THE BISHOP OF WAIAPU.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2712, 17 January 1910, Page 5

THE BISHOP OF WAIAPU.

CONSECRATION AND INSTAL- . LATION.

AN IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY

(Special to “Times.”) NAPIER, Jan. 16

The ceremony of consecrating and installing the Veil. Archdeacon Averill, Bishop-elect of Waiapu, took place at Napier Cathedral to-day, in the presence of a very large number of visiting divines and a congregation that has scarcely, if ever, been exceeded. Extra seating accommodation was provided in every possible way, but some persons were compelled to stand throughout the ceremony. Prior to 10 o’clock the streets were full of people intent on witnessing the ceremony. and at that time there were very many in the Cathedral. The service commenced promptly at 11 o’clock, and finished at 1.20 p.m. The ceremony, which has not been celebrated in New Zealand for 15 years, since Bishop Wilson was consecrated in January, 1895, was particularly impressive, and the vast assemblage observed it with rapt attention. This important service, in the Church of England is of a very simple character, and was carried out in strict accordance with the prescribed form. All the bishops of the Province of New Zealand, except the Bishop of Melanesia, were present. The procession was formed in the following order: Verger (Mr. D. Corbett), choir, Diocesan Registrar (Mr. Statham). Chancellor (Mr: F. Logan), verger (Mr. Haseman).

Clergy.—The Revs. Keepa, ICatene, Brown Turei, We Piha, Robjohns, Biddle, Cox, Compton, Frasor, Rawnsley, Roberts, L. Dawson" Thomas, Martin, Whitley, Davidson, Gardiner, A. F. Williams, Canons Tuke, Jordan, and Eccles, Archdeacons Ensor, Gosset, Ruddock, and Willis. Churchwardens.

The viear (Rev. Canon Mayne). the Bishop-elect (acting-chaplain Ven. Archdeacon H. W. Williams).

Bishop Williams (chaplain Rev. A. F. Gardiner). Bishop Neligan, of Auckland' (chaplain Archdeacon Willis). Bishop Wallis, of Wellington (chaplain Rev. W. F. Stent).

Bishop Mules, of Nelson (chaplain Rev. Canon Tuke).

Bishop Julius, of Christchurch (chaplain, Rev. W. W. Sedge wick). Bishop Nevill, of Dunedin, Primate (chaplain, Rev. Canon Woodtliorpe). The clergy moved to their allotted places, and the bishqps proceeded to the sanctuary. The Holy Communion was celebrated, and then Bishop Julius preached an eloquent sermon. When speaking of his late companion (Ven. Archdeacon Averill) Bishop Julius was visibly affected, and spoke with the deepest feeling. The Bishop’s text was: “I am among you, as he that serveth.” Luke xxii, 27. “This world of ours,” he commenced, “'has scarcely known a more solemn moment than that in which our Lord instituted the Holy Eucharist, to be forever celebrated to the end of time, and as a memorial of his most precious blood shedding. Surely at such a moment as that the hearts of the disciples were filled with the deepest- reverence and awe, and yet, scarce were the words spoken than there arose up strife among them as who should be accounted the greatest. The contrast is almost too violent for belief, but- there it stands; and our Lord gives them a gentle rebuke, that their way was not the way of Christ, but the way of the world. It is the world that strives for greatness. It is Christ who came not to bo ministered unto, but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many. We hear no more of that strife among the apostles throughout the long years that followed. We do read of their joy that they were accounted worthy to suffer shame for his name, and we know how for a while in the Church the highest preferment God would give was the crown of martyrdom, the noblest honor was t-lie call of suffering and the highest dignity that of service. How could it be otherwise when there dwelt- in hearts of men the thought of Him who made himself of no reputation, too'k upon him the. form of a servant, but when that visitor faded from the hearts of men, when church organisation was developed, and there were stops and grades in office in the church, then the worldly spirit began to prevail in place of the spirit of Jesus Christ. We have to thank God that it- is difficult to find in our day a prelate such as some of those of olden times. The bishops at Home of t-o-day may be no more learned than those of the past, but they are more earnest, more strenuous, more humble, and they assuredly have lookoil for service in the great office committed to them, and when we ask for the cause of the change that has been wrought in the Church, and especially in this direction, _we ask is it due to the democratic spirit? I answer, “No,” for the democratic spirit is exactly in the opposite direction. These are not days of humility. Is it by the principles of that democratic spirit and that- which comes of it, that men have been led back again to the truer spirit of the gospel? Rather, I think, the cause in that great revival of spiritual life beginning on the very humblest and

