THE BISHOP OF KIMBERLEY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1539, 7 September 1912, Page 9

THE BISHOP OF KIMBERLEY.

DIJ'RKSSIVE CONSECRATION 7 ' j . . SEKVICE. On St. Peter's Day, in Bloeinfontein ■Cathedral, the Very Key. Wilfrid GoreJkowue, D.eau of Pretoria (sou of Sk Ji,

Gore-Browne, Governor of New Zealand from 1855 to 1861), was consecrated first Bishop of Kimborley and Kurumau. The service began with, the procession of tho celebrant—the Bishop of Dean of the Province, acting as Metro- , politnn in the absence,, in England, of the-- Archbishop of Capetown. Ho was accompanied by the Bishop of Bloenifontein bs Gospeller and Bishop Cameron ns Kpistolcr. The Bishops wore followed by the. choir, and the clergy of the diocese j among tho latter were' two black priests, representing the great' mass of natives who will form the chief cart of the new' Bishop,, and, conspicuous.in the,vestures of the Greek Church, was the Archimandrite from Pretoria. Then come tho procession of the presenting Bishops—the Bishop of Pretoria and Bishop Gaul. When all were grouped round tho altar, the combined processions singing the "Litany of tho Church," and headed by two servers bearing lights, passed round tho Cathedral. The services of tho Holy Communion then proceeded as far as the end of the Creed.

The csrmoii by Archdeacon Seaton of Johannesburg. was on tho words "Stablish thy brethren'"—the shaping of St. Peter by his Master, the turning of Simon, the natural man, into Cephas, the rock man, was the subject. A Bishop of all men .said the preacher, must have hope. "Hope," said Bishop Creighton, "is tho great quality needed in a loader, because it most materially affects practice." Had they not ground for hope? Bishop Gray, sixty-four years ngo, landed in Capo Town with a tiny handful of men. Now they met to consecrate a Bishop for tho twelfth South African diocese. In spite of ilio miserable insufficiency of men and means, with tho history of the Church behind us wo cannot, despair. Wo need only despair when Bishop, clergy, and pnonlo srive up hope. The. Bishop-elect, vested in a simple rochet, who had been-kneeling on tho north side of the choir, was now led by! (ho hand by tho Bishop of Pretoria and Bishop Gaul, and was by them presented to the Acting-Metropolitan. After the Archbishop's mandate had been read, and the Oath of Allegiance administered, the Litany was sung. After this tho "examination was proceeded with according to the Prayer Book office. After the singiiiff of tho anthem. "How Beautiful upon the Mountains,' the Bishop-elect—now'vested in a Bishop's full robes and a coneknelt at the feet of tho Bishop of Lβbombo. whilst the other Bishops formed a semi-circle round him.

Iho aniprcssivo South African "uso" during the singing of the Voni Creator gives a vivid reality to the prayer which is sometimes lacking, tho consecrating Bishops standing with raised arms throughout the whole hymn, and, singing it m unison, in alternative lines with tho congregation. It becomes a real invoking and -withal n picture-lesson to all present. After the supreme act of tho imposition of hands the pectoral cross was put round the newly consecrated Bishop s neck, and tho mitro was placed on us head. Then came tho presentation' ?■ » le ?W C - . foll <>™g by the "porrechon of the ring and the niacins in his hand of the pastoral staff. Tins verv impressive part of the service over, the Eucharist proceeded to its close and a very beautiful and significant ceremony was at an end.-"Church Times."