"BACK HIM UP."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1110, 25 April 1911, Page 7

"BACK HIM UP."

A BISHOP'S VIEWS ABOUT' BISHOPS. (By ToleEraiih.-Special CorresDondenU Auckland, April 24. , Preaching at St. Mary's Anglican Cathedral, Auckland, on Sunday night, Bishop Julius had something characteristic to say about bishops. "If there is any ghastly business under the'sun," he remarked, "it is that of a bishop \7llo doesn't'believe in what he-teaches, but has to keep up ..appearances, and go on his way as if it wero not a mockery and a sham. If such a fcian could be found his tomb might well bear .tho one unhappy word. You may talk lightly of a bishop and his work, but 1 wouldn't give a click for ' the business of keeping up institutions and not saving souls.' It is not enough to belong to a church which is respectable, ancient, and decent, unless it is devoted to God's service. Tho position is nothing, whether he were the wealthiest of bishops or in poverty like St. Paul. It would be better for a man to drive pigs to market than to govern a church which had lost its faith. But there is another side to tho picture. If your bishop comes in the fulness of faith to Auckland, and looks on the little laiid of his diocese, sees strife and factions, parties looking, for fights, not souls, sees numbers who belong to no church, outcast women, neglected children, he will see behind all this the gospel of life which will bear him up in his many trials, and difficulties. It will help him along his way, and often when ho feels he hasn't done as well as he expected. I would ask you, then, to pray for him, even if your prayers are short. Then I want you to back him up." • .