HOMELY FIGURE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 142, 17 June 1936, Page 12

HOMELY FIGURE.

PRIMATE OF IRELAND. ARRIVAL THIS MORNING. ■ff FAMED SCHOLAR AND AUTHOR Scholar aiul author with a worlcl-wide reputation, as well as being a leading figure in the Church of England, the Most Rev. C. F. D'Arcy, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland, arrived by the Wanganella this morning from Australia. He was accompanied by liis chaplain. Canon E. H. BlackwoodPrice, and will be in New Zealand for two weeks before leaving for home via the Panama Canal on July 9.

Archbishop D'Arcy went to Australia especially to take part in the centenary of Bishop Broughton, the celebrations for wliicli marked the 100 years of the episcopacy in Australia. He. has come to New Zealand for a complete rest. Though so eminent a man, the Archbishop was homely of dress, approach ajul speech. He wore no clothes which might have distinguished him as a churchman from those about him. His first words, spoken in a voice which belied his years, were: "I was hardworked in Australia, but after the trip across, in health I'm flourishing." [ While in Australia, he said, he preached twice a day, and that was only a small part of his engagements. He gave lectures and addresses. He spoke at the Sydney University to a distinguished audience. And after, to fill in time, he decided to come across to New Zealand for a holiday. While in Ireland he had heard of the scenic charms of the country, and here, he thought, lie would be able to rest. He was not going to have many engagements, and he was going to preach only once, in Auckland at St. Mary's. From what he said it was apparent that he had come too early to appreciate the beauties of tlie country. He spoke of the harbour and the city, but most lie looked forward to the rest he was going to enjoy. Church in Australia. He did not have much time to give to the would-be interviewer, for so distinguished a man was bound to have many people either waiting to see him, or, having seen him, waiting for him to leave the ship. But he found time to say that he was satisfied with the spirit of the Church in Australia. "And what of youth and the Church ?" he was asked.

"All right," was his brief reply. "We had crowded congregations, and a considerable proportion was of young people."

But it was just -\\»hen he was about to leave the vessel that he touched on a subject which lay near his heart, and he paused with one foot on the step leading into the lounge, where his friends were waiting, nnd one on the deck outside, to speak of it. Lecture on Bishop Berkeley. Ho said he had given a lecture to the University in Sydney on Bishop Berkeley, the famous metaphysician, contemporary to Addison and Steele, in relation to modern criticism. He mentioned "Mind and Matter," the latest book of Professor Stout, the well-known psychologist; and he said that therein lay much which might influence an opinion on the famous thinker of another age. Other tilings tlie Archbishop said about philosophy. wliHi showed how important he considered the subject. And then he left; but it was after he had gone that one remembered that he himself, while at Trinity College. Dublin, had been a first science scholar and Gold Medallist in mental and moral philosophy.

He was met at the boat by the Most ~?\ov. A. W. Averill, Primate and Archbishop of New Zealand, by the Rev. Canon 'W. FAncourt, the Venerable Archdeacon G. Mac Murray, the Rev. L. E. Cartridge and Colonel J. E. Bartori', assistant diocesan secretary. The Government put a motor car at his disposal for the day. He Is staying with the Archbishop, and his cliaplin with Canon Fancourt.

In view oT his interest in the Dilworth School, the chairman of the Dilworth Trust Board, Archdeacon Mac Murray, has invited his Grace to visit the school. This visit will take place to-morrow-afternoon. He was named in the will of the. late Mr. James Dilworth as a person to whom yearly reports of the school should be sent. Dr. D'Arcy will preach at St. Mary's to-morrow evening.

The visiting Primate has shown himself to be a brilliant man. He was born in Dublin in 1859, and was educated .it the High School and at Trinity College, Dublin. He was first science scholar and Gold Medallist in mental and moral philosophy. He took first class in Divinity, and his B.A. in 1882. He graduated M.A. in 1889, B.D. in 1802 and Doctor of Divinity in 1901. Tho honour of an honorary D.D. was conferred on him by the Oxford University in 1920. Hi 3 Church Career. He was made a priest in 1885. From 1892 to 1903 he was examining chaplain to the Bishop of Down, and in the latter year he was appointed to the bishopric of CTogner, and subsequently he held the bishoprics of Ossory, Ferns, Leighlin and of Down and Connor. It "was from there that he went as Archbishop of Dublin, and in 1920 he was raised in his. present position.

He is the author of many eminent works, some re)igious, some philosophical and some religio-philosophieal. Some of these have a world reputation. He has been select preacher at the Dublin University; Donnellan lecturer and special preacher at the Universities of Cambridge, Oxford, Glasgow and Durham.