ANGLICAN MISSION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 905, 26 August 1910, Page 6

ANGLICAN MISSION.

EIGHT MORE CLERGY ARRIVE. THE LEADERS INTERVIEWED. ALL SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT REPRESENTED. All but four of the sixteen clergymen from England who are to conduct tho Anglican General Mission have now reached Wellington, a party of. eight having arrived by the Turakina from London yesterday, while four arrived, via Sydney, on Wednesday. Those who came .by tho Turakina are. tho Kevs. E. A. Stuart (Canon of Canterbury, England), H. V. Stuart (Stone-ou-Trent), J. C. Fitzgerald (Mirfield), T. Bees (Mirfield), C. Kinlock, E. D. Evans, A. A. Lillingston, and J. Darby. Before the party left England tho Archbishop of Canterbury- wished them God-speed on their voyage, and expressed- his interest in tho important' work they were undertaking. Canon E. A. Stuart- is a leader well known in Evangelical Church circles. A great missioner and a fearless speaker, who has already made a reputation ill South Africa and in the Pan-Anglican Congress, and Who, 'notwithstanding his pronounced Evangelical views, is heartily respected by High Churchmen as well as by Low 'Churchmen. Ho will conduct special services in Wellington Town hall, in conjunction with tho Bishop of Christchuroh (Dr. Julius). Canon Stuart was educated at Harrow, where he was captain of the college oleven, and at St. John's College, Cambridge, he' captained the boat club. : After being curate at Thorpe, Norwich, and at St. Giles, Norwich, he followed the present Bishop of Ripon in 1880 as vicar at St. James, Holloway, North London, a church hold-ing-a congregation of 2000. In 1893 he went to St. Matthew's, Bays,ivater, London, .and in 1907 ho became Canon at Canterbury.

■ The Rev. J. C. Fitzgerald and the Key. T. Bees, who belong to the Community of Mission Preachers at Mirfield, are both nien who have given up their lives to the particular work of mission-preaching, whore, their services are in constant- request. Mr. Fitzgerald is said to be a great authority upon matters Theosophical, which.in-some parts o£ the Dominion havo attracted much interest of lateyears. '

- The Rev. H. V. Stuart, rector of the very/important manufacturing town of Stonc-upon-Trent, where l ho has six curates under him, gained a reputation from his haying himself, spent a week as a collier in a coal-mine, in order to gain experience of his parishioners' trials-and difficulties. -

The Rev. A. A. Lillin'gston is vicar of the important parish church of Hull, and ono of the best-known younger men of the Evangelical school of thought.. Ho took part in the mission in South' Africa. The Rev. E. D. Evans has been especially successful, in working among young men. ■ - ' v

The Rev. J. Darby was recently chosen by the. Bishop of Worcester as 'his diocesan missioner. , , The Rev. C. Kiuloch is private chaplain to the Duke of AYestminstor and rector-of the parish adjoining the Duke's house at Eaton Hall. He is a. wellknown preacher in Cheshire, who has experience with all conditions of mem

STATEMENT BY CANON E. A. v ':" ' STUART. OBJECT OF THE "MISSION. A Dominion representative gleaned some interesting particulars from Canon E: A. Stuart; one. of'the leaders of'the mission. The suggestion made in- an article published in the "English Church-mnn,-"to ,tho effect that the mission was really an- effort, to Romanise the New Zealand Church was not.treated seriously by Canon Stuart. Smilingly., he characterised it as absolutely, .untrue, v and said that no one with knowledge of himself and his colleagues would give it credence. Ho said:: "Many of us- are thoroughly evangelical, men imbued with one simple motive, to preach the Gospel to those who are. outside." This'was the keynote of Canon* Stuart's remarks,namely, that the-object of the mission is to'reach that section of the community which at present remains outside 1 the pale of the Church. ■ ~', .

"There is no question of High Church or Low Church with us as niissionei's," he remarked, and he proceeded to explain that flie party naturally held diverse views on cerlain asp'ects of Church life,,and this fact would be tnken into consideration when selecting those who would be sent to'certain districts, but they would go as evangelists, and not to promote special doctrines.

, Canon Stuart mentioned that mission work is now a very marked feature of Anglican' activity in the Old Country, almost.every' diocese has its special organisation for promoting purely evangeli-. cal services. Concerning tho general features of Anglican policy, he 'added that much greater attention was nowbeing given to social matters than was the ensp a few years ago. Special attention ' was being given to the subject of religious education in schools, and they were very hopeful that from tho present chaotic position of the law something would ensue that would provide what vwas wanted. The London School Board had an excellent system of Bible instruction, which many Church workers considered would be satisfactory" for the whole of the country.

CHURCH WORK.AT HOME. A TALK WITH THE KEV. J. C. FITZGERALD. The Rev. J. C. Fitzgerald, who impresses ono by a : charming simplicity and affability of manner, allied to an un- .' doubted earnestness of purpose, was interviewed .at Bishopcourt yesterday. Questioned as tu a statement published in this country, uu the authority of an article in tho "English. Churchman." to the effect that tkfi. object of the mission was to attempt to Romanise the New Zealand Church—the visitor characterised tho allegations as entirely unfounded.' • Are both High Church and Low Church, views fairly represented amongst the missioners? asked our reporter. . "Yes," was the reply, "'both'schools of thought aro represented." What is the attitudo of tho Church in England as regards ritualism ? was • the next question. '■ ' "It is simply expansive," was the reply. "It takes in all sorts, and they work together in harmony. Coming out, we had the ' different school's or thought represented on board, and they worked admirably together." Is the Church, at Home making any special effort to reach the non-church-going population? ; "I think she is doing it in parochial matters,'' and the Church of England Men's Society is certainly doing wonderful work in that way amongst the men. It has really been splendid since it started. I think tho outlook is improving in that regard, and the' present Archbishop of York (Dr. Lang), is of tho same opinion." .

Tho approaching mission, ho said, would ho conducted more on Evangelistic line? than otherwise;. there \ would be much more freedom of action than is usual in connection with Church services: "Conversion," he concluded, "would be the one great word to exnress it. Tub result, I hope, will be a great revival and awakening of faith in the community."

MEETING OF CLERGY, Last night a meeting of local clergymen was held in the Diocesan Office to discuss the plans of the mission. It is intended to hold/public meetings both in the Town Hall and also in the open air, and special gathcriugs for business men will likewiso lie held.

Tho Wellington mission is to commenco on September 25. • The mission opens in the Auckland Diocese on (Saturday week, and about a fortnight will be devoted to that nortion of tho Dominion. YVaiapu Diocese will be next in order; then Wellington, and later on the South Island—Christ-church, Dunedin, and Nelson being taken in turn. The Kev. Mr. Kinloch .will remain in the Wellington Diocese throughout, conducting services and other missionary work in the different centres.