THE MELANESIAN MISSION.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20734, 20 December 1932, Page 13

THE MELANESIAN MISSION.

I WELCOME TO BISHOP , ! BADDELEY. GATHERING AT CHURCH HOUSE. Many clergy and representatives of lay organisations of the Church, of England gathered at Church House yesterday afternon to meet the~* Bishop of Melanesia, the "Eight Eev. H. W. Baddeley. Archdeacon P. B. Haggitt opened the gathering with prayer and read several apologies for absence. Bishop "West-Watson welcomed Bishop Baddeley, stating that although they had known Mm only a few days they had not been slow to realise that he was an eminently suitable man to take up the difficult and arduous work in Melanesia. To experience his first day in bed since the Armistice, and especially when just landed- in a new country, had been distinctly unfortunate. "You will all agree with me, I think, that Bishop Baddeley is a man whom one can quickly make a friend," he said. A Difficult Work. "I am exceedingly grateful to a great many people in New Zealand who wrote to me in England," said Bishop Baddeley, "and I am sure that tthey will follow my work in the Islands with their interest and their prayers. I feel a great joy at being called to- do what is a tremendous job. I know full well that it will be difficult, but I have a wonderful heritage to enter. " While the Melanesian Mission is dear to a lot of people here, it is only a name to a great many elsewhere. I was present at the launching of the Southern Cross at Cowes, and also at the ceremony at Greenwich. She was a fine vessel, and there was great enthusiasm in England over her. The dedication of the ship drew agreat deal of interest, and the newspaper publicity was most extensive," said the Bishop. "I know that any venture of a nature such as that upon which I am launching needs the personal touch, and therefore I trust that all the kind" 'friends of Melanesia in Christchurch will keep their hearts open to me arid my work." Gift from Bible Classes, Mr L. F. De Berry, on behalf of the Boys' Bible Class Union, said that the viist of the Bishop had given inspiration to renewed endeavours for the Melanesian Mission. The boys had heard of the wreck of the Southern Cross, and had expressed the utmost concern. But they felt that there was no value in a mere expression of regret and had therefore made up their minds to go into the question of Easter hampers. He experienced the greatest pleasure, he said, in banding, over a cheque from the Union for £l2 16s for Easter hampers or any other object of which the Bishop approved. Bishop Baddeley expressed his pleasure at the interest talcen in the Mission by the boys.