THE BISHOP OF AUCKLAND

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 287, 27 April 1911, Page 5

THE BISHOP OF AUCKLAND

CONSECRATION CEREMONY. I NOTABLE EVENT IN ANGLICAN ANNALS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Tuesday. An event of historic importance in the Anglican Diocese of Auckland took place this morning, when the Venerable Archdeacon Owen Thomas Lloyd Crossley wag solemnly consecrated to the office of bishop of this, the oldest see in the province of New Zealand.

Long before the hour at which the service was to..commenoe the picturesque, if unpretentious, cathedral church of St. Mary was filled with a congregation of nearly a thousand persons, representing all parts of the diocese. . Outer religious denominations were represented by the Rev. (i. Bond (Methodist), W. Trotter (Presbyterian), 1 A. North (Baptist), S. <!rimths (Congregational), and Mr. R. Lang (Church of Christ). A special combined choir of about 100 voices took part in the service, and Dr. W. E. Thomas was organist. The litany was intoned by the Rev. Canon MacMurrav.

Those taking pari in the procession with which the ceremonial commenced were marshalled by the Revs. J. R. Bnrgein and Mark Sutton. The procession was headed by the choristers, about thirty in number, followed by the male members of the united choir and the clergy of the diocese. Then came the two senior Maori ministers, the Revs, Paa Wikite (Northern Wairoa), and Papapia Hone Tana (Maori Mission). Next followed the Warden of St. John's ColIpge (the Rev. P. T. Williams), the Cathedral Chapter, consisting of Archdeacons Willis (Waikato) and Cole (Taranaki) and Canon MacMunay. After them came the bishops, headed by the bishopelect, wearing his cassock and rochet, and attended by Archdeacon Calder as chaplain; then followed Bishop Williams (ex-Bishop of Waiapu), »Canon Nelson (chaplain!. NWiop Averill (Waiapu), Itcv. E. M. Cowio (chaplain), Bishop Mules (Nelson), (V.non Haselden (chap--I'iin), and the icting-Primate (Bishop Julin-', of Clii'istchuroh), whose chaplain (the Rev. If. \. Hawkins) bore the primatinl cross. Tlie beautiful Communion service was conducted by the acting-Primate, assisted by the other bishops. Bishop Averill, who preached, took a-* his text verses 11 and 12, of chapter IV., of St. Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians (revised version): "And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers. For the perfecting of the saints unto the work of ministering unto the building up of the body of Christ." The preacher said that the gifts of ministry were given to men for the promotion of perfect pence and concord and the removal of obstacles that tended to disunion. In addressing the Bishooelect, the bishop said that he would find in the diocese a growing population, many social problems, a large Maori population requiring separate organisation, and frequent difficulties in travelling. The preacher also made appropriate reference to the records of Bishops SeHvyn, Cowie and Ncligan. After the singing of the hymn, "Lord Enthroned in Heavenly Splendor," the Bishop-elect was presented by the Bishop of Nelson and Bishop Williams to the acting-Primate, to whom the oatb of obedience was taken, and the eight questions prescribed in the Ordinance were answered by the new Bishop in a \<w& and clear voice. The Bishop-elect at the prescribed place in the service put on the remainder of his episcopal habit. After the singing over him of the "Veni Creator Spiritus" ('Come Holy Ghost, Our Souls Inspire") and the reciting of a special prayer for grace, the ceremony of the laying on of bands was performed by the four bishops. Then followeoMhe presentation of a Bible to the n*w Bishop by the acting-Primate, being assisted at Holy Communion by the newlyconsecrated Bishop and the other Bishop?. The remainder of the service as appointed was then gone through, being terminated by the singing of the hymn "Lord of the Harvest."