HICKSON MISSION

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 107, 2 November 1923, Page 8

HICKSON MISSION

OPENING IN WELLINGTON

SYSTEM TO BE FOLLOWED,

The Hickson spiritual mission will open in Wellington on Tuesday next, and complete preparations have been made for a very busy week. The initial function in connection with Mr. Hickson's appearance will be an address to the' mission workers—local people who have undertaken to assist as nurses, stewards, attendants, and intercessors — at St. Paul's Pro-Cathedral at 7.45 p.m. on Monday evening. All the services conducted by the missioner will take place at St. Paul's, but he will make visits to a number of hospitals, institutions, and private houses in response to requests by patients who are unable to visit the mission. That the missioner's time in Wellington will be fully occupied is apaprent from the fact that over 1300 tickets have been issued to sufferers to attend the special services, apart from a" limited number who will be visited personally. Admission will be confined strictly—of necessity, on account of the large number of cases to be dealt with- — to those who have secured cards of admission. On account of the limited accommodation in the church, ,the committee has been obliged to allocate to each' sufferer a definite day for attendance.

The first service will commence at 10 o'clock on Tuesday morning, and all the patients, attendants, intercessors, and stewards must be in their plaoes by that hour, for while the service is in pi-o-gress the doors will be closed, and no one will be admitted. Refreshments will be served to the more infirm patients after the services in a marquee in the grounds outside the church, and those who are able to walk will be similarly attended to at the Sydney Street Schoolroom, which has been furnished ,as a restroom. Luncheon will be provided for those -who come long distances. ' The mission staff will ocnsist of between 60 and 70 stewards, and about 25 nurses and v.a.d's. The services will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings. Mr. Hickson will devote the afternoon of each day to visiting those who are unable to attend the .services, and will reserve.the evenings for rest and attention to correspondence. The services will be of a very simple character. Following a prayer, the missioner will deliver an address. The laying on of hands will then commence, beginning with cot and stretcher cases An accompanying clergyman will announce the nature of each patient's trouble to Mr. Hickson, who will say a suitable prayer for each individual case; he will be immediately followed by the f, lshoP or a clergyman, who will give the Church's blessing. As each case' is ministered to the patients forthwith will leave the building., Assistance will be rendered where required by nurses and stewards. Apart from the sufferers, • the only persons who will be admitted will be a limited number of chosen intercessors, who will engage in prayer while the service is in progress. All th« services of the mission will be conducted similarly. At the conclusion of the Wellington mission on Friday, Mr. Hickson will addres the clergy who have assisted hzm in his work.