A BISHOP'S SACRIFICE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2496, 24 June 1915, Page 3

A BISHOP'S SACRIFICE

FORSAKES HIS PIPE. Bishop Julius, of Christchurch, is not going to smoke his pipe cf peace during these days of war. He has locked away his pipes and tobacco, and placed the key out of roach. Not until the dogs of war have been leashed will hs agam permit himself the luxury of the weed. "What is the extent of the sacrifice, Your Lordship?" This was the question put to His Lordship Bishop Julius in the library at Bishopscourt on Tuesday morning, by a Christchurch "Sun" reporter. "What?" was the instant demand, followed by a peal of laughter. "Do you want to know how much I spend on tobacco ? Oh, dear, no! That won't do at all I" With great haste the Teport«r assured His Lordship that that was not the intention of the question. He didn't want to probe into the mysteries of the Bishop's pipe expenditure, but would His Lordship say whether giving up his pipe involved a real sacrifice. "Oh, yes!" said the Bishop. "It hurts, indeed. I have been a smoker, and a hard one, for many years, and just now it's not safe to come to Bishopscourt. "Yes," lie_ added, as though in self-commune, "it hurts!" "Does Your Lordship suggest that the example should be followed by the rest of the clergy and by the laity?" "Oh, dear, No!" came the answer. "You see, it's this way. I was one of the speakers at the K. and K. meeting 011 Sunday night. I was urging the people listening to me to sacrifice the use of unnecessary things, such as drink. But here is the point. I don't drink at all—not a pledged total abstainer, you know, but don't care for the stuff'. Might drink the Kind's health in a drop of claret at a social function, but, really, don't want it, so it was easy for me to give it up. No sacrifice at all, in fact. And when Colonel Chalfey turned to us on the platform, and said: 'It's all right for you fellows asking us to give up our drink (you know, the Colonel does not drink), but why don't you give up your tobacco?' " "Now, I'm logical," continued the Bishop, "and I felt strongly tho force of the Colonel's argument. The more I reflected 011 it the stronger did T feol it my duty to make a personal sacrifice. And I just did it. So now you have the story." "And your Lordship does not suggest ♦hat others should follow your exampin?" again queried the reporter, as he rnse to go. "Oh, no," replied tho Bishop. "With "le Ibis mnUur is purely personal. If the others want to continue smoking t.liey may do so as much as thev like." And, as ho shook hands with 'be repm'tor. In> (irntly reiterated., -"it ituus; yei>, it hurt&l"