CHURCH IN MELANESIA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 27, 2 February 1931, Page 5

CHURCH IN MELANESIA.

MAKING ITS CONTRIBUTION.

VISITING BISHOP'S ADDRESS. "It i« the greatest possible fallacy to imagine that anyone has the necessary qualifications for a missionary, sau Dr F M. Molvneux, Bishop of -Melanesia, when preaching at St. Matthew s Anglican Church last evenmg. added that the native, m his childlike way, regarded the white man as the fount of wisdom, and after seeing hun for a few days, found enough to talk about for the 'next six months. therefore, said the Bishop the Chuich s send out none less than the best to work in the mission field. It was untortunate that at present the mission could not extend its work as there were still groups which European missionaries could only visit about twice a yeai. The text upon which the Bishop preached was the vision _of St. John, of all nations bringing their glory to tlie heavenly Jerusalem. The preacher saul that all peoples, even the most backward, had each something to contribute to the Kingdom of Heaven. The infant Church of Melanesia, with its man? weaknesses and defects due to.childhood, was beginning to show signs ot making its contribution to the glory ot the kingdom. He considered that the Christian Melanesian understood better than the European the vision of St. John. The farther one went from civilisation, the better seemed to be men's understanding of the wonders of God's works.

VICAR OF ST. LUKE'S

Archbishop Averill yesterday morning instituted the Rev. R. G. Coats as "\icar of St. Luke's Parish. Mount Albert, in the presence of a. large congregation. Archdeacon G. MacMurrav assisted at the service, and the Rev. J. M. Beaufort. headmaster of King's School, acted as chaplain to the Archbishop. Mr. Coats had been vicar of the Church of the Epiphany for nine years prior to being appointed to his new charge after a trip to the Old Country.