Person Page - 8

MR. AND MRS. THOS. MOFFAT 50 YEARS WED
     Honored by Relatives on Golden Wedding Day
     Standing high in the esteem of their fellow citizens and enjoying the friendship of all their neighbors and hosts of acquaintances, Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Moffat, Beaver Rd., reached on Monday, Dec 15th, the fiftieth milestone of their matrimonial life. In anticipation of the event they had made their plans to observe the day in a suitable but quiet way and to this end had invited a few of their nearest relatives to have tea and spend the evening with them. For this was the day of days, the golden jubilee of that day when the minister united two loving hearts in the holy bonds of matrimony and set the seal of the church upon the union. The bride and groom so happy then, had lived to see the fulfillment of their hopes and the hest wishes of all the wedding guests. Happiness had grown and ripened and mellowed with the years and time had given it a depth and fulness and richness that only those who have lived together as man and wife for fifty years, in undivided affection, true devotion and sympathetic understanding, can fully comprehend.
     In celebration of their wedding day therefore, 6 o'clock found Mr. and Mrs. Moffat as host and hostess. assisted by their estimable granddaughters, Misses Helen and Marjorie Lycett, sitting at the tea table, entertaining a group of their nearest kith and kin who live within easy driving distance. This little group consisted of their son-in-law, daughter and granddaughter, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Walkey and Miss Jessie Walkey, Newtonville; Mrs. Moffat's brother and sister-in-law. Mr. and Mrs. Robt. Gray; her sister. Mrs. J. J. Lord, Bowmanville. and their sister-in-law. Mrs. David Moffat, Orono.
     And now just after tea to the principals of this gathering came a real surprise and something they had not planned for. Other guests, more relatives in the family circle, began to arrive and swelled the number participating in the event to about twenty-five. "And they brought gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh," to quote the Bible. These gifts were symbolical. In this instance the guests brought the gold, and if not exactly the other two, other things symbolical of gladness, goodwill and fond regard.
     Miss Jessie Walkey explained the presence of the larger circle of friends in the following address read by her to her bewildered grandparents.
     "We, your friends have gathered together to celebrate with you and to offer our loving congratulations on this your golden wedding day and to express our heartfelt desire that many more years of life may be granted to you. Years like past, golden in the turest (sic) sense of the word, years crowned with our Heavenly Father's loving kindness and tender mercy. Trials and difficulties there have been, but always there was the upholding of His hand, and ever stood the promise, 'Fear not, I am with you.' "We your family, rejoice in what you have been to each other, in sunshine and shadow, unselfish, thoughtful and sympathetic. "As parents, you have been tender and devoted, watchful, kind and considering no sacrifice too great if thereby you could better minister to those intrusted (sic) to your charge. You instructed us by precept and example and truly your loved ones shall 'Rise up and call you blessed.' "Your friendship has been no common quality of friendship, which not only embraced the ordinary opportunity but went out of its way to be kind, sacrificing for others, yet feeling it no sacrifice and continuing so through the years. What a joy, that friendship like this with Christ as its centre, does not end with this mortal life but is perfected in the Heavenly home. As a ' small token of our esteem for you, we ask you to accept these simple gifts; and we hope you will live to enjoy them." Signed by Your friends. Misses Helen and Marjorie Lycett then presented their grandparents with a large bouquet of golden hued roses and 'mums, surpassing in freshness and loveliness anything envisioned by old Midas; also a cabinet of silverware, knives, forks and spoons, for had not the honored couple now doubled the distance to their silver wedding mark. Other gifts were: first, a linen table cloth bordered in gold, which was laid upon a table then a set of .serviettes with gold borders and finally a 97 piece dinner set with floral designs in gold and yellow.
     From the fullness of their hearts Mr. and Mrs. Moffatt (sic) thanked the donors and when the applause had ceased there followed a period of music and speechmaking. Mr. Will Moffat, Mr. Robert Moffat. Mr. David Moffat and Mr. Neil Yellowlees expressed their thoughts and feelings in congratulatory speeches while Mr. Yellowlees, Miss Helen Yellowlees and Miss Betty Pingle, Bowmanville, contributed musical numbers. A number of congratulatory letters, telegrams from distant relatives were also received and read. Rev. W. P. Rogers of the United Church with Mrs. Rogers, was present and made the concluding speech.
     Refreshments were served and a pleasant evening with its retrospects and reminiscences closed with the singing of Auld Lang Syne.
     Thos. Moffat and Johanna Gray were married on Dec. 15, 1880, by Rev. A. Leslie, Presbyterian minister, at the home of the bride's father, the late Geo. Gray, Newcastle. Until eighteen years ago when they moved into Newcastle, they farmed in Clarke township in the neighborhood of Newtonville. Their three daughters married in turn, the eldest, Ethel, to Mr. Louis Atkinson, now deceased; the second, Mabel, to Mr. Alf. C. Lycett, now of Oshawa, and the youngest, Maggie, to Mr. Robt. Walkey, Newtonville. Mrs. Lycett died some years ago leaving her two daughters, Helen and Marjorie, who have since made their home with their grandparents here and been company and comfort to them in their declining years. Marjorie, the younger, takes an active part in school, Sunday School and Mission Band activities. Helen sings in the choir, is a C.G.I.T. girl and interests herself in all young people's work. She distinguished herself at the Newcastle high school by winning the Thos. Montague scholarship, the Samuel Wilmot gold medal and the V. H. Anderson matriculation prize in her two year matriculation course. She was also chosen to give the valedictory address at the recent H. S. Commencement.
     Mr. and Mrs. Moffat's eldest daughter lives in Merid, Sask. Her two daughters, Mary and Jessie, and two sons, Roy and Arthur, are already making their mark in that great prairie province.
     Miss Mary and Jessie visited their grandparents and other relatives here t two years ago last summer.
     Mrs. Walkey, Newtonville, with her husband and daughter Jessie, took a leading part in her parents' golden wedding celebration.
     Besides Mrs. Moffat's brother, Mr. Robt. Gray, and her sister, Mrs. Lord, Bowmanville, who were present, she has one sister, Mrs. Melrose, in Milverton.
     Both Mr. and Mrs. Moffat were formerly members and staunch supporters of the Presbyterian Church, first at Newtonville and then in Newcastle. They espoused the cause of church union and on the consumation (sic) of union which they helped to achieve locally, transferred their membership and interest to the United Church. Mr. Moffat has been an elder since the union, is a member of the finance committee and takes an ardent interest in every phase of the church work. During his whole life lie has concerned himself with the welfare of others and taken an advanced stand on all moral and social issues. He has taken a very active and helpful part in many a temperance and prohibition fight. He is at present president of the Newcastle branch of the Canadian Bible Society, vice president of the Newcastle Horticultural Society and vice-chairman of the Board of Education.
     Mrs. Moffat is a valued member of the W.M.S. and the W.A. of the United Church and holds a link with the past by retaining her interest in the Newtonville Women's Institute. Their friends are legion and they all join in wishing them many more years of wedded bliss.¹⁴

