PUBLIC RECEPTION OF BISHOP JULIUS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2049, 22 May 1890, Page 2

PUBLIC RECEPTION OF BISHOP JULIUS.

A public reception was accorded His j ijordahip at the Volunteer Hall on Tuesevening, com mittee enlrusted wi'h the arrangements had relieved the bare walla of the hall with a quantity of ti trees and evergreens. On the platform, under the leadership of Mr H. W. Moore, were the united choirs of the Episcopalian, 1 rpsbytarian, and Primitive Methodist Churches of (Jeraldine. On the left-hand aide was placed a long table, where an abundance of refreshments was laid. Sever*! rows of seats were placed the entire length of the hall, the intervening spaces beipg left to allow of His Lordship coming amongst apfj ppnversing with those present. There was a yery Jarge gathering of people, every part of the district being represented. Shortly after half-past seven fps Lordship made his appearance at the front door, accompanied by the Rev, Jas. Preston, incumbent of Geraldine, and other gentlemen, Hi? appearance was the signal for three ringing cheers. Passing down the centre of the hall, the party, which consisted of the Rev. J, Preston, Rev. T. A. Hamilton (Episcppajfan, Temuka), Rev.' Robinson (Presbyteriap. Qecaldine), Rev! U. Clement (Primitive Geral-

dine), Ur K. Fish, and Mr A. Fisher (secretary of Oddfellows’ Lodge), took l heir seats upon the platform, the choir singing “Onward, Christian Soldiers.” An apology for unavoidable absence owing to urgent private business was received from the Rev. Father Treaoy, and from the Hon. J. B. A. Acland owing to severe indisposition. The Rev. J. Preston then read the following address from the members of the Episcopalian Church at Geraldine :

Ml Losd, —We are gathered together here tbia evening to give you as hearty a welcome to this parish as is in our power, considering the short notice we reoieved of your coming. We fully realize the many calls you must have upon your time, and consequently feel your kindness the more deeply in thus, so soon after your consecration giving us the opportunity to meet you personally to express our feelings towards you. We, the Incumbent, ofiieers and churchmembers of Geraldine welcome your Lornship most heartily amongst us and beg to tender our d ration and respect to you as our Bishop and Father in God. We feel rejoiced to see the ministers and many bodies and gentlemen of other denominations joining us in our expressions of welcome as it not only shows a kindly feeling towards your Lordship and the church of England at large but it also proclaims that Christian Charity and brotherly love does reign amongst all who profess and o ill themselves Christians, in this part of your diocese and that without sacrificing any vital principle of our faith we can meet together on an occasion like the present in brotherly and sisterly concord. My Lord, we hope these few words, inadepuate as they are, coupled with what you personally see and experience to night will convince you that your welcome amongst us is both hearty and sincere.

James Pseston, Incumbent Bobbet Fish. Churchwarden Henbt W. Mooee, Churchwarden, A. E. Hankins J. WiiiSON Smith G. H. Patrick J. Pjzzby W. Shibbs W. Hawkb )• Vestrymen. A. White B, P. Babtbum J. Kemand W. M. Moobk J He also stated that there were various bodies desirous of presenting addresses of welcome and kindly feeling towards H : s Lordship, and he expressed the pleasure he felt at seeing so many ministers of o her denominations present. He asked the Rev. Mr Morrison to say a few words. The Rev. Mr Robinson said that although he was a comparative stranger in Qeraldins still he knew a little of the people and their feelings towards their fellow Christians. He congratulated His Lordship on coming to New Zealand, and Geraldine in particular. For his own part, after 20 years’ sojourn in New Zealand, he most cordially wished that His Lordship might spend at least as many years in the colony. Of course, they, as old chums, gave a hearty welcome to any ram coming from the Old Country to Hew Zealand, but an especially hearty one to a man who came to New Zealand as His Lordship did, with the ambition of making it a Christian country. He thought that where they were actuated by this God-like feeling they should be one with each other in Christian feelings and love. When they read the lives of such men as Dr March in His Lordship’s Church and Ur Guthrie in his (the speaker’s) Church they could not but arrive at the conclusion how very small the difference was that separated them, and how very near they were in reality to one another. The bond that united them was eternal and indestructible, the difference was transient. Ho urged that all of (hem should live such lives that they cared not if others took a peep into their hearts. He referred to the mannei in which (he Scotch Greys and the Inniskell- n Regiments combined to fight against the French, forgetiiog all their differences in (ho one aim of achieving victory for their country, and he urged that Christians should be one when their objects were even mote noble. They should surely stand shoulder to shoulder against the embattled hosts of Satan, and do their very beat to advance the kingdom of their Lord and King, until in the beautiful words of the poet

