PARISH JUBILEE.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18674, 24 April 1926, Page 6

PARISH JUBILEE.

LINCOLN'S FIFTIETH YEAR. OLD HISTORY RECALLED. The Jubilee of Lincoln parish was celebrated yesterday afternoon, when the Eight Kev. Dr. Campbell WestWatson, Bishop of Christchurch, exvicars of the parish, and clergy from all. parts of the diocese attended a service in St. Stephen's Church. The vicar, the Eev. C. L. Wilson, conducted the service, the Kev. Jasper Sinyth officiating as bearer of the BishopV'Pastoral Staff, and the, Kev. F. B. Redgrave reading the Lesson. The service commenced with the singing of the National Anthem, and the hymn "All People that on Earth do Dwell," followed by prayer, and Psalm 84, "O, How Amiable are Thy Dwellings." The Lesson was taken from the Revelation of St. John. The Bishop took as his text the twelfth chapter of the First Book of Samuel: "Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpch and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." His Lordship said that he was glad to bo privileged to be present on this glorious day of the celebration of the Jubilee of the parish. It had been pleasing for him .to go round with the vicar that morning and. to see the different churches, all so lovingly kept and carefully eared for. He had been very glad to see that the present generation was keeping the work of the founders of the parish sacred. There wore those present who could remember the beginnings of The parish, and looking back they could no doubt remember times both bright and cloudy, time 3 which had seemed dark and difficult, but during which the brave men and women refused to be discouraged, 80 that to-day they were able to meet in a: spirit of thankfulness to God for His blessings and grace. Ebenezer was the thought in their minds, and a great feeling of thankfulness to Him for His help in tho past. The gathering on that Jubilee day would be a memorial to their experionco of God and His grace. That day they must offer themselves to God, both as a parish' and individually, to aid Him in. the great work He .was doing, and in the greater work He wanted to do. The hymns, "O, God of Jacob" and "Glorious Thiijgs of Thee are Spoken," and a prayer concluded the service, his Lordship pronouncing the .Benediction. The Garden Party. After the church service, a garden party was held in the pleasant grounds of the vicarage, where over a hundred parishioners assembled. The Yicar, the Rev. C. L. Wilson, welcomed the Bishop and his family. He said that the jubilee of the parish wfis really the most important celebration that could be held—much more important than a centenary—for there were many there,: including Mrs Sam Pearson, who couljl clearly recollect the very beginnings of th© parish 50 years back. In that half century the parish had grown and spread considerably, a tribute to the glory of God. Dr. F. W. Hilgendorf, People's War-. den, expressed pleasure, at being present at'the jubilee celebration. He welcomed the Bishop and Mrs West-. Watson, on behalf of tho parishioners, and hoped that they would have a verv happy residence in New Zealand. l*he Rev. T. Jasper Smyth, who was Vicar of the parish from 1903 to 1913, said that he. had intense pleasure in being present. In the 50 years of the parish's life there , had been 13 vicars, and he could claim the largest term, having-been there for 10 years. Tho, late Archdeacon Stocker had been vicar for four years, and a more lovable man he had never met. Mr Smyth said that he was now in his 62nd year/of/fler-:. vice to God, and he thanked tlie Ai-.' mighty for it, and hoped that he would be permitted to die in harness. The Rev. F. B. Redgrave saad that" he now occupied the somewhat unique position of belonging to six parishes. Mrs Redgrave and he would always re-, gard Christchureh as their own diocese, however, as ho had been' ordained there, and at Lincoln they had spent the first five years of their married life. He had been pleased to observe that so many of those who had been children wheh he was in the parish, had taken their part in the church's work, no less than eight of the present vestry having been in the Sunday School during his residence in Lincoln. He thanked the parishioners for their invitation to him to be present, and assured them of the real joy it gave him to meet so many old friends onco more. Mr H. M. Bannelir, secretary of St. Saviour's Orphanages, also spoke, commending the generosity of the Lincoln parishioners, who had always been so generous in their bounty to the St. Saviour's children. He congratulated them on the celebration of the jubilee, and wished them continued success and prosperity. . ' , The Bishop said that those present would lonnr remember this day of "happiness and would always associate the beautiful sunshine with the jubilee of the parish. He congratulated the older parishioners' • on their splendid record . of unselfish service in handing down so fine a tradition to the present generation.