WELCOMED HOME.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 287, 4 December 1930, Page 10

WELCOMED HOME.

ARCHBISHOP AVERILL. <A WORTHY REPRESENTATIVE' DEPUTY-MAYOR'S TRIBUTE, f 'We arc thankful to be back, and I do thank you for the splendid welcome home you have given us. I emphasise the word Tiome' because all the time we were away we have been looking to the time we would be coming back to New Zealand. We hope to give the rest of our working lives to the church in Auckland and New Zealand."

Thus said His Grace Archbishop Averill in St. Mary's Hall last evening, when responding to a welcome given Mrs. and Miss Averill and himself by the clergy and laity, of the diocese. The archbishop went to England to attend the Lambeth Conference. ' The hall was crowded to overflowing, and the archbishop was greeted with rounds of applause when he entered, accompanied by members of his family, the Vicar-General, Archdeacon Mac Murray and Mrs. Mac Murray, and members of the standing committee of Synod. Archdeacon Mac Murray, in welcoming the guests, said all had had a feeling that they, had a representative at the Lambeth Conference, who would speak in a broad, sane and distinguished way for the whole of the, Church in New Zealand. Of all the great, questions discussed, that of church unity was the one most outstanding, and. in conference His Grace was able to take a strong view.

"Equal to Difficult Task." Archdeacon SlacMurray thanked . the standing committee of the diocese for tlio help given him during the Archbishop's absence, and he wished to recognise the kindly help and sympathy of Bishop Anderson. There were difficult times ahead, but he felt sure that the Archbishbp and Mrs. Aver ill, were equal to the task, and they could rest assured that they would have the co-operation and ready help of church people. On behalf of the laity, Mr. C. J. Tunks, chancellor of the diocese, paid a tribute to the manner in which Archdeacon Mac Murray had carried out his duties. The laity had great satisfaction in the return of the Archbishop and Mrs. and Miss Averill. The Archbishop had been engaged on vqry important duties, and this was the first occasion on which New Zealand had been represented by its . Primate and Archbishop at the Lambeth Conference. His Grace was always valued for his human qualities, ani he was thus able to take his proper place as the representative of the church.

"A Splendid Citizen." "It gives me very great pleasure to be hero representing the citizens of Auckland in joining in this enthusiastic welcome home," said the deputy-Mayor, Mr. A. J. Entrican. He apologised for the Mayor, Avho was absent in Wellington. "It is not my province to refer to the special mission on which our distinguished guest was engaged during his visit to the Lambeth Conference," continued Mr. Entrican, "except to say I ! am quite sure from what I know of His Grace, that our Dominion was ably represented at that great gathering of distinguished ecclesiastics. My duty is rather to express the pleasure of the citizens of Auckland that His Grace has returned halo and hearty to resume the position which he has held for some time as the loading gentleman of the great Anglican communion. We look upon the archbishop as a great man and a splendid citizen. (Applause). The corporation are indebted to the archbishop for many fine services rendered to the Auckland people. The citizens are proud of the archbishop as a pulpit orator and a most able platform advocate and defender of national righteousness and civic sanity and good government. As citizens, therefore, we desire to offer him and his wife and daughter a very cordial welcome home." (Loud applause).

Travels in Many Lands. Archbishop Averill was greeted with rounds of applause. After saying he and his wife and daughter were glad to be home, he gave a most entertaining sketch of his experiences and travels in many lands. He had tried to be a good citizen and do his part, for his adopted country. After journeying in many land<3 he could come back and' honestly say that New Zealand was one of the best countries in the whole _ world. Everywhere he and Mrs. Averill had visited they had been met with hospitality and kindness, and especially was this noticeable in California and Canada. It would not be fitting at that stage to go into the details of the conference. Some id'ea of his impressions had been given in the Press, and he would take the .opportunity to explain the results of the-great gathering on future' occasions.. \ Referring to the manner in whicfr the Archbishop of Canterbury had presided at the conference, Archbishop Averill said it was indeed a big "task for one man to control 305 bishops, all wanting to talk, but the job had been, well accomplished. „ ;. - .

and the RlOl. After telling, of their travels in many European countries, Archbishop Averill eaid they were in Paris when the R.lOl disaster occurred. "It was a terrible misfortune," eaid His Grace,-"but I think that the sympathy of France was a won. derful thing. That sympathy has done a great deal to bring the two nations together again. It is accidents and sympathy like that that does more to binding nations "than all your treaties." (Applause.)