CANON BEAN

Hokitika Guardian, 5 July 1927, Page 4

CANON BEAN

THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AT ADDINGTON.

CHRISTCHURCH, July 4. Thirty-five of Canon \V. S. Bean’s forty-six years in the ministry of the Church of England, have been spent at St .Mary’s Church, Addington. '1 he anniversary of his coming to St. .Mary’s fell last Wednesday, and formed the keynote ol an address by Archbishop Julius to a crowded congregation last night. Thirty-seven years ago I came to this diocese,’’ said the Archbishop, “and of the ministers with whom 1 worked only three are left in active service. One of them is the vicar of Addington, which office he has hold for till but two years of that time. lie had been diligent, you know that, and he loves you. I can say that bis faithfulness has been great, bis work earliest, and quite above reproof." The Arehhish 'p took as bis text 11. Corinthians, eh. d v 2:--‘"Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men.” He said that in the early days of the Church, when all members were closely linked together, if was tin’ custom to give letters of introduction and greeting to members who were to travel to other parts. The Corinthians had asked StPaul for his letters of introduction, ami he had replied in the words of the text. His letters were written in the characters of the people. There was a good deal in what Pilate had said: ‘AVliat I have written I have written.’’ We were always writing something upon the characters of other people, upon the tallies of the hearts of men, indelibly and for good or ill. We could never live alone. If we were wholesome our influence on other people .would he the same, and vice versa. No repentance could blot out the indelible writing, and even the hand of God did not turn the consequences. Most, of our lives were made up of these inilueue .s. and we drank

in the inliueiues and fashions of the day is wo went along on life’s jour-

"I may ,-iy that there is in one in the world upon whom this burden i> laid nr re truly than on the parish priest.” lontinued nis draco. ’‘He is called upon to wiito upon the lives oj l' e people around him. to make their characters and his letters, as did El. 1 aul of the ( orinthians. Fine buildings will crumble, but the writing on the heads of men, seen by Cod, will be handed down from generation (o

“ I he pulpit gives the parish priest a tivmondoc.- oppoi t unity of proclaiming the Gospel, into the preaching of whit h he has of ne"; ssiiy to put something of bis individuality, and ■.nietbing. perhaps, of any inexperience or dullness tmm v.hitli he may be suffering. The giving of Holy Communion is the greatest work, as in the giving there is nothing of human Frailness. Visiting ih,' sick and training the young a:e : 1 1 - i important duties. ’A our paster cannot go on lunch lou ror I lie time w i'l r-usie when his work will he judged, dod has sent, am ng you a faithful pastor. Grant ihni, Ins work may he handed on for tears and years, and never perish.” Canon Bran coninieneed his ininist \ at St. .0 ieliai-l’s ( hur-eh as curate bi Dean Harper. lortv-.six wars ago. I’Tum there he went to Sheffield. Springfield, and lloraiaia, and after four years was transferred to Kumara. Stafford and Waimea on the West C’"d, fbe end ol tmr years’ service Game saw his change to Si. .Mary’s. Millington.