THE BISHOP OF WELLINGTON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5028, 17 May 1895, Page 3

THE BISHOP OF WELLINGTON.

BISHOP AND MRS WALLIS AT masterton.

Lastevening St.Mattliew's Schoolroom was crowdod with members of the Church of England, residing iu this district met together for the purpose of welcoming Bishop Wallis and Mrs Wallis, on their first visit to this district. The schoolroom was prettily decorated and the platform comfortably furnished, tho whole presenting .1 very pleasant contrast to the cold wet weather outside the building. The reception accorded tliem was a cordial one, and appeared to be most thoroughly appreciated. The Her. A. 0. Yorke, Vicar of St. Matthew's, in introducing the Bishop said all wished His Lord- . 1 ship a hearty welcome, and referred Si to tho warm welcome he personally had received when arriving at Masterton, as a guarantee of what his 1. people would extend to their Bishop. ■Me also reminded the Bishop, that !Ait his own College, lie had entered through the Gate of Humility, to the first Court; passed through the Gate of Virtue, into tliesecond ; and so out through the Gate of Honour, to tho Senate House, where His Lordship had received his Doctor's Degreo. He (Mr Yorke) remembered the time when the Gate of Humility existed as a very humblo erection, upon the foundations of which the

authorities had erected a most- palatial Court. Still they had preserved the Gate of Humility, and as His Lordship came to them in all the dignity of a Bishop's office, they were sure lie had entered upon it through the Gate of Humility ; they were confident be would pass through tho Gate of Virtue, and could certainly promise him a hearty welcome at jfio Gate of Honor. Again welconrHis Lordship, Mr Yorke sat aown amidst applause. Bishop Wallis, who was warmly received, thanked Mr Yorke for his pleasant welcome and kindly allusion to his old College. Mr Yorke's remarks were really more kind than they knew, because their Vicar had forgotten to say that the Gate of Humility was kept locked, and had been termed by some the Gate oi' Pride. (Laughter). He had hoped to have v.sded Masterton earlier, and when on the other coast he had looked at the hills, and wondered many times wlurt was on the other Bido of them. He had now found out, and was much pleasedwithwhat he saw. He thanked them for their hearty reception of Mrs Wallis and himself, and felt that the welcome extended was indeed sincere. It was cheering to find srcli energy and vigour in church roattersas lie found existed at Masterton, and he hoped they would still progress. Before long he hoped to again visit Master{t and see more of the people of Matthew's, Referring to the :stion of religion in schools His Lordship said it was not for him tp say how, but the admission of simple Bible lessons in their schools would have to come. At present this was the one tlaw in New Zealand's splendid educational system, and they were quite willing to meet their dissenting brethren fairly on this ground, without trying to urge the admission of Church teaching. Ho was pleased at the action of the School Committee in permitting Mr Yorko to teach in the School after School hours, and had read the papers bearing 011 the matter—when dealt with by the Committee—with much interest. He wasofopinion that 1 the Church in New Zealand was even better governed than in England, as laymen had votes and took an active part in tho election of representatives to Synod, and in controlling other matters. Jtwas Willis reason that enrolment papers had been circulated for members of the Church to sign; not, as some supposed, for the piirposo of taking a Church census. He again thanked all present, and Mr Yorke for their kind reception, and assured all of Mrs Wallis' real regret that illness prevented bor being present. Ho assurod them that this regret was sincere and not meroly a conventional one. However, Mrs Wallis would be glad to sec any who might like to call oa her at the Vicarage to-morrow (Friday) afternoon.

Bishop Wallis sat down amidst applause, aud the Rev. A. 0. Yorko then called for three cheors for the Bishop and one for Mrs Wallis; which were heartily given. His Lordship then left the platform and exchanged a few kindly words with all present. During the evening, at inter\m, refreshments were handed round, and vocal items contributed by Messrs Mondows, D, R. Robinson, and R. Langton, The ladies presiding over the refreshment tables were the Mesdames Chennells, R, Erown, D. R. Robinson, S. I'. Beard, and Pinkerton, and the Misses Keeling, Mason, and Purser. The decorating and arrangement of the room was chiefly managed by the Sunday School boys under the direction of Messrs R. Brown and Robinson, others also lending valuable aid. Ample provisions were provided for the social by the ladies of the congregation, and before Iho gathering of last evening broke up, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded all helpers, on the motion of the Rev. A. 0. Yorko.