HAPPY JUBILEE

Hokitika Guardian, 28 September 1931, Page 7

HAPPY JUBILEE

CANON BEAN’S MINISTRY.

GRATITUDE TO THE LAITY.

CHRISTCHURCH, September 25

“My ministry has been a very happy one. 1 have always had the support of th e laity, and without their support I could not have done anything.’’ Thus Canon W.. S. Bean, looking back yesterday over fifty active years in the ministry of the Anglican Church, reviewed his life while lie puffed at a morning pipe. Still an alert and capable man, Canon Bean greets his jubilee as minister with that same cheery optimism that has characterised him throughout his life. But it is for the laity and the help of the laity that he feels an especial affection, and he returned to the theme more than once during a brief talk. What inis kept him young? He still rides a bicycle- he has ridden a “bike” ever since that form of locomotion came to Christchurch. He is as active as many men half his age. His disposition is as sunny as ever it was. Bu t he has no particular fad —no great secret of perennial youth. The First Plunge. It was recalled that it bad been Canon Bean’s custom to open the season of the Addington Swimming Club (01 which he is patron) by taking the first plunge from the springboard and swimming a length of the pool. His addresses to the people on these occasions have always been delivered from the end of the board, while he was appropriately garbed, in swimming costume. He is still young enough to continue that custoip. “I did it last season,” he said, “lind if I am asked to do so I will do it again this season.” His health, he said, remains good. “1 have a troublesome leg,” lie added, “but that is nothing.” A proof was afforded by the fact that he was wearing cycling clips. The leg has not yet put the bicycle out of actio'j. Early Work.

Canon Bean was ordained deacon by Bishop Harper on September 25, 1881 ai d three yeais later was ordained priest. From 1881 to 1883 he was curate to Dean Walter Harper at St. Michael’s. They were three fruitful years. “Any success I have had,” he said, “I attribute very largely to the training 1 had with Dean Harper.” He had read with Dean Harper for some years before lie became his curate, and had also been lay reader to him.

From 1883 to 1888 Canon Bean had charge of Sheffield, Springfield, and Hororata, his duties in that parish taking him as far afield as Mount White. They were active years, spent largely in the saddle. He went next to tin West Coast, where he was, stationed at Kumara. There, on March 31, 1891 he married a daughter of the late Mr Seddon. At Addington, I.) 1892 Canon Bean moved to 'Addington, where he has remained since. Te has seen the district grow from an area largely covered with tussock to one of the most populous parts of the city, Tlie church has been twice enlarged in that period, as also has the Sunday School. “I have had only the three districts,” he said, "and I have been very happy in all of them. I have had experience of an agricultural district, of a gold and coal mining district, and of this district, which is largely a working man’s parish.” Canon Bean ha s been aw lay from New Zealand only twice during ihis long min is! ry. In 1905 he visited England, and in 1914 he went, as Lieutenant-colonel, chaplain, with the advance party to Samoa. His military associations extend back a long way, for lie was chaplain to the Engineers in Christchurch for 29 years. He has been interested for many years in the work of the Royal Humane Society, of which he is still the New Zealand president. A Quiet Celebration. Probably no minister in Christchurch is better known than Canon Bean. His long residence here, and his cheerful personality, have won inn. many friends, and in no quarter of t-hi city is he a stranger. “Even the police know me,” he said with a smile. The Jubilee is to be celebrated very quietly. “1 am not making any fuss,” he said. “I am just having my own peope, and an extra celebration in the morning. It has really nothing 1 do with outsiders—it is a parisl affair.”