THE BISHOP-ELECT OF NELSON

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1378, 2 March 1912, Page 4

THE BISHOP-ELECT OF NELSON

Following the example of the Anglican Diocese of Auckland in electing a successor to Bishop Neligan, the Nelson Diocesan Synod has decided to invite a Victorian clorgyman (Canon W. F. Sadlier) to succeed Dr. Mules as Bishop of Nelson. As regards tho last five episcopal elections in the Anglican Church of the Province of New Zealand, it is interesting to note that in two cases (Wellington and "Waiapu), New Zealand clergymen have been selected, while in the other three (Auckland, Nelson, and Melanesia) tho choice has fallen on outsiders. This may be regarded on the wholo as satisfactory, for while it indicates that there is no desire to put a ring fence around New Zealand to keep out new men, it also shows that the mere fact that a man is a New Zealander is not regarded as a bar to promotion to the episcopate, provided ho has shown himself suited to undertake a bishop's duties and responsibilities. New men with new ideas, and new ways of looking at things, ■are, of course wanted in a progressive Church, but it is well that it should be clearly understood that the highest positions are always open to local men who have proved themselves thoroughly capable of filling them. The new Bishop of Nelson is a pronounced Evangelical, or Low Churchman, and it is only right that that school of thought should have a representative on the bench of bishops. Ho seems, however, to hold views regarding the training of the clergy which ho may find necessary to modify if he comes to New Zealand. In a speech in Melbourne recently in support of Ridley Theological College he stated that "such a college was necessary because tho evangelical school which was promoting it was a definite party. That party had been compelled to establish its own distinctive colleges all over England and Canada.' It is to be hoped that the new Bishop of Nelson will not endeavour to establish another struggling theological college in New Zealand, for surely in a young country like this it is quite unnecessary that each of the threeschoolsof thought—High, Low,

and Broad—should have an institution of its own for the training of its

own particular brand of clergyman. However, when Canon Sadlier comes to New Zealand '(assuming of course that he accepts the position to which he has been elected) he will no*doubt' make himself thoroughly acquainted with the special needs and conditions of the country before inaugurating any policy which may tend to emphasise party divisions in the Church.