RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1758, 24 May 1913, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF NELSON. HELP FOR THE BACKBLOCKS. A most successful Anglican Homo Mission Festival was hold in' Blenheim recently. The function was one of a series of gatherings organised in the various archdeaconries in the Kelson diocese for tho raising of «l! 1000 for tho purpose of ameliorating tho conditions of homo missionaries ill the outlying sph'c-res of labnuv. The Bishop of Nelson (the Right liev. William C. Sadlier) stated that ho wis empowered to organise a Homo Mission Fund, and the gathering that .evening was one result of endeavours to obtain pecuniary aid. Last year only XISG had been available for the important work in tho outlying districts, but this year ho hoped that IEIOOO would bo realised. Tho present system had only been in voguo sin'.o April 1, but there was now more money available than the General Church Fund brought ill last year. Thar©'were many signs that tho Church, was prospering, new buildings in several districts being particular, testimony to this. Fifteen districts depended' on tho Home Mission Fund, and fivo'new ones would be opened up during the next few months to keep pace with the progress of the country. One of tho first localities to receive attention would be tho Sounds, whero there was great need for a clergyman. These developments were the frontal attacks in tho campaign but the rearguard would be at Bishopdale, where young mo'i would bo trained for the ministry under a very able tutor who had just been engaged. Another meeting was held in Nelson on May 11. Tho attendance was close on UOO, the gathering being one of tho largest ever held in the city. Bishop Sadlier read a telegram conveying good wisho;; from Archdeacon Grace, ol Blenhcm, aind also another telegram fr.iin Mrs. Lord, of Blenheim, stating that the net results of tho festival tliero were over ,£IOO. The Bishop said that when he came to look into the Home Mission Fund, he thought that something better could bo dono for home mission work. Hq believed the result of what was now being done would be a more definite idea of the corporate life of the Church. They hail met from all parts in one corporate act—in one social life—and they were to consider tho claim of their Church. A sen'-o of corporate life meant also a deepening senso of corporate responsibility. All through the diocese there was work to bo done. Fifteen districts wore wholly dependent on the Homo Mission Fund, and there woro iivo or six now districts which should bo opened up if the Church w-is to continue, its work. He wanted to train their own moil at Bishopdale for tlut work—young New Zealandcrs if it was possible to get thein. The people in tho backblocks wanted the Gospel. Tho lonely lfien and women there, the digger, the settler—they wanted the Gospel. The children were growing up without the Gcspel. He had a free hand to organiso the Home Mission Fund, and ho jvanted his people to help him. He wanted them to help to the extent of J6IOOO a year. . Mr. A. T. Maginnily, Chancellor of tho ]}h ceso, said that the Bishop wanted .{'loo9 per annum. In the diocese there were 23,500 members of the Church, and if each member' subscribed a penny a month .£1375 per annum would bo realised. There were 3000 Communicants in tho diocese, and if each of theso gave 7s. Od. a year J!1125 would be raised. "Wo hear tho cry of the backblocks and are ready to help tlieni," concluded Mr. Muginnity.