A CANON'S PLEDGE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 151, 5 October 1910, Page 8

A CANON'S PLEDGE

"FOR THE SAKE OP MY BECPLE^ At the final meeting oi the Anglican Mission in Napier, Canon Mayne, of St. John's, who was sitting among the audience, walked to the chancel steps and made a brief, but impressive speech. "1 want to thank the missioners," he said. "All have noticed one thing—flhat is the wretchedness and misery caused in this world through drink. I have been herd for 116 years, and I have always been in the custom of taking something to •drink. To"my sorrow I heard, very, very Decently that this was wlhicth caused' pain and grief some members of my congregation. As a Christian—l 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 1 have been so convinced by th« words of Father Fitzgerald of the crime in this world caused through. drink that I shall do my utmost to malce every man a total abstainer. I do this gjadly and willingly for the sake of my people. We must," he added, tf £hank 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 wonk in other places as we know He has certainly done here." As Canon Mayme rej turned to his seat the Bishop of Waiapu rose and shook him warmly by the hand with a fervent "Ged bless Vou."