THE ANGLICAN MISSION.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13869, 21 October 1910, Page 6

THE ANGLICAN MISSION.

RECEPTION BY BISHOP JULIUg. The missioncrs from England v.-Jio ' ' aro now in Christchurch were given aa official reception in the Cathedral last evening by his Lordship the Bishop of ChrisU'hui-ch. A very lively interest was manifested on tho occasion, and tlere was a large congregation. As tho processional hymn, "Seldiera if tho Cross, Arise!" was being sung, the missioners, preceded by tho choir and escorted by the local clergy t.nd lay members of the- Catliedr.nl Chapter, entered the Cathedral. 'Iho jiroces&ion passed up the centre aisle, tho missioncrs then being accommodated in the front, seats, while tho others proceeded to their accustomed places. Psalm 51, "Miserere- mci. .D;>us," was sung, and this wax followed by special pinyer. Tho missioners verc afterwards presented to tho Bishop, each one being called upon by name. Thy jwtany tor tho mission -was then sung. The subject of the Bishop's adarc&s v.as from Isaiah 41, verso 3: ."1 will {.our water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon tho dry ground." Sams <>! them, ho said, knew what it was to ' dvell in a thirsty land, where rain had I een withheld, and everything on ih© f.urfaco of tho ground suffered iv consequence. They knew, however, that there were seeds and grass below, waitiTig for tho quickening impulse of rain from the* heavens, and that when tho rain did come there was life read? to manifest itself abundantly. It was the sense of spiritual drought■ that lvul been occupying their wind's for months past, and they had a strong hopo that tho message of tho mission would cause growth to spring anew. It wns a dry land, and they had sent thoir message, to their brothers in England of the old Mother Church to come out and help. He knew well the great difficulties which beset many of tho vicars in Xe\r Zealand, and he did not think that any body of men could do their work better, or more prayerfully and faithfully, than the clergy of this province and diocese* had done. He knew that they nact striven with cndlcsis difficulties, and how Croat tho trsk was that had been committed to them. He know how tiirv had felt the isolation of the country districts, and how they had lnrko.l 7"i ' sympathy and power that oair.o '"i >.'i the old * English* associations, h ■*-•» hard to spend labour and yea. : ca-ti'ii; seed into unfriendly soil, Aviiilc it seemed that, the very skies ivJ '>od their waters, and tho land vrin> t'lv. There had boon for years past a fallingofT in the recognition of the Lord's Day, and the habit of worship. Tlio lend was dry religiously, but in *"&• never-ceasing hunger for wealth and amusement the people did not know they -were thirsty; bnt they ■nero searching., unknown to themselves, tor - that which alone could satisfy thoir hearts. The mission had been a- call to prayer all over Now Zealand, and t"ie preparation for it had been one of its - greatest blessings. It had been dis>covered that there were souls waiting . for the water, and dry grounds waiting for the floods. The people who were entangled by doubt we're not hopeless, - and those who v»r© bound by em were not indifferent. The missioners camcoa the strength of a Divine promise, and . that, and nothing else, must be their encouragement. They camo to bring men to n decision for Christ, and to • satisfy the desires and longings that i had been in many hearts. Tho Bishop then gave tho miseioners authority to fulfil their office ia the diocese, and commended them to the prayers of the congregation. The r ceremony w-e.s exceedingly impressive, ]' pjid certainly ! did not fail to influence ,' those who witnessed it. Tho service concluded with the Benediction and tia recessional hymn, "Tho Call to Anns'iS' Sounding." j