A BISHOPRIC FOR FIJI.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 28, 1 August 1907, Page 3

A BISHOPRIC FOR FIJI.

! DEFINITE ARRANGEMENTS. (FBOM OTO OWN' CORRESPONDENT.) | LONDON, 21st June. For some time past the state of Anglican Church matters in Fiji and Tonga and the Eastern Pacific Islands generally, has been somewhat unsettled owing to the acquisition by America of full control in Honolulu and the anomalous position of Bishop Willis that directly or indirectly resulted. 1 understand that there have been some strongly accentuated differences of opinion on the subject among the members of the New Zealand Episcopate. Legally all the Pacific Islands outside the Ecclesiastic Province of New Zeeland are under the pastoral caro of the Bishop of London. I learn that Bi& hop Winnington-Ingram has for some little time been giving the situation his attention and consideration with the. view of providing ''satisf actorily for the episcopal care of the islands concerned and at last a definite decision has been arrived at. Last evening an informal assemblage of English and Colonial Church dignitaries — including the Archbishops of Canterbury and York,, and the Bishop of London, including also Dean Fitchett, of the Colonial Church took place. Tho Bishop of London • stated that the qu'estion i of founding a Bishopric of Fiji and the . Eastern Pacific had now beeh finally decided, the decision being that such bishopric shall be formed, the S.P.G.' undertaking to find the necessary • funds. The matter, as Fiji is a Crown Colony, will be arranged by the English Church authorities in this country, practically by the Bishop of London, who- will probably at an early date nominate the first bishop of the new see. It is not, I believe, yet settled what relations shall subsist between the new bishopric and the Ecclesiastical Province of New Zealand.