THE NEW BISHOP OF AUCKLAND.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11481, 14 January 1903, Page 5

THE NEW BISHOP OF AUCKLAND.

MANY COMPLIMENTARY REFEREXVES. (FROM Oliß OWN rORP.E.St'OXDE.VT.) LONDON, Dectiiib.r 6. I'onmientiug on the nomination of the 1.-v. M. li. NtlL-yn to the Bishopric of Aii"ki.in:l. the "'Guardian,"' the org;m of !:;■« L'huich uf England, wiys : —"Mr Neliti'.iu s *.-lt.cti<>n i<. ai« f.vcelk-ni one from every !>'■ int of viav.". and the dioce=e is to be con-giatu.:iT-t'-.l uit having sstuivd one who iias distinguished himself nor. only in the work of an London parish, but in furtiicT •r '4 LU*- colonial and missionary work of the '_ ..'urth. . . Ho has worked most enviyetkally and successfully, ;uid only us itix-nt!y as Sutidxy, Oi/tobL-r 19th, the J>t!>hop of London pitaclu:d at St. Stephen's, and referred tv the i.-.tct that alter spending X! 11,000 ou th--j «choois, the- Vicar iud at on: c t -nil»ailit-J on a furtlier expenditure of £i\)QO iuv the church. On that, occasion t!KT» Wius i\n off .Ting on. the aitar <>i iJITCO in aid oi a diibt of £2500 on the church K'Jii.oiution, and the Bishop remarked that they wcici especially blt-swcd in tireir parish priest, adding that"he knew of no parish wiit-re ilk.' laity sst-ood in a more who.e-htiarted way by tliu clergy. The Bi.shi.p-clvtt is largely responsible far the development of the missionary spirit in recent yvar.s among the younger clergy coniiectfd with the S.P.G., and he is the cliairiuan of the Federation of the S.P.G. Junior Clergy .Missionary Associations.

■■'i'lii-' following testimciny to Mr Neliyaa's work, both in iris parish and in the niission-ax-y cause is contributed W -one of his many irierids:—'ln the Kov. >l". R. Neligan tlu: Church of New ZeaJand will ixave, as Bishop of Auckland, a man who, in the opinion of his fjLtJids, Ls eminently suited not merely for colonial work, but for work in New Zealand. An Irishman, with an Irishman's BfiKe of hunraur and good fellowship, and without any kind of he may bo trusted to make himself felt in a community where such gifts are appreciated to the full. A young man, he is singularly adaptive and open to new ideas, and the quickly-moving thought of a progressive colony is not likely to leave him behind. His judgment and tact have been proved by his eminently successful management of a large and important parish in the Westend of London, and his powers of leadership by the way in wliic'h, as chairman, he has held togetlwr and inspired the 5000 young clergy banded tog-ether in the Junior Clergy Associations under the S.P.G. He is a keenly miasionarv-hearted man, whose spirit will rise to the demands which work among the Maoris will make upon the Bishop of Auckland, and his love of missions has always gone hand in hand with his patriotism and love of the British Empire. He is a "Christian Imperialist" in the highest senpo of tho word- Those who go to his children's services (and his work among the children of hie parish has been splendid) hear the children in answer to the question, "Who are the great empire builders?" mentioning the names of George Augustus Selwyn and other great colonial Bishops alongside of those of statesmen and generals. His sermons and speeches are straight, homely, and vigorous. • Hβ in a hard worker, who has managed to combine the administration of his own parish with a large amount of central Church work. His obedience to a call which has demanded of him no small amount of self-sp«riffce, will do much to keep alive among those who have worked with him in the Junior Clergy Associations the ideals of a service which it has been the main object of the movement to promote. His wif« has been a true helper to him. both in his parish and in his work for the S.P-G. Hβ is a man of many friends.'"

The Rev. H. T. Dudley, writing from Whitfleld "Vicarage, Gloasop, to the "Guardian," with reference to the appointment of tba Rev- M. R. Neligan to the BLsJiopric of AucklaTid, Raj's:—"ln noting the appointment of Mr Neligan you seem to be unaware of tlio ffrowinjj dotermanation among all fhe religious bodies of New Zealand to have done witb. a purely secular system of education. Plebiscites liave been token in many p'aoes on the question with. faTOurable resnlte. The various Nonconformist denominations are working heartily viih the Church of England. In Canterbury sermons were to be preached in various churches and chapels on October 19tb, and a public ami united demonstration to be made on the 20th, and a plebiscite is being organised for the whole of Canterbury. Other parW will, no doubt, follow »uit, and. no doubt, in Auckland the new Bishop will be able to Wlp forward the movement with his powerful advocacy."