TO THE REV. JOHN WATSON.
 
 
DEAR SIR AND BROTHER,

WE THE UNDERSIGNED MINISTERS AND OFFICIALS REPRESENTING THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN DISTRICT AND THE PARKSIDE STATION, TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY, ON THE EVE OF YOUR DEPARTURE FOR ENGLAND, OF EXPRESSING THE SINCERE LOVE AND REGARD WE HAVE FOR YOU AND YOUR GOOD WIFE AND FAMILY.  WE FEEL DEEPLY GRATEFUL THAT YOU HAVE BEEN PERMITTED TO TRAVEL TO OUR STATION FOR FIVE YEARS, AND THAT YOUR LABOURS HAVE BEEN ATTENDED WITH MARKED SUCCESS; THAT WHILE THE DIFFICULTIES HAVE BEEN GREAT AND MANY, THEY HAVE BEEN OVERCOME, AND BY THE GRACE AND HELP OF GOD OUR STATION AND DISTRICTS HAVE GREATLY BENEFITED BY YOUR WISE AND CHRISTIAN COUNSEL AND ADVICE. WE DEEPLY REGRET THAT CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE HAPPENED TO CAUSE YOUR REMOVAL FROM OUR STATION AND FROM THIS DISTRICT.

OUR HEARTFELT PRAYER IS THAT A SAFE AND PROSPEROUS VOYAGE MAY BE VOUCHSAFED TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, AND THAT IN THE NEW SPHERE OF LABOUR TO WHICH YOU ARE GOING THE SAME GOOD RESULTS MAY ATTEND YOUR EFFORTS AND CROWN THEM WITH ABUNDANT SUCCESS.  WE ALSO FEEL THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING A LOSS IN THE PERSON OF YOUR PARTNER, MRS. WATSON, WHO HAS SO ABLY ASSISTED YOU IN YOUR WORK, AND BY HER COURTEOUS MANNER GAINED THE ESTEEM OF EVERYONE.  IN PARTING FROM US YOU MAY BE ASSURED THAT YOU ARE LEAVING BEHIND YOU FRIENDS WHO WILL BE EVER MINDFUL OF YOU IN THEIR PRAYERS WHEN TIME AND OCEANS HAVE DRAWN US FAR APART, AND WHOSE EARNEST WISH IS THAT YOU AND YOURS MAY BE SPARED MANY YEARS YET TO LABOUR TOGETHER IN GOD'S VINEYARD FOR THE EXTENSION OF HIS KINGDOM AND THE BENEFIT OF PRIMITIVE METHODISM.
 

J. G. WRIGHT,
HENRY J. POPE,
W. W. WINWOOD, J. PETERS.
 

PARKSIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA,
MARCH 25 1889