amongst the very poorest and working up until there is brought back again the mind of Jesus Christ. 1 find it once again in the influence of the colonial churches. Such men as Selwyn have unquestionably done a great deal not only in the Anglican community, in bringing the highest order of the Church in closer conformity with the mind of Christ. The American bishops, some of them rough and ready and humble, arid the missionary bishops, going forth, not to enjoyment, but to the hardest labor and self-sacrifice, have wrought a. change in the whole spirit of the Church of to-day , and so the type is changed without loss of dignity, nay, rather with gain of dignity. It is not for emolument, not-as high preferment, but as an opportunity of service that our brother is to be admitted today How can he servo mail better in the world than bv serving in the grace of God, to fulfil the mind of Christ, and of the Church in that high office that shall be committed to him. It cannot be questioned that episcopacy was universal through Christendom for nearly 15 centuries. A bishop dies, another takes his place. The word and authority go on to the day when the Master comes once more. It ought' very much to preserve the unity of the Church. I say distinctly that there is not a- party, in the Church who would not wreck it if they had a chance, if they were let alone and had their way to the full. There is something else inherent in the episcopal office. Like every ministry in the Church, it is sacramental. We see Christ, weary, lonely, disappointed, the meek and lowly servant of all. We know that behind it all is divine presence and divine power. The touch is the touch of healing, and the words are words of Christ, and the life is the life of salvation. > There is yet much more that belongs to man by the grace of God, manliness, interest, sympathy, kindly love, courage, temperance. These

are things that belong to them who teach through God’s grace. A friendship of many years and our working together in the Church of God forbid me saying much of my brother., I would not draw his thoughts away from Him in whom alone he shall find strength, and yet I cannot stand here to-day on an occasion which moves me. to the very heart ■without saying this He has held many high offices in the Church, and he held them not because lie was worthy of them, but because he knows how to make of them opportunities for service, and that is the only worth of an office of honor in the Church. He is now called to high office as bishop, and I know from, long knowledge of him that he will make of the office' an opportunity for service, and to that end be accepted the call. In so far as one may learn of the future from the past, 1 believe he comes here patient and devout, to serve all men ,to serve the learned as well as the unlearned, the rich as well as the inoor, the Maoris in their weakness and distress, the White Man in the distant bush, and to do what in him lies to serve always the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh. my brother,. my dear brother, God keep you faithful to -principle and indifferent to results, and a true and faithful servant of that great servant of all, the bishop and shepherd of our souls.” After the sermon the anthem “Call to Remembrance” (Vincent Novello) was beautifully rendered, Miss Bear and Mr. H. King taking the solo parts. The Bif hop-elect, habited in his rochet, was presented by Bishop Williams (his predecessor in the diocese) and Bishop Mules, to the Primate, who then demanded the authority for the consecration, and caused it to be read by the chancellor. The oath af obedience was then administered. The declaration was made by the Bishop-elect, and then followed the Litany. The examination of the Bishop-elect, as given in the Prayer Book, was proceeded with, and a solemn voluntary was played by the organist, Mr. Harold Griegson, while the Bishop-elect put on the remainder of the episcopal habit. The chant- “Veni Creator Spiritus” was sung. The Primate and the other bishops laid hands on the head of the elected bishop, kneeling before them. The Primate afterwards offered prayer and delivered him a copy of the Holy Scriptures. The Holy Communion service was concluded, the uewly-consecrated bishop. with others, communicating. The recessional hymn No. 545 brought the consecration service to a close. . The offertory, in aid of the Bishopric Endowment and See House Fund, realised £47. The formal installing ceremony took place at 7 p.m. The chancellor of the diccese read the document testifying to the due consecration. The vicar (Canon Mayne) accompanied by gather members of the chapter then eondiyted Bishop Averil to the cpi scorn y and dulv installed"Tul£Lx TLry rivw* "bishop then preached his first'sermon in the Napier Cathedral, and the long, -interesting, and impressive proceedings concluded.