SERVICE AT PRISON

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 835, 2 December 1929, Page 14

SERVICE AT PRISON

REV. E. C. BUDD’S WORK

“BROTHER OF CONSOLATION"

Over 200 men and women prisoners attended an impressive memorial service to the Rev E. C. Budd, for 2S years Anglican prison chaplain, conducted in the Mount Eden prison yesterday by the Rev. Charles Chandler, who succeeded Mr. Budd as chaplain in 1927.

The text, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to he ashamed,” 11 Timothy ii, 15, was taken by Mr. Chandler, who referred to Mr. Budd’s continuous 28 years of service as prison chaplain and chaplain at the mental and general hospitals. He maintained that the big work of the Church was not done by the great preachers but by the steady, plodding men, who quietly influenced the lives of others by personal contact. Mr. Budd might be called a brother of consolation as the whole of his ministerial life was spent in bringing consolation to his less fortunate brethren. Although there might be no tablets of brass or stone erected to Mr. Budd, a far better memorial would be provided by liis work in transforming the lives of men and bringing them from darkness into light. His memory would be graven not on stone, but on the hearts of men. for he had been a great spiritual help to many hundreds in prison. As appropriate to Mr. Budd's work Mr. Chandler quoted from the 25th chapter of Matthew:—“l was. an hungered and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty and ye gave me drink; I was sick and ye visited me; I was in prison and ye came unto me.” The hymns. ‘‘Nearer, Mr God. 10 Thee” and “Now the Labourer’s Task is O’er” were sung, and a minute's silence was observed at the conclusion of the service In memory of Mr. Budd. A communion service, attended by IG, was later held. Mr. Chandler is shortly leaving for Sydney to start a social crusade and his farewell service at the prison will be held on December 15.