THE ENTHRONEMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 26 March 1926, Page 4

THE ENTHRONEMENT

TIIE BISHOP’S ADDRESS. CHRISTCHURCH, March 25. At the enthronement of the Bishop of Christchurch, His Lordship delivered his address:— ‘‘l stand before you feeling every responsibility which has been laid upon me—responsibility to Cod, responsibility to you, and responsibility to those who have gone before,” lie said. ‘‘When f landed at Lyttelton yesterday I couldn’t help feeling deeply moved by the thought of what had iiappuened there 75 years belorc. A e do not associate ourselves with high romance of tiio Victorian age nowadays, but anyone who visits these shores receives the hope and faith in the race and m God from which we lake courage. “After being welcomed at Lyttelton by the clergy and proceeding to Christchurch we heard the bells of welcome and stood for the first time in- this great and splendid House of Ood. Who could not help feeling again a thrill of wonder and thanksgiving for the great men who founded the Church in Canterbury 1

"1 nave looked oil portraits of your first Bishop many times, and marked the strength and determination and power and courage of his lace. We must thank God l'ur such a man, n.io was found to iaeo all tho trials and difficulties of that ' lime and help erect tilt” Temple of lied wo have lieu*. Jn London I met Archbishop .Julius, whom, we hope to have back in Canterbury with us soon, and 1 was imprefcsed by ilie real lire and Knee, power and vitality ol the wondeilul man who guided and biiriended the Church of this diocese lor 115 long vears.

“To be called to follow in the steps of these two great men might well make me shrink from the undertaking. 1 felt the privilege deeply when the Archbishop of Canterbury asked me to come anil undertake the work, ft was haul to say ‘ves,’ when 1 realised the importance'ot it In the Church ami Kmpire. but 1 could not say ‘no’ to such a call. During the short time 1 have been here, and met the laity am. clergy of the diocese, I have been idled with gratitude to God lor the support of such men. f trust in Gml and your loyalty in taking up this work, and .1 go forward in faith.” ENGLAND'S G it A TITUDE.

The Bishop then paid a. tribute to Xew Zonla ml and Now Zoalan dors. All at. Homo, and everyone with British blood in bis veins, were under a debt to the Dominion. Enr the men whom New Zealand had sent 25 years ago to light, .shoulder to shoulder, ill the i>oei War. and for the men who had lively given their lives for Britain in the last war there was nothing but gratitude in Englishmen's hearts. 'J bo Church was under a debt to the Church ot New Zealand also, for its guidance in the framing of the new constitution at Homo, which had come Iroiu aeio when the not’d was 1 olt ior a means of more ample expression and seltgovernmont. His hearers must necei

think that those at Home were forgetful of their duty to this land so lur awnv in distance, and so near ill spiiit. The (pies Lion had been asked nim. whether he thought the Church was losing its grip. this meant, he supposed, whether it was losing its grip on money, on influence, and on wires to pull. It was just its grip on these things which had impoverished tho Church. The only thing that mattered was whether it was losing its grip on Christianity ; whether people had lost the joy of Christ’s presence in the services of prayer and Sacrament. the Divine lire which had sent Him 'ft rt.li to conquer. At this Divine season of the year he could nob help asking himself the question, has not the Church Ins! its grip? U was not dying for Cln;ist ianity that lost tlm grip of tho Church oil the people, but living tor the World. They must be Christians, not. oil account ot their love oi Christ. Had the Church lost its grip? With the tremendous work which mind be done in China, in Africa, and _ elsewhere, it was only ii it stood, still before bitch an opportunity that it could lose. . ■' In conclusion, His Lordship said that he had yet to learn of the needs of this diocese.' It would, he supposed, take years, but be wanted to know the joys and sorrows of the people, and to know that in common trust and union ot hearts they could go forward for Cl ,ist.iunity and radiate outwards, net only in Canterbury, but in those soul Lem islands where the spreading ot the gospel was their panicuiar work. ‘‘God gram Hint in all our work and Ida toirclher," he conelilded. “the neaee and joy which the lord God has ascribed ior its may be ours.’ AT THE BARRACKS. [by Tr.r.i-.nitAT'ii —er.it minus association.} CM l> IKTCH T IH’li. March 20. Six thousand peoide attended tlm puhiir welcome to Hie new Bishop of rhrisie’iiireli last evening in King Edward Barrack-. All denominationwere represented and there was marked enthusiasm. Tin. Mc.vr. the Ilev. A. K. Archer, snoke for the city and said that ho trusted that the stay of the Bishop and family will be as long as that of their predecessors and that each year would bring to them increased happiness and honour.