11 Till o’er our ransomed nature The Lamb for sinners slain, Redeemer, King, Greater, In bliss returns to reign,” In the name of the Presbyterians of Geraldine he cordially welcomed Hia Lordship to Geraldine. (Applause.) The Rev, G. Clement said it gave him the very greatest pleasure to be present that evening lo convey to His Lordship the fraternal greetings and good wishes of the Primitive Methodists of Geraldine. Ho felt it no mean privilege to stand there and convey their good wishes and salutations. It gave him great pleasure to see so many people of every church in Geraldine present to welcome His Lordship. It was a hopeful sign when all denominations were invited to be present to welcome His Lordship, A few years ago such a thing would not have taken place in the Old Country. The wali that divided the Primitive Methodist denomination from the Episcopalian was so high that a minisc«c of the former would, ao to Speak, scarcely be able to see a bishop if he stood on tip-toe to peep over. He (the speaker) was very glad to see that this dividing wall had now crumbled down so low that a Primitve Methodist minister con'd just step over and give a cordial welcome to the bishop. He thought that upon occasions like the present they should lav aside their little differences, and meet together to congratulate and sympathise with qao h other in the great work in which they were engaged. They should stand shoulder to shoulder to meet and fight the sin and shame and wretchedness that was in the wodd, and to drive back the enemy and the powers that oppose goodness and righteousness. In the name of the Pntpiliya Methodists of Geraldine he tendered their cordial greetings and goodwishes to Hia Lordship, and trusted that the diocese over which he had come to preside might continue to prosper, and tfiat the miscellaneous gatherings, such as that, might tend pQ pemppt the churches m Geraldine together, and lo foster the feelings of unity that already existed, aqd that they might go from that meeting stimulated and encouraged in their work. He would resume hia seat wishing that His Lordship’s position as Bishop of Christchurch, and his oversight of the dioceasa might be long, happy, and prosperous. (Applause). The following address of welcome from tlie Victoria Jmdga of Oddfellows, Geral-,

dine, was read by Mr A. Fisher, *he lodge secretary:— “ To the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Christchurch. We, the undersigned, representing the Victoria Lodge of Oddfellow#, No. 19, 0 f the American Constitution, established in 'Geraldine, heartily congratulate your Lordship on your elevation to the episcopate, and take advantage,of the opportunity afforded us, on this, your first, visit to the southern portion of the diocese over which your Lordship has ecclesiastical jurisdiction, to welcome your amongst us. No doubt your Lordship is aware that our Order was founded for the purpose of disseminating and practicing the noble principles of Benevolence and Charily, for yisiting and taking care of the sick, needy, and distressed, and for social intercourse among its members. For this purpose are our fnnds devoted. It is our earnest wish that you may lire long, and enjoy one of the greatest blessing, good health, so as to continue the work you have so propitiously inaugurated, and that the blessing of the All-Seeing God may rest upon vou. We beg to subscribe ourselvoo, on behalf of the members of the Victoria Lodge, T.0.0.F., T. Bowkett, N.G. J. J. Hiskens, V.Q. A. Fisheb, Secretary. J. Williams, Treasurer and P.G." Q-. H. Patjbiok, D.D 9.M, R.'Habdy J. P. Kalaushbb I J. Pye I W. Stonehousb j-N.Q’s. J. PIZZBY I J. W. Pyb J R Hammond J

