A BISHOP'S FAREWELL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 949, 17 October 1910, Page 11

A BISHOP'S FAREWELL.

DR. NELIGAN'S MESSAGE TO HIS DIOCESE. , (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) ;' iiv ~,Auckland, October 14. . Under ' 0 date October 14, 1910, the .Anglican Bishop of Auckland' (Dr.' Ncli-; gan) sends ; th'e following farewell.message. Jo, .the people: of..his diocese :-r.::; ': "Dear people, I . want to sond.. you alike■ from .'Mrs. Neligan and:myself a message before .we • sail from ithe city, and idiocese wherein God has given, us countless, blfessirigs;', _ : ; past 7J .years. We' have, tried to write to or see as many of you as we oould, and ( thus -. personally ■ .thank, yoii for your' brave;and kind words to us. We say good-bye .to you and our work here, with sincere Sorrow. You and the work, will .' ever be remembered ill prayors. As we look ■ bad; we* are conscious of many failures iri v ;many.;'Mirections! We -ask Heavenly ' Father . to ■ pardon tliom. Ho 'Is v not extreme to: mark what; is dono amiss,' and wo know'that you, bur proved .friends,' -will belieVe that we: have just honestly tried, to do our best in, the work to which God has called us. During these past five months Mrs. Neligan and I have 1 been greatly ■ strengthened.; of God - through the kindly words of countless friends all;;; over. the '; diocese. Tho women of the, 1 diocese tell me what Jfrs. ' Neli-gan'-s : influence , and work meant . to. themj . and. .that. they, knew slio was their friend. The men toll nie a thing over-and over again' from all parts: of the.'diocese : 'that makes mo further thankful. They regarded me as their friepd. Jlore than these two facts' no. mail can well want as eauso for thanksgiving. ; ..I'can' never ' adequately express what the clergy have been', and always must bo.:;to "me. This I know: No bisliop has ever had such a loyal : band of men beliihcTTiimr : The same is equally .true of . the laity. l I know they trusted .me a5..;,1 trusted-, them. The outcome of such mutual trust has' been that. God has granted, success to all our joint, work in His 'service.- May I add. a - few, parting■ words of advice? Be true to God; be loyal to your mother Church'; avoid 'party'.' spirit '.'.and.''strife; think- 'bigand"'you will bo 'big,' and keep the diocese, 'big'; trust your fellow-man, -believe in him as:you rightly, expect .him .to . believe inVyou ; .'-remember ..the ..best.' is; always in.;front—God.'' ■ fore, service is always, a- : grander thing -than success. .. God.'ever-.bless yoii and yours, and have, you>in,His keeping. > "Your faithful . friend and Bishop, "M. R. AUCKLAND."