BISHOP OF WELLINGTON

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10482, 20 November 1911, Page 5

BISHOP OF WELLINGTON

VISIT TO ST. MATTHEW'S PARISH.

Yesterday, Has Lordship the Bishop of IWeMgton paid his first epis>copai visit to St. Matithew'is Parish. The HbOiy Oommiunioau was celebrated at 8 o'clock, when special intercession' was made for the' confirmation* candidates. Ait eleven o'clock the Bishop administered the rite of confirmation. He based this address to the candidates on the words of St. Paul, 2 Oar., XII. 9-0. From a wiorilfclly point of view:, he isaid, St. Paul (bjad lost much through Ms conversion', bait this, the great Apostle, dad in no wa.y regret. He had gained muchi and had he been asked at the end /of his Me wthalt was. the greatest gain that had come to Mm he would have answered "Power." He had, been' strengthened to db> all thing® though, Cihirifct, Wihb strengthened him'. The same gift' might be ours, the strength of Jesus Christ, .and this same' gift was what we most needed. For most of the sin in ttlue world was due not to the fact that men! Sbved sin, rather than j righlteousmesis, but because they I were .weak. And' in this lay the I, meaning of the confirmation service, | for we had met to seek from Gfod the strengthening power of His life-giv-iing Spirit. In. the afternoon the Bishop visited Taueru, where another confirmation service was KeM. He spoke to the candidates there of the need of active t and' living membership in the society of Jesus Christ-. St. Luke, far thie second chapter of the Acts, g'av« u,& the life and l practice of the early Qihisltfcuis. "They cowtki.ued steadfastly in' the Apostles' doctrine and, flaffiawiship in the breaking of bread and in tine prayers." None of us could Hive aflJone. We were social! beings, dependent .upon' one another. Jesus Qhaust had fiewmed a society I whose standard wlas His Owtn.perfecti life, and which should be. filled with Has Owttu Almighty Power. Confirmr atioii' admitted us to the full privileges and Tespoaisi'bifitie's of this Society, and the Bishop extorted his hearers to resolve that they wmiM ever continue- in full and" living membership in the Christian teaching and brotheirhood, in the Holy C'on>munion and pmblie worship. la tlhei evening the. Bishop prteacilledl at St. Matthew's Ohiurch, on. St. Luke, XI., 24-26. H*> pointed, out the inselessnteßis of negative principles ■ only in the life of .the natfion and the j man.. It was not sufficient tto cast I out the evil spirit, the life and 1 tlhe j soul must he filled with goodness, i otherwise the evil would • return in greater forw and power. He closed i his addirei&s by an appeal especially 'to those who had been conhVmed I that imorniiig to beware of idle thoughts, listless 'hands am'cl empty ! hlearts, and to ftlU their lives wnltllii I goodness. .

Afiter thie service, tlhie Bishop spoke to men on the* p]nce of serviioe in. tlhle Kimgdbin of Christ, amd; ad>mittied six men into thie Ghartah (of Emgramd; Men's Staeieity.