Bishop Jalius, who on rising to respond, was greetol will) loud snd prolonged applause, said Mr chairman, rev. brethren, ladies, and .gentlemen, I thank you from my very heart for the kind welcome you have given me here in Geraldine. The fact is that since I came to New Zealand I have been somewhat overwhelmed by the kindness and by the welcome I have received. I am only fearful, very fearful, least that welcome should be a proof that the people expected more of me than they are likely to gel out of me.’ (Laughter.) If it encourages me on one hand, and God knows it does, on the other hand it makes me very feirful, lest in the days to come T shall disappoint the expectation of those who have received me thus kindly for as a matter of fact lam but a poor man, foil of faults, as my wife knows. (Laughter.) You now see a man, who, having said comparatively little, and dona almost nothing cm have made few mistakes, but who, when he comes to speech and action in greater degree will manifest the weakness natural to him. I especially thank this evening my rev. brethren of other churches iu Geraldine! and the members of the Oddfellow’s lodge, for the kind welcome you have gifen me. I am a churchman—and perhaps a high churchman.—l believe in the Church of England, and love the Church of England, and love her principles, and trust I may never, as man, or priest, or bishop, ever do that of my own individual thought and judgment which transgressed her bonnde and her wiM. But she has never taught me not to love those who differ with me, but rather bid me love them. As had been said that evening, the dfferenca which that divides us is transient, the bonds that united ns are eternal. (Applause). Yes they arre trancient, and I pray God they may be so transient that ere long the love and sympathy, and power of God’s grace may utterly break them down, and that Christians may gather together with one consent to fight against wrong, and sin and misery. (Applause). It is very rare in my experience (my remarks this evening are going to be fragmentary, Very i much lihe Johnstone’s dictionary, but : nevermind; you can only got out* of a ; poor fellow what is in him). (Loud i laughter). It is very rare one township speaks well of its neighbor. Towns are ■ very much like individuals in that respect • (Laughter)— but Ashburton spoke very ' . W u ell ® f , L Geraldi “e- When in Ashburton ■ the folks told me what a pretty place i (ioraldme was, and that when I saw it I i would be delighted with. When they spoke thus Geraldine went np very greatly in my estimation. (Applause)r J. maß t confess they said rightly. I have now seen something of Geraldine and the country round it, and it is far more beautiful than I bad expected, lam not a new chum, as has been suggested by my friend Mr Morrison, but a colonial of a good five years standing acd more I love Victoria from my very heart, and i love the colonies, as she has taught me to loye them. I am very glad to be in a land that is colonial, and yet so like the dear old Horae from whence we came at first. (Applause). I have seen around me as I have travelled this colony, and at Ashburton evidences of your wealth I neyer saw in my life such immense grain stores as I saw at Ashburton. I have ur j.. 3 ourae y over your country to Woodbury and elsewhere, and have seen what marvellous powers of development this colony possesses. I had beard a great deal of your debts, those mighty debts of which New Zealanders are so fond,--(Lighter)—and I must confess that since I have been here I have heard more of debt than I did in my life before The country is in debt, the churches! companies, &c., are all in debt, and 1 Was goimjr to say pretty nearly every j n : dtviduallwas in debt, bat that would be going too far. (Laughter). 1 mos t say New Zealaaders rather love debt so d I am inclined to think they thrive upon it. (Laughter). There is no doubt great enjoyment in debt something like the man who rattles 3s 61 I n - hl ®. P f ( ? cket * l i en *? e has list pawned his bed-clothes. The time comes, however, when he has to sleep, and he finds there are inconveniences attached to that system ot raising money. (Laughter.) 1 don t love debts, but I look around me I cannot help feeling that, thrown back as New Zealand may have been by certtin recklessness and increased indebtedness she has such magnificent assets in her splendid country and beautiful climate and the vigor and strength of her popula’ ti°n, that her debts are as nothing compared with these. (Loud applause) Her people mu@t jiook forward with hope content to live quietly, making haste slowly. Her young men must love the country rather than the towns, believiuv that upon the land itself they will find their best prosperity an d happiness, and 1 must not rush to be bank darks and lawyers and then, I doubt not New Zealand will go ahead and flourish knd I know of no country in this world with such a future as New Zealand, by the blessing of God may make for herself (Loud applause.) The same picture of comfort presents itself to a stranger in New Zealand as in Victoria, and in all the I

