BISHOP JULIES

Hokitika Guardian, 21 December 1920, Page 1

BISHOP JULIES

RETURN TO CHRISTCHURCH

pHIMSTCIJURCH, Dec. 17. After n jne niqpths’ absence from the Dominion, during which time he attended the Lambpjdi Conference, the Bishop of;ClipisEc()tirc!i, Dr Julius, returned to Christchurch yesterday. He <<ind Miss Julius, who accompanied him on the trip, jauded at Wellington on Wednesday by the Mneraki, tu '° days behind scheduled time, through the vessel being Relayed on the trip across from Australia by storms. His Lordship, who is looking invigorated after his overseas trip, altlfough suffering from a slight cold, canie south by the ferry steamer on Thursday night, and on arrival in Christchurch yesterday morning lie was entertained at breakfast, at which between JO and 60 members of the clergy and laity attended. At 9.45,' Dean Carrington conducted a shore thanksgiving scrvjce jn the Cathedral. Children from Churcli orphanages and schools were present with banners, and forinpd an avenue through which tlie Bishop entered at the portliern door of the Cathedra], At the service special hymns were sung by tile children. Dean Carrington said that members of the congregation had been called together to thank God for the presence of their Bishop amongst them once more. Later, Bishop Julius had a conference with several of the clergy. Dr Julius accorded an interview to a “Press” reporter at his residence, “Cloudesley,” yesterday.

On being asked to speak on the question of Church union, he said that this was a matter so complex, and there was so much risk of misconception in ylnit he might say briefly, that' lie would not care to deal with it unless he went fully into the subject under proper conditions. It was the greatest work which the', Lambeth Conference traversed in comparison with any other matter which bad- Ijeeu dealt With. The report of the committee and its reception by the bishops surpassed anything that lie could have thought possible, and though the immediate result may seem-to be slight, lie was confident that it would ' make for peace and unity.

The importer referred to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s statement that only about' 10 per-cent of the London population attended chure'i services, and Dr Julius commented : “There is undoubtedly a falling-off in general church attendance, due, in my judgiiient, not so much to unbelief, but to" the pressure of material tilings, and a partial failure in the modern presentment of Christianity to satiny; thp spiritual needs of humanity. 1 am fairly sure, however, that the neglect of worship is now, as it lias been often in the past, only a passing phase.' “Great Britain,” the' Bishop proceeded, “at present is ili a'state of unrest, owing to the trouble in Ireland, strikes in every part of the country, now healed and again breaking out afresh, enormous' rises in the cost of living,' and' at the same time an amnzing extravagance on the part of those workers and others who have recently acquired wealth and do not kno.v how to make tlie best use of it. There seemed to he, however, a growing' determination throughout the country, on the part of ali classes, to pull together and by a iconimon effort save the country from the disaster which threatens it.”' . .

Speaking with regard to the-recruit-ing of curates, Rishop Julius said that the war caused a great scarcity in the supply of younger clergy, owing to the closing of training colleges and the practical closing ■ of the universities, but it seemed as though the remedy would soon he found. The universities and colleges were crowded now, and not a few men who had returned from the war were being prepared for Holy Orders under conditions which will make it possible for them having their experiences at the front being taken as more than equivalent for much of the usual course of study.