NEW BISHOP OF MELANESIA

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27368, 5 June 1954, Page 2

NEW BISHOP OF MELANESIA

CONSECRATION AND ENTHRONEMENT IMPRESSIVE SERVICES AT HONIARA • (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 4. An altar decorated with red hangings and silver candle-sticks, clergy in White surplices and red stoles, bishops in their copes and mitres, and the Primate of New Zealand (Archbishop Owen), wearing a red chimere, were among the most impressive features of the recent- consecration of the Rt. Rev. Alfred Thomas Hill, as Bishop of Melanesia at Honiara, according to the Bishop of Dunedin (the Rt. Rev. A. H. Johnston), who returned from Sydney today with Archbishop Owen. The copsecration service was conducted by Archbishop Owen, assisted by the Bishop of New Guinea, theBishop of Dunedin, and Bishop Hand, of New Guinea. The Rev. A. Piva and two other Melanesian priests acted as chaplains to Archbishop Owen, and each other bishop was attended by a Melanesian priest as chaplain. Sixty native clergy were present, with several European clergy from the mission station at Honiara; Bishop Johnston said, and the congregation was estimated at 2500. This included the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific (Sir Robert Stanley), and other European residents of Honiara. Big Congregations The services began at 5 a.m. at three outdoor altars, Bishop Johnston said Many hundreds of Melanesians came to make their Communion. The consecration service began at 7 a.m. Previously, Bishop Hill was vested in cope and mitre—a gift from , the old boys of Pawa School. The sermon was preached by a New Zealander, the Rev. C. E. Fox, a veteran member of the mission staff, who has been in Melanesia for more than 50 years. The litany was sung in the Mota tongue by a Melanesian priest. Another Melanesian priest carried the Primatial Cross. In the evening, the newly-consecrated Bishop was enthroned in All Saints’ Church, the scene of his consecration, which is now to be his cathedral.

The Rev. J. E. Edwards acted as dean, receiving the new Bishop and placing him in his throne, where he received the allegiance of both clergy and laity. Bishop Hill preached the sermon.

All the music was sung unaccompanied m English, said Bishop Johnston. At evensong, the hymns were sung in English by an even larger congregation than attended the consecration. The church had open walls, and there were probably more outside than in it. The native people had come from all parts of the diocese, said Bishop Johnston. They had travelled hundreds of miles—some in the mission ship, the Southern Cross, and some by canoe. Archbishop Owen left for Wellington tonight, but Bishop Johnston remained m Auckland.