Presentation to Bishop Cowie. Auckland, November 7

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 228, 12 November 1887, Page 8

Presentation to Bishop Cowie. Auckland, November 7

Prior to the evening sitting of the Synod last night the interesting ceremony of making a presentation of a purse of sovereigns to Bishop Cowie was proceeded with. Naturally there was a very largo attendance, all the available sitting accommodation being occupied ; a large number of ladies were also present. The ceremony of presenting the address was performed by the Yen Archdeacon Maunsell, all persons present standing during the address and the reply by the Bishop. Dr. Maunsell said :—•" My Lord, the duty has devolved upon myself and Colonel liaultam of presenting to you the following address as a small token of the feelings of our hearts towards you." Dr. Maunsell then proceeded to say that the presentation was not a mere matter of form, but the real expression of the feelings of the Bishop's people towards him. He was pleaced to oee such a large attendance, as that also testified to the appreciation of the efforts of the Eishop. They had only to look around to see the great progress which had been made in the diocese during the period that it had been under the care of His Lordship, He could not help feeling that his assistant, Colonel Haultain, was the proper person to have presented the address, lie had almost wondered why he was asked to make the presentation. Perhaps it was because he was the oldest clergyman in the diocese, and perhaps, al&o, because ho being an Irishman, and having a large amount oi the pugnacity of his race, he had been very often found in opposition. (Laughter.) He could not help refening to the uniform courtesy exhibited by His Lordship during the period in which he had been in charge of the diocese. Ho felt it wa« mainly due to this courtesy that such harmony and pc .cc now existed amongst them. He would therefore have much pleasure in presenting the following address : — To the Right Reverend William Garden Cowie, D.1)., Bishop of Auckland. My Lord, — We the clergy and laity of tiiis diocese, desire, before the Synod closes its session, to express our best wishes that you and your esteemed helper in good works, Mrs Cowie, may have a happy \oyage to England, and a speedy return. From a large intercourse with our fellow-churchmen and otheis, we can testify to the heartiness with winch they recognise yoiir Christian and catholic -spirit, your zeal, and your kindness and courtesy in dealing with up. They see that there is scarcely ahamletwhich you have not often visited, and for whose religious services you have not made provision ; that our Sunday-schools owe much to your efforts ; that the Sailors' Rest and Woman's Home, and such like institutions, are proofs of the liaberality of your views, and of your zeal for the good of others ; that we have much peace amongst ourselves, and that we maintain friendly relations with the other Christian bodies. Although in common with the rest of the colony, w-e are suffering from the present gneat financial depression, we decided that we ought not to allow you to leave us without some proof of ova- regard. All the contributions of our brethren have not yet come in, but we cannot Jkrse the present opportunity of addi?e3f.ing you, and beg your acceptance herewith of the amount already received. Signed on behalf of the clergy and laity of the diocese., B. T. Dudley, Archdeacon of Auckland. R. Maunsell, Archdeacon Emeritus. Geo. P. Piekok \ Honorary Treasurers T. M. Haultaix f Testimonial Fund. M. Rawlinus, Honorary Secretary Testimonial Committee. Auckland, Bth November, 1887. After having read the address Dr. Maunsell said (that he might add that in this contribution their Maori brethren had also contributed, and also members of other denominations who wished in that way to testify their respect tor his Lordship. (Applause.) Colonel Haultain said that ho had the honour to be selected to second the address, and although he felt second to none in loyalty to His Lordship, yet he regretted that the duty had not fallen upon one more eloquent than himself, so that fuller justice might be done to the feelings of the people towards His Lordship. They had been told that His Lordship purposed visiting the old country. He was naturally desirous to revisit the mother country after being absent for a period of nearly 18 years. It was also well known that His Lordship was going home in response to an invitation received from the Archbishop of Canterbury to attend the forthcoming Conference. While regretting Hi 3 Lordship's absence from their midst they could not but acknowledge that he required relaxation, and also that they looked forward to the benefits that would accrue to the colonial churches from the presence of one or more of their colonial bishops in the Old Country at the Conference. They all knew His Lordship's earnest endeavours to train up their youth as Christian men and gentlemen, also the untiring endeavours made to extend to the utmost parts of the diocese the benefits of the Church. They also knew the interest His ! Lordship and Mrs Cowie had ever taken for i the poor and needy. They could bear witness to the gentleness with which His Lordship had dealt with the opinions of persons who might at times have dissented I from His Lordship, and the large-hearted j tolerance with which he had regarded every school of thought within their Church. They felt that they had nob been able to provide His Lordship in the past with an income adequate to his position, to the hos- : pifcalifcy which he had extended, and the many claims which had been made i upon him. They had therefore made a collection, which already amounted to £400, bub which they trusted would be still i further added to, for they were well aware that there were yet many persons from whom subscriptions would yet be received. (Applause. ) They therefore begged to tender to His Lordship and to Mrs Cowie their ' best wishes, and they prayed Almighty God { that their journey might bea prosperous one ; that they might in the Old Country meet many old friends, and that they might again retunrto the colony much benefited by the journey. With these remarks, which were but a poor testimony of what he would have wished to have said, he begged to second the address. Colonial Haultain deposited the purse on the table amidst loud applause. Bishop Cowie appeared much moved, and in replying his voice trembled from the emotion which he would fain have concealed. His Lordship replied in the follow ing terms :—: — Mrs Cowie and I are very grateful for the kind address that has been presented to us, and for the generous gift with which it is accompanied. It is the wish and the intention of us both to return to our home and our work in New Zealand before bhe end of next year ; and no offer of less laborious work in England will induce me to remain there. You refer with approval to my custom of visiting all parts of the dioce&e. It has always formed a chief pai t of my happiness to make the acquaintance of our

people in the thinly-populated parts of tho diocese, and to minister to them there, whether Europeans or Maoris, and when I can no longer do so I shall think that the time has come for me to resign my present office, which an invalid could not conscientiously continue to hold. During the last four years I have been reminded, more than once, by the state of my health, that I am now the only surviving clergyman of those who went through the fatigue and exposure of the Lucknow campaign of 1858, and oi the Afghan campaign of 1863 ; and it is my duty to face the possibility, if not the probability, of being unable much longer to travel through and through the diocese, as I have hitherto done, and as the Bishop ought to do. It has always been my earnest wish to co-operate heartily with all Church workers, whatever their opinions might be, and whatever were the peculiarities of their methods of working. Whilst constantly striving for unity amongst ourselves, I have never cared for unifoimity in muticrs non-essential, whether of belief or practice. (Applause.) It would be a real grief to me if our relations with other Chii&tian people were not friendly ; and it will always be my endcav our that they may become moie and moie friendly and cordial — (applause) — and that we may be able to say from our hearts " Grace be with all t,hem that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." (Applause.) I thank you, and all those whom you lepre.sent, for the personal kindness that you have shown to me and mine dm ing the whole time of our residence among you ; and I ask your prayers for us in the future. And one special request I will, in 'conclusion, make of every member of the Church throughout the diocese — namely, that you wiU do your utmost to provide the clergy ministering to our people in the country districts with at least a decent maintenance. May God's blessing be with you and yours. This concluded the interesting proceeding?, the Bishop resuming his seat amid applause.