ANGLICAN MISSION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 899, 1 October 1910, Page 3

ANGLICAN MISSION.

AN IMPRESSIVE INCIDENT. Napier, Sept. 28. Just prior to the commencement of the address to men at the final meeting of the Anglican Mission, Canon Mayne, who was sitting among the audience, walked to the Chancel steps and made a brief, but important, speech:— “ I want to thank the missioned,” he said. “ All have noticed one thing—that it is the wretchedness and misery caused in this world through drink. I have been here for sixteen years, and I have always been in the custom of taking something to drink. To my sorrow I heard very very recently that this was a matter which caused pain and grief to some members of ray congregation. As a Christian —I don’t say as a priest—l can do nothing else than to follow the noble example of St. Paul, who said that if eating meat offended his brethren he would eat none. That being so, my duty lies straight before me, and I purpose, by God’s help, to be a total abstainer. Not only that, but I have been so convinced by the words of Father Fitzgerald of the crime in this world caused through drink that I shall do my utmost to make every man a total abstainer. Ido this gladly and willingly for the sake of my people. “ We must,” he added, “ thank the missioners for showing us our imperfections. They have brought us nearer to Christ than many of us have been before. The nearer we come to Christ the more clearly do we see our imperfections. I am sure that God’s mercy has fallen upon this place; His Holy Spirit has been here ; and speaking for myself I have never been, in the whole of my life, so near to God as I have been in the past few days. I pray, nay, I feel sure, that God will bless the missioner in his work iu other places as we know He certainly has done here.” As Canon Mayne returned to his seat, the Bishop of Waiapu rose and shook him warmly by the hand with a fervent “ God bless you.”