Mrs. Joanna Gray Moffat, Newcastle
     
Considerably over half a century's congenial and successful partner-ship as man and wife was sadly terminated last Saturday, October 7th, when Joanna Gray, beloved wife of Mr. Thos. S. (sic) Moffat, made the great transition from time into eternity. The late Mrs. Moffat was a daughter of the late George Gray, a splendid type of Scotsman, and during his life time a leading agriculturist and horse breeder of Clarke Township and widely known throughout the province. She was reared a strict Presbyterian and throughout her life has been known for her earnest piety, esteemed for all her womanly virtues and loved for her goodness of heart and soul. She was a devout church women and interested in all the church's functions and enterprises at home and afield but was never one to seek or to be in the limelight or to engage in unprofitable, time wasting controversies. She and her husband always invested their home on farm or in village with a pure and wholesome Christian atmosphere which visitors could never fail to sense and appreciate and for which their children and grandchildren and other kinsfolk and neighbors will bless their name forever. Formerly a member of the Presbyterian Church at Newtonville, she with her husband allied herself with the Presbyterian Church in Newcastle when they retired from farming and settled in this village to spend their remaining days. Then when church union was under way and being worked out, they both religiously and whole heartedly espoused the cause and on the consumation (sic) of local union, transferred their membership and allegiance to the United Church of Canada in Newcastle.
     Fifty three years ago next December Joanna Gray was married at her father's home near Newtonville to Thomas G. Moffat who was also to become one of Clarke Township's leading and most successful farmers and a prominent figure in all worthwhile community activities, and in December, 1930, they celebrated their golden wedding with their relatives and more intimate friends present at their home on Beaver St. and honoring them with an address and appropriate gifts.
     Rev. W. P. Rogers conducted the funeral service at the house on Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 19th, in the presence of the relatives and invited friends. The pall bearers were three nephews on deceased's side, George and Frank Gray of Newcastle and Arthur Gray of Oshawa and three nephews of Mr. Moffat's, William. Sheldon, and Robt. Moffat of Orono.
     Besides her two sisters, Mrs. J. J. Lord, Bowmanville and Mrs. Geo. Melrose, Listowel, and her bereaved husband, deceased is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Louis Atkinson of Marengo, Sask. and Mrs. Geo. Walkey, Hope Tp., also several grandchildren, of whom Misses Helen and Marjorie Lycett have lived continuously with Mr. and Mrs. Moffat and attended the Newcastle public and high schools since the death of their mother, Mrs. Alf. Lycett.⁶

