in the setting as well as the rising sun and he hoped
that this beauty might be the experience of their friends. (Cheers).
Miss Pulpher bore the testimony of one who had been for 44
years a teacher in the Sunday school, and for a great deal of the time in association
with both Mr and Mrs Horrell. She also bore tribute to Mrs Horrell as a worker
in the Sewing Meeting, to her kindness as a neighbour, and referred to the
garden parties at their residence for many years in connection with the Sunday
school anniversary. (Cheers).
Mrs J W Hall and Miss Grace Lawrence, having rendered a duet
“Life’s dream is o’er, farewell”, Messrs G Bass, R O Neal, and J Bass added
their testimony to the value of Mr and Mrs Horrell’s work in connection with
the Methodist Church.
Miss Louie Smith followed with the song “Il Bacio” which she
very effectively rendered and for which she was heartily applauded.
Mr J Gant, JP, expressed his pleasure at being present, and
recalled the early welcome Mrs Gant and himself received 34 years ago. Mr and
Mrs Horrell were first and foremost Wesleyan Methodists. While some of those
present had divided their energies over many fields, of Mr and Mrs Horrell it
could truly be said “This one thing I do.” They had been loyal Methodists, and
their Methodism had helped them, and he thought their young friends present
could take encouragement from it.
Mr John Adams, CC, made kindly reference to Mrs Horrell as a
sick visitor many years ago in his own home, and paid an eloquent tribute to
her quiet and unobtrusive work. Mr and Mrs Horrell had served Methodism well,
and Methodism had done much for Raunds. He firmly believed that Raunds would
not have been anything more than an agricultural village today if many years
ago a Methodist minister had not passed through it, as a result of which that
church was established.
Mr O D Hall rendered the solo “Son of mine”, after which Mr
W Hall (representing the choir), Mr C Groom (society steward), Mrs Burrows, Rev
J Barber, and Mr W F Corby (circuit steward) added their testimony to the value
of the work of Mr and Mrs Horrell, and expressed their best wishes for their
future.
The Rev J Burrows said that some of the friends present felt
that they would not like that event to pass without giving some expression in a
practical way to Mr and Mrs Horrell of the esteem in which they held them. The
time had been so short that it had given them very little opportunity of
thinking about it. A purse of gold would have been quite out of place –
(laughter) – and they had come to the conclusion that they could find nothing
more suitable than the new standard work of “John Wesley’s Journals” by the Rev
Nehemiah Curnock, and it was his pleasure to ask their acceptance of these six
volumes. (Cheers). In his leisure hours he was sure Mr Horrell would find much
pleasure in reading them and that Mrs Horrell would be interested in hearing
them read to her. (Cheers).
Mr John Horrell, in reply, said that the gift to them was
altogether unexpected. Had they asked him what he would have liked, their gift
would have been his choice. He was proud to belong to those who were followers
of John Wesley. Personally, he felt quite unworthy their kind remarks but all
that had been said of Mrs Horrell was quite true. Nothing had given them
greater pleasure than to serve Methodism. (Cheers). It had not been merely a
labour, but it had been a labour of love. He desired to express the thanks of
Mrs Horrell and himself to the friends for all their good wishes.
Mr J C Horrell also thanked the friends for honouring his
father and mother with their company that day, and also those who had
contributed such excellent music. His father had remarked that what had been
said about his mother was true. He would add that what had been said about his
father was true also.
Mrs J W Hall suitably rendered the song “My ain folk” and Mr
O D Hall followed with “Babylon”,
both items being very highly appreciated. Mr J W Hall was the accompanist.
The Doxology closed the set part of the proceedings and a
social evening followed, to which a good number of the younger friends remained
for some time.
AN APPRECIATION
Mr and Mrs John Horrell, who celebrated their golden wedding
on Tuesday last (having been married at the Parish Church , Higham Ferrers, on
April 28, 1864, have been a tower of strength to Methodism in the Raunds
circuit during nearly all of that period.
Coming to Raunds the year following that of his marriage Mr
Horrell was for a quarter-of-a-century the confidential clerk and general
manager of the well-known firm of Messrs W Nichols and Sons, boot and shoe
manufacturers and Government contractors. At the close of that period in 1889
he commenced business on his own account and from that time has been the head
of the very successful business which now carried on in the name of John
Horrell and Son, his only son, Mr J C Horrell, having been admitted into
partnership on the occasion of his marriage at Christmas, 1897.
Both Mr and Mrs Horrell have been conspicuous for their
loyalty and devotion to the Methodist
Church. Not only has Mr Horrell
held practically every office open to laymen in circuit Methodism, but both he
and Mrs Horrell have a long record of service in the Sunday school behind them,
and both have been successful leaders of Methodist society classes.
Mr Horrell is still in harness, both as a classleader and
Sunday school superintendent, and Mrs Horrell only retired a few years ago when
the total loss of her sight rendered such a course inevitable.
The bright and cheerful spirit that she has manifested under
this heavy affliction has been a benediction to her many friends who have been
brought into contact with her in these trying years, and the workers in the
Raunds Wesleyan Church are always conscious of the fact that although physical
infirmity explains her absence from many meetings in which she delighted to
take part in the years that have gone, she is still with them in her sympathy
and prayers.
Notwithstanding her affliction Mrs Horrell still delights to
take the part of a Methodist hostess, and visiting ministers and friends are
ever assured of a hearty welcome at “The Maples”.
The many friends of Mr and Mrs Horrell wish for them a happy
eventide of life, and trust that they may be long spared to continue to serve
the church of their choice.
NEXT MONTH –
“Disinherited” – The Striking Performance of the WelshChurch Play at Raunds.
