WELCOME AT CHRISTCHURCH TO THE CHURCH MISSIONERS.

Kumara Times, Issue 2913, 1 March 1886, Page 3

WELCOME AT CHRISTCHURCH TO THE CHURCH MISSIONERS.

[From the Press, February 26.]

The evening service at the Cathedral yesterday received special importance, from being made the occasion of extending a formal welcome to the newlyarrived Missioners, the Rev. C. Bodington, and G. E. Mason. The service, which was of greater length than usual, was taken by the Rev. MrDunkley, and attended by his Lordship the Primate and the Very Rev. the Dean, by Canon Cotterill and Archdeacon Dudley, who read the lessons, and by most of the Cathedral clergy.

The Missioners were seated near the Litany stool during the service, but at its close they advanced to the altar steps, and there knelt while the Primate addressed them on the subject of the mission, detailing the circumstances under which -they came there, assuring them of his sympathy in the weariness of mind and body which mission workinvolved, and expressing his conviction that their services in this part of the diocese would he appreciated. His Lordship then said :—" Now, brethren, I ask are you willing to undertake the work of conducting the mission in this diocese ]"

The Missioners rose, and the Rev. C. Bodington replied —" My Lord Bishop, we gladly undertake the woik you have committed to our charge, and will discharge it to the best of our ability, God helping us." The reverend gentlemen ngaiu knelt while his Lordship solemnly charged them with their mission in the following words :—" Receive from us mission and authority in the name of the Lord, to do the work of Evangelists in the diocese ; "and may the Lord himself be a lantern to your feet and a light to your paths, and bless the word spoken by you to the edification of His people and the glory of His holy name, through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen."

This concluded tlie welcoming of the Missioned, whose labours here are to begin to-night.