ST. PETER'S PARISH.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 977, 18 November 1910, Page 8

ST. PETER'S PARISH.

NEW VICAR WELCOMED. The service for the institution of the' 1 Von. Archdeacon Harper, late of Talnier: ston North, as vicar of St. Peter's, was held in the church last evening, and was largely attended. The Yen. Archdeacon Fancourt read the report of the nominators, and Mr. Edward Anderson, as one of the nominators, presented the new vicar to the Bishop of tho Diocese (Dr. Wallis). The service- was marked with deep solemnity, iind tho Bishop preached iiu impressive sermon. A gathering of parishioners was afterwards held in the adjacent hall, which was filled to overflowing. ■ Mr. T. Ballinger (vicar's churchwarden) presided, and tendered a hearty welcome to Archdeacon ' and Mrs. Harper. Similar sentiments i were also expressed by Messrs. H. AV. ■ Lloyd (people's churchwarden), H. P. I Allen (choir secretary), and "ff. H. TVal- • ton (Taranaki Street Mission). - , ' Miss Ballinger, on behalf of the ladies • (if the parish, .preseuted n. bouquet, to • Mrs. Harper, who expressed her thanks I in a brief speech. I Archdeacon Harper, in his reply to the I parish welcome, saiiJ he "hoped to be one ' with his people, for he l>elieved o. priest's t work was bound up, both in and oat ot t church, with ihe lives of - the. people. 5 Ho wished to be at the beck and call of all whom he could help in mind, soul, s or body. Though the vicarage was on t a hill,'he hoped his people, and especials ly thoss who were in any trouble in which I Mrs. Harper or himself coultl help them, t would find their way to it. If they i thought lie neglected the social side oi i his work-fivvhich had a great attraction '- both for Mrs. Harper and himself—hs hoped they would realise that he con- :- eidered his work for the sick, the suffer L- ing, the troubled, and the sinning, wa; <i by far the most important. He wishec e to warn the parish straightaway that h< 8 was not going to be satisfied until the} n had two or three- more clergy there. (Ap o plause.) It was appalling to have onlj :- one to assist liim in such a populous, par n ish. He had been given the work with n out in any way seeking for- it, and hi b believed he would be given grace to d< i- it. ■ The women workers of the pansl >\ would find, he hoped, in. Mrs. Harpe a one able to join with them, and helj >t'. them in their wolt. f- i^—i^-i: — l ' —