CO-OPERATION NEEDED

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 299, 14 September 1936, Page 5

CO-OPERATION NEEDED

Church and State in Social Reformation Work OPENING OF DUTCH FAIR The need for co-operation between State and .Church in the work of social reformiition was emphasised by the. Bishop of Wellington, lit. Hev. H. St. B. Holland, opening the Church of England city mission's dutch fair at the Town Hall on Saturday afternoon. Bishop Holland said he regretted that the Prime Minister, lit. Hon. JI. J. Savage, could not be present to open the fair as he had originally intended, but he thought the fact that the'; Prime Minister wanted to be there for. the purpose was proof of one thing' which rejoiced him. “I rejoice to think that the Prime Minister should have so associated himself with the city mission that he has quite clearly shown that, from the point of view of the State, there is need in the type of social service the mission is doing for the co-operation of the State,” Bishop Holland continued. * Bishop Holland said he had realised as he took part in the life of the Midland city from which he came that Jit was absurd to imagine that the Church could achieve the object pf social reform by itself, or the State by itself. -There must be co-operation. Reformation was impossible unless the whole man was attended to and especially that inner striving which marked out the path a man was going to take through life.. He, realised that also when.he read o’f the splendid succour the public, the Government and the city had given to the mission’s men’s shelter when it required it last year. He felt sure that those engaged in that very definite effort of the mission and who needed the help both of the public and the. church in Wellington, were not going to be let down. Tribute to Rev. Fielden Taylor. Referring to the illness of the rnissioner, Rev. T. Fielden Taylor, the bishop said they were met in - the shadow of a great regret that Mr. Taylor, “our magnificent missiouer, whose dynamic energy has sustained the work of this mission, cannot be here.” In spite of that lie thought they were going to show that there was life and enthusiasm, and determination in all the workers: and friends of the city mission, and that they , would receive the support and practical help of the public in order to keep this work alive and going. Tlie chairman of the board of trustees of the mission, Mr. J. W. Henderson, said that although Jlr. Taylor was seriously ill he was holding his own. Mr. Henderson mentioned it was the first function connected with the city mission at which they had had the bishop present, in stressing the importance of the mission ; among the institutions of the diocese. The work. of the misSion was outlined by the Rev. H. S. I. Kenney, vicar of Petone, Who deputised for Mr. Taylor. Jlr. Taylor was wonderfully cheerful, he said, and sent a ■ message of good cheer to all his friends and workers in the mission. “Few institutions in this city have a. finer measure of service to their credit than the Wellington City Mission.” Mr. Kenney said. The motto ef the mission was always “Bear one another’s burdens.” He was 'inclined to think that the greatest contribution it was making to the life of the community was its wonderful work among the young people. Burden of Depression. In the recent years of the deinession a tremendous strain had been : placed on the resources of the mission. It had been faced with new problems, and they- knew how wonderfully it had risen to the occasion fn facing .. them. The men's shelter had been opened. A scheme was set on foot to provide coal and groceries to the needy, and in all kinds of other ways the mission had sought to do its very best to help those who needed help so badly. ’ "The mission is still bearing the burden of the depression.” Mr. Kenney continued. Many of the debentures on the men’s shelter had still to be paid. The work of the mission must go on. There were things that gave rise to great optimism in their hearts at this time. They knew that for 18 years the support of the public of Wellington had never waned one little bit. He felt that the wonderfully generous public of the city would not let Mr. Taylor down in the support it would accord the dutch fair. Programme for To-day. Large, crowds attended the fair on Saturday afternoon and evening, and merry business was done at the many attractive stalls and side-shows. In tlie afternoon Mr. Claude Sanders’s pupils were seen in a elog dance, and there was an exhibition of cookery at cookery nook. In the evening “The Lady in Blue Ballet” was presented by arrangement with Miss Joan Raine, and Miss Claudia Williams was seen in a solo dance. This afternoon Mrs. Knox Gilmer will give a talk on.gardening, and to night items will be, given by the Wellington Male Voice; Choir. Miss Marjorie Newport’s pupils ih a Dutch ballet, and by Jupp’s Band. '