BISHOP JULIUS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14325, 10 April 1912, Page 7

BISHOP JULIUS.

A FAREWELL GATHERING.

Bishop Julius and Mrs Julius, who are about to leave New Zealand on a bo'idav trip to England, were en.ertaincd at a social gathering by member.* of ihe _>ioccsan Synod aud other Diocesan bodies in the Christ'» College Library yesterday afternoon. Dean Harper presided.

The Dean said the clergy would rej grct very much tho absence of tho j Bishop and Mrs Julius from the diocese. I and would look forward with pleasure jto their return. The bishop was a j most hard worker in the dioec.e, and j was ready at all times to help tho I clergy in all emergencies, and was ready to show them every kindness and sympathy. Mrs Julius had always taken'the keenest interest in tbe clergy, and had always been forward in a great many good works. The clergy would miss both Bishop and Mrs Julius .very much indeed. At tho same time, the clergy were glad that tbo Bit-hop and Mrs Julius would have the opportunity of taking a well-earned hol.day, and no doub. tho Bishop's visit to England would bo productive ot much good to the diocese. lie hoped that they would havo a pleasant holiday and safe voyage to the Old Country! and a safe- return. The clergy "would heartily welcome them bo.h b_e„ again to the diocese to take up the important -work which belonged to their high position.. Mr H. Slater, Chancellor of the Diocese, on behalf of the but v. also expressed his best wishes to Bishop and I Aire Julius for a pleat.ant voyage and ! safe return. He believed that it was j a good thing for one in-the high notation, of a Bishop to visit Eng). ad at intervals. The Bishop was leaving at ! a time when they were passing through ' |an epidemic of anonymous. writings. Whether it be in respect of the Bishop of the dioc.se or General Godley. who had in hand tho carrying out of the beneficent system ol universal service, ho could not express too strongly his abhorrence of those who endeavoured j anonymously to stir up strife and to | escape just retribution by withholding i , their names. The laity knew and i recognised the very many difficulties \ attaching to the h'gii office of j Bishop. They felt sure that the Bishop ! always had the. best in t crests of every I parish at heart, and that a priest, so j long as he faithfully did his duty, J would receive tho Bishop's support. So the laity had left tho anonymous writers to rave as "they would. He trusted that Bishop and "Mrs Julius would return in good health and renewed vigour to labour in the diocese for many years to conic. (Loud, applause.) Bishop Julius, who was received with loud applause,' said the kindly farewell accorded to Mrs Julius and himself ( came to them very happily, and gave 'him the assurance that with all the~d;fficulties of.his position he yet retained, and hoped, lie might always retain, the j confidence of his people, and, above all, | of his brother clergy. He was not go- • ing to refer to any matters of controversy. They were not always easy to travel through, but bo could only .say these two things. First, that however men might differ from the action he took, very few of them knew tho basis of that action, however ready they j might be to pronounce an opinion upon it, and, secondly, that ho adhered most ! firmly to that belief which he laid down ] long ago, that party positions and [ opinions had no weight with him, and never would. (Applause) It was only with a great deal of reluctance j that lie had decided to embark upon his j coming journey. He realised strongly _ that a Bishop, perhaps above everybody, j was apt to fall into a groove and become j parochial in bis ways of thought and j action, and it .was-absolutely necessary i for him-to refresh himself at times by j converse -with the greater world oiit; : >!'.. j It was. most helpful to have direct con- ; verso with the loaders, or our time in j the world and in the Church, and it j was very . largely with that object in i ■.new that,he -was• taking the journey | Home. "He thanked them all most > heartily for their kindness that after- j noon, and it was very good of them to j say they would miss him. It was, very pleasing to know bo was leaving 1 his.diocese in rood bands. „ The Dean j would'carry on such of his work as he • was able, and he would have the earnest ' and hearty support of tho archdeacon* ; and clergy and tho laity. He could ■ pay that no Bishop had received moro j hearty support and faithful service than | he had received in this diocese. But ! he did not forget that the kindly greet- j ings and farewell were extended to one j more worthy of them than be was. If ; it were not for his wife he would be I worth very little indeed, for it was her ; help and sympathy that bad hold him I tip for the last forty years. He hoped ! to come back refreshed and better able j to carry on his work durin„ such time '■ n.i he might be permitted" to servo iv j the diocese. (liotid api.lausc.*) • Tea, was served, and the Bishop and ; Mrs Julius were accorded an individual | farewell by those present before tho | gathering broke up. . j