HOME AGAIN.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14275, 10 February 1912, Page 2

HOME AGAIN.

THE VICAR OF ST. LUKE'S

A hearty welcome home awaited the Rev. . \V. Wedgwick and Mrs fcjeugnick on their return to Christchurch yesterday, after an absence of exactly one year. They were met at Lyttelton by a number of friends, and at tho railway station in Christchurch by many more. At tho vicarage they were received by another contingent, whose sentiments were expressed on a red and white streamer displayed over the path, "Welcome Home." The vicar and Mrs Sedgwick have returned in excellent health, and, liko most New Zealanders, are glad to be homo once more. '

The Rev. MrSed<rwick chatted to a "Press" representative about his trip, vhich he said had been of a most interesting and enjoyable description. The voyage Home was made via Suez, and the good Orient steamer seemed to escape all the storms that raged and winds that blew. After tho fine voyage it was rather disconcerting to drop into tiie midst of a remarkable enow.storm which descended on Kent early in April. The scow lay to a depth cf a foot, and the etorm was accompanied by t a tremendous wind. It was a most peculiar visitation for that season of the year.

Air and Mrs Sedgwick did not go to London for the Coronation celebrations, but they had the- good fortune to be present at the - Kind's Thanksgiving Service at St. Paul's. Thero was a vast congregation awaiting the. arrival, of their Majesties, and the cheering which accompanied tho royal progress could be heard in the Cathedral." The effect,' as the cheering sounded nearer and nearer, was wonderful, and at last it-came right into the Cathedral. This inspiring reception was.- heightened by tho fanfare from the silver trumpets tchoiiig and re-echoing through the historic cathedral.

it is hen years v since. Mr Sedgwick vuitud London, and the changes that nine has.wrought roado a great imprps■aun on him. The traffic and the noise isiado by it, were to him simply appalitig. Everything s.eemed to bo carried by buses and motor-buses, which macle a frightful racket. Much of the heavy, limber work was now being dono by motor power. „ * ■ ■

. The week-end trip seems to have become an established and almost universal custom at Home. People rushed Out of London for a week end, and camo back on Monday, many of them auite unfit for work. An employer told Mr Sedgwick that he could hardly look for any work from his staff on Mondays. Sunday was not the universal day of rest that it used to be in England. The pursuit of pleasure seemed to bo the principal aim even of those who remained in London over the weekend. Tho clergy were complaining very much about tho difficulty in finding Sunday school teachers, and some of tho city church congregations were affected by the-week-end habit.

"I would not say that England is b&corning less religious," said Mr Sedgwick.,. "The line of demarcation between the Chnrrh and the* world is beinc more, strongly drawn. I noticed, especially in the country, a very deep religious spirit. Men no longer* go to church because it is the thing to do. Most of those who go are intensely in earnest. The number of iron attending church is more than when I left England ten years ajzo. The increase is largely due to the tremo m lotis movement on the r-art of the Church of England j\Ws Society." Mr Sedewiek said tb»\he did not henr a great deal abrtiifc Rationalism at Home. It was said thnt in some of the collets ni Cn.'»l>ndqo there vrere s+.-orig'Ratinri-nh'tic sections, hnt in the same coll«qps there -werp who were enin missionary work. The ereat Inboiir trouM™, o f TeoPT ,t date were (referred to. Mr rernnrkfd that he was voi within tV jctml rnd'ws of the ,-trike. but he lenmed afterwards t"H->t the ar+ii«»! strikers.behaved ."dwrrnhlv. and tW tho riotine and damn"- wns done hv the honVpn element. Wh*€ he had seen at Home had mnde him a convert to oompnWy trainincr. There was vert M+le disc ; i)line at Home—in foot, he <k)nhted whether there ns much more thnn there was here. There was litt'e discipline in the State schools, the masters heing afraid to take any action to establish their authority. There was very little discipline—if one could t>se the erpression—between employer and employee. The hooligan element and its capacity for mischief, had creatod a very strong impression on his mind, and the only way to curb their excesses would be to put them under some form of training. Mr Sedgwick had the pleasure of meeting the Bishop of London and *.he Archbishop of York, both of whom evinced a friendly interest <n New Zealand. Ho also met the Rev. H. S. "IVoollcombo, who will be remembered hy Christclmrch friends. Hβ has been made domestic chaplain to the Archbishop of York. The Church at Home. Mr Sedjjwkk stated, had undergone a levelling up process. The apeing ot Home had gone to a very considerable extent, and a better balance was being preserved, rather than the extreme High and Low Churches continuing en their own way.