Australian colonies. I came to Australia from London, and from a very poor part of London, that Dr Fish knows very well, and there I saw infinite wretchedness,’ misery and depredation, especially among the children. I have known what it is to go into a school in London, see children so wretchedly dressed and so hungry, that m your heart you could not allow them to stay there without first feeding them. Then as to their homes, some of them were not fit for a dog to live in, and! doubt if a New Zealander would let his fnd fel 8 % 1 f! 110 ont t 0 -Australia and Isew Zealand and 1 find everywhere homes that are bright, cheery, and homely, instead of these kennels. I see children pouring out of jour schools, well dressed, cheer-bright, and happy, as mwvm the l,ttle starv ed miseries of the Old Country, as light is from darkness, it is a joy to a man’s heart to see the brightness and happiness of the youno in our colonies. But everybody is well-to-do here, or pretty nearly everybody, and I daresay when when we come to look at the poor, for there are poor here as well as in the large cities of the Australian colonies, we shall find drink has not a little to do with their poverty. Qf course in the life of the colonies there is a great deal of speculation and ■ men are unfortunate. You have the most -rascally rivers X ever saw, and they come down in flood time in a manner which is enough to upset the calculations of any -man, (laughter,) you have changes of climate’, and 1 doubt not you have many difficulties to contend with. All the better for you. But I daresay could we look into it ;wa ' should find a large percentage of the poverty was caused by drink. lam not a very ardent temperance man, perhaps it would be better if I were. I was In London, and any man with his eyes open in London must be convinced that a large per centage of the misery and poverty in London is caused by the drink traffic. I worked hard in the cauita of temperance while there. But when I came out to Australia I found that while a great deal - of drinking was done the drinking did not belong to young Australia. [ found, moreover, that temperance societies or tetptalism often stood in the place of the gospel of Christ, and I did not believe in that. I did not work hard in the temperance cause there, and did not always agree with the extreme utterances of some of the advocates of temperance there. Ido not believe there is harm in drinking a glass of beer, provided it is done in moderation, (An advocate of moderation here made the hall resound with a hearty clap, which elicited from His Lordship the exclamation, O yes 1 which fairly brought dewn the house.) The great principle of all temperance work is this. If a man wishes to give up the drink, whether for his own sake, or for the sake of others he has a perfect right to do it (applause), and the more who will do it the better for the world in general. I am thankful to think that while there are not a few vices in which the young naan are entangled there is not so'tnucb drinking among the young people and young men growing up as there was among their fathers. I now coma to another subject. I spoke just now abont children. Some years ago, when I was a curate in the city of Norwich, I was told of a; poor woman who was'in great trouble. Her son had run away to sea. 1 sent a visitor to comfort her, and the yieitor found her rooking on her chair and moaning. The visitor tried to comfort A h°f- “Ah I’*1 ’* said the old woman, ** it * is just what the wise man said, ‘ train np a child and away be goes.”’ (Lond laughter.) I had not much respect for -the wise man who, said that, for £ am perfectly convinced that a good training will, as rnle, mean a . good and steady life. A’ great deal hangs upon this question of education. What I mean by education is influence and training. Children learn more in their homes than in the State school or in any other school, good or bad. I believe what we have to strive for most of all is not to gat religion into the State school, but to get it into the homes. (Applause.) Get it there; let the children read it, learn it, mark it, from their parents ; lot it be breathed into iheir d"ily life by letting them breathe an atmosphere of religious love and truth and faith, and these children will have a religious education that surpasses any other that I know of, and it we only get religion into the homes, religion expressed in the daily lives of the parents, in the morning prayer and grace at meals, and the whole life of home, then we can dispense with it elsewhere, for the children will find it where they can best receive it. But you know they do not always fii<J it there. Then comes the Sunday School, and very often the parents send the children to Sunday scnool in order to get a good afternoon’s quiet and peace, I believe our Sunday schools may be in the future more efficient than they are now. Ido not not believe in the Sunday School being just a mere nursery for keeping children quiet, but believe in the Sunday School which is carefully educating the children in the word of God and the tenets of the Church to which it belongs. The best results can only be obtained by the Church giving its best efforts to the Sunday School. We do not want feeble teaching, dull lessons, and general disorder, but we want the very best teaching and order, and the most perfect discipline we can find if we are going to make our Sunday Schools what they ought to be, (Applause). Yes you quite approve of what 1 say, and sa some of you will be will be coming forward and saying to your vicar “ You want some teachers, here am I, send me.” Now I want to say a word or two about the Church, 1 have been brought to stand in the place of a wiser, greater, holier man than myself, a {man just twice my age. I need encouragement—ail the encouragement I can find, and 1 must say thank God 1 have receiyed encouragement since I have been here. First there are the clergy of the diocese, I have seen already good men and true in this diocese who have served well in the past and will in the days to come ; who will give their bishop loyal service, which I know I can count upon. Men who will not be angry with eir bishop when he snggeats, or, as some say, interferes. That is encouragement to me, for a bishop alone can do simply nothing in the Church of God, He must have his men around him, and I think I lave mine. But I have more than that, i expected that, but I bare found what l aid not expect, a multitude of lay rp 0 i? iDg forward lo do the ° t °u e r Ho,y church . and there IS nothing that 1 have seen that fills me with euchbopefu/oaaa for the future as 7 j 1 , llTed London and wrought in London long enough to know that if a