Survivor(s): Jessie Kulcycki, John Seymour, Fred Seymour and George Seymour. Predeceased by his wife, Alice Seymour.⁵

Survivor(s): Nellie Jessie Kulcycki, John William Seymour, Fredrick Thomas Seymour and George Henry Seymour.⁴

Other sources indicate she could have been born as early as 1873 or 1875/76. The England Birth Index may record her birth in Jul to Sep 1873, in Hampstead, London; or, in Jul to Sep 1877, in Camberwell, London.

     The 1881 census, enumerated effective 3 April 1881, shows she was 5, indicating she was born between 04 April 1875 and 03 April 1876.^13,14

Survived by his wife, the former Virginia C. Carper. Predeceased: Gust Mood.³

Predeceased: Beryl Thompson and Gladys Thompson.³

The Maid of Honour and Best Man were Jean Dingwall and Malcolm Dingwall.⁸

Survived by his wife, Ruth McGowan. Survivor(s): Hugh McGowan, Douglas McGowan and Thelma Picketts. Predeceased: Yvonne McGowan.⁶

Weddings...
McGOWAN--DINGWALL
Pale pink and white peonies and fern formed a lovely setting on July 9, when Evelyn Ruth, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. N. A. M. Dingwall of Juniata became the bride of Mr. John Robert McGowan, only son of Mr. and Mrs. A. E. McGowan of Asquith. The wedding took place at the home of the bride's parents with the Rev, W. Banks officiating.

To the strains of the Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin played by Mrs. H. Picketts, sister of the groom, the bride entered the room on the arm of her father who gave her In marriage. The bride was charming In a lovely gown of Regina blue with white accessories and wore a corsage of Sweetheart roses and lilies of the valley.

Attending th bride was her cousin, Miss Jean Dingwall, who wore navy blue sheer with rose accessories and a corsage of carnations and fern. The groom was attended by Mr. Malcolm Dingwall, brother of the bride. During the signing of the register Miss Mary Dingwall sang "I Love You Truly. Following the ceremony a dainty luncheon was served. Later the happy couple left for Waskesiu and points north, the bride donning a topcoat of matching blue.

Out-of-town guest were: Mr. and Mrs. C. Dingwall and daughter Betty Gene, of Saskatoon; Mr. Malcolm Dingwall and Miss P. Moore of Shellbrook; Miss Marguerite Dingwall of Hanley, and Mr. Smith of Winnipeg.⁸

The Maid of Honour and Best Man were Jean Dingwall and Malcolm Dingwall.³

Survivor(s): Doug McGowan. Predeceased: John Robert McGowan, Yvonne McGowan, Hugh McGowan, Malcolm McLeod Dingwall, Crawford Dingwall and Ronald Dingwall.⁶

Weddings...
McGOWAN--DINGWALL
Pale pink and white peonies and fern formed a lovely setting on July 9, when Evelyn Ruth, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. N. A. M. Dingwall of Juniata became the bride of Mr. John Robert McGowan, only son of Mr. and Mrs. A. E. McGowan of Asquith. The wedding took place at the home of the bride's parents with the Rev, W. Banks officiating.

To the strains of the Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin played by Mrs. H. Picketts, sister of the groom, the bride entered the room on the arm of her father who gave her In marriage. The bride was charming In a lovely gown of Regina blue with white accessories and wore a corsage of Sweetheart roses and lilies of the valley.

Attending th bride was her cousin, Miss Jean Dingwall, who wore navy blue sheer with rose accessories and a corsage of carnations and fern. The groom was attended by Mr. Malcolm Dingwall, brother of the bride. During the signing of the register Miss Mary Dingwall sang "I Love You Truly. Following the ceremony a dainty luncheon was served. Later the happy couple left for Waskesiu and points north, the bride donning a topcoat of matching blue.

Out-of-town guest were: Mr. and Mrs. C. Dingwall and daughter Betty Gene, of Saskatoon; Mr. Malcolm Dingwall and Miss P. Moore of Shellbrook; Miss Marguerite Dingwall of Hanley, and Mr. Smith of Winnipeg.³