WELCOME AT ROTARY CLUB

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 301, 16 September 1936, Page 15

WELCOME AT ROTARY CLUB

Archdeacon of London Among the visitors given a friendly greeting at the Wellington Rotary Club’s luncheon yesterday was the Archdeacon of London and Canon of St. Paul’s, Ven. Ernest N. Sharpe, who in reply to the cordial welcome voiced by the president (Mr. H. Anderson) said how much he appreciated the hearty welcome which had been accorded him everywhere in New Zealand. He had received the greatest kindness everywhere. When one travelled 14,000 miles across the world it was pleasing to encounter that delightful feeling, which one met on all sides in New Zealand. He had really come to New Zealand to visit a brother in Dunedin whom he had not seen for 55 years. That brother had never gone Home after coming out to New Zealand, and as his children had never seen a blood relation they thought that one member of the family at least should come out to see them. , It was also pleasing to see for oneself how the people of New Zealand regarded the Old Country, and especially St. Paul’s, which was really the parish church of the Empire, for people came to it day in and out from all parts of the world, seeming almost to make their pilgrimages to and from that spot. There was a connection between St. Paul’s and New Zealand. The late Sir George Grey, who did so much good work for New Zealand, lay there, and Viscount Jellicoe, one of New Zealand’s Governors-General, was laid to there as late as last November. It was rather wonderful to see th e amazing love and respect paid to that great man by the congregation at St. Paul’s. They had allowed three minutes for the sailors and others to take their seats, but actually the cortege took 13 minutes. And then there in the pulpit of the church in which he had preached in Dunedin was a stone from St. Paul’s.

As Archdeacon of London he had 217 parishes under his care, containing a much greater population tha'n the whole of New Zealand. London continued to grow amazingly, stretching right out into the country, so much so that in the last 12 years a population equal to that of Leeds had been added to his district and 45 churches had been erected.

“We have our problems, as you have yours,” said the Archdeacon. “But we are commoh in that w6 are both part of the British Empire, and we must all do what we can to make it a force and a power for peace and good will in this restless world of ours. The whole world looks to the British Empire, and we must hold together and work together, for there is great work to do for the world to-day.”