clergyman is to have work done he must get the young men to work. In every parish, too, 1 have found strong vestries of strong men, men coming forward to do whatever their heart and band can find to do, and it baa done me good. We want lay readers to work where the clergyman cannot work, for in some districts you would LaVa to nut the minister into a mincing machine if be was to be at every station in his district at once. We want men who will stand forward and make the Church strong, and, above all, we want young men who wi'l get young men around them and influence, them and help them for good. Then again I have been encouraged by the choir. You a'e a musical people here. 1 often told the Victorians one conld never see a little two-roomed wooden shanty in Ballarat, but wbat you would see the hind lege of a grand piano sticking out of tho back window. (Loud laughter.) Yon are a great musical people. Wherever I have gooe I hove found strong choirs. Now I verily believe in strong choirs and hearty service. First of all, there is in the cathedral at Christchurch as fine a choir as is to be found in the whole of Australia. We have a grand choir in Christchurch, and, provided the choirs always remember that the choir exists for the church, and not the church for the choir, they may do a deal of good. In great towns it is reasonable enough that we should not only have perfect choirs,. but perfect music—that is, elaborate and difficult music. But you must always remember that what you get in elaborateness and perfectness you lose in heartiness and congregational singing, I know a lady some years ago who had learned what a service ought to be, and she went down to dear old Cornwall—l love Cornwall, She went to church io the country, and there was a very fair congregation, but the service was a duet between the parson and the clerk. (Laughter.) The parson said a prayer and the clerk said " imen.” (Laughter.) She could not stand that, and, though only a poor lone woman sitting in one big box pew all by herself, she lifted up her voice and said “ Ameu ” with the clerk. Now after that service was over the clerk came down and asked her what she meant by mocking him. (Loud laughter.) That Isort of service Ido not like. But I like a beautiful service, as perfect as can be, which the congregation, although they cannot join in the sing, can listen to, and be blessed and cheered by it, or e'se I like a 'joyful noise unto the Lord, a good strong choir that can sing good honest music without any elaboration and a whole congregation joiningin and shouting with a good courage. Row, ladies and gentlemen, we can gel the one in our cathedrals and the best of our parish churches, but it is utterly unsuitable to country towns and simple choirs, [His lordship here gave some very mirthprovoking Illustrations of the way in which many small choirs attempted to render anthems and high-class music utterly beyond their powers, and he said lie would like to know what congregation there was in the world that wou'd be the better for such singing as that. He urged upon the choir to endeavor by their singing to be a means of grace to the worshippers at God’s house.] I now come to my list subject —What is the great work of the Church ? What is the great work that I, Bishop of Christchurch, am caled to do? It is not.to;run churches and collect mohey ; not to please ourselves, but to save souls, and so to set about it as our

Master did, to seek and save that which was lost. What do I mean by saving souls 1 I mean by it, so frr as I can underetand it, not the mere setting of a soul right for the world to come, but the Betting of a soul right for the world which is came, la which a man lives. \ol the ■v teaching a man how to die—that would look after itself, or God would look after jl—bot to teacli a man how to live ; not a salvation of life insurance for a naan when he gets to the other side ; but a salvation ' which belongs to a man as much to-day as ever it can belong to him for all eternity. That is my belief of salvation, and it is because I believe in a Saviour who is a present Saviour, and a living Saviour Who is ab'e to save me, not wheu I put off my fl-ieii, but save me here, when I am a poor man, lorn by conflicting feelings and divers lusts. Now because I believe that, I therefore want to help you, b;o' ther.-, to believe it. Go forth and give men a living gospel for the life that now is-. And pray God help us to do that, and give us such a grasp of that gospel tha' men want to-day, that we may know to

speak, preach, and live it too. (Applause). And lam come among you as a .bishop, and as a bishop I have a twofold influence. First, an official one ; but I have got another, and that is to realise the unity of the whole Church. I said the other day that I was a poor, homeless, parishlees, pi»n. 1 have not got a parish, but 1 have been about a good bit since then, and 1 feel no more parishless, 1 feel I have got one big parish that has come homo to my heart, and 1 must think for it, pray for it, and work for it as long as God will give me

*power and strength. (Applause.) As the -Lhrd Jesus Christ is the centre of one unity that binds us all together, so the bishop in a humble fashion binds the members of his Church together a'l round the diocese, that with the help of those around him he maj seek to gather it up to God. 1 thank you for your kind attention, and the welcome you have given me, which will long live in my heart. His Lordship resumed his seat amidst loud and. prolonged applause. All present having joined in singing the •‘Old Hundredth,” Bishop Julius, after intimating that he needed no introduction, descended to the body of the ball, where for about balfran-honc be was engaged in shaking hands and chatting with those present. Tea and erke were handed round during the interval, which was a half hour that will not soon be forgotten in Geraldine. , The proceedings terminated by the singing of the evening hymn “Glory to Thee My God this Night,” and the pronouncing of the Benediction by the bishop. The rfgeplioc was a thorough success ip every way, His Lordship making a most favorable impression, and a very great number came forward to shake bands, and have a few words with hina. Yesterday Bishop Julius made a brief stay at Temuk«, where he was the guest oflthe Rev. T. A. Hamilton. He was met there by Mr W. B. Howell and driven in company with the Rev. Jaspe Smyth to Pleasant Point.