MELANESIA

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 35, 10 August 1925, Page 6

MELANESIA

CONSECRATION OF ASSfSTANT

* BISHOP

IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY,

It is not often the Anglican Church people in Wellington have the opportunity of being present at the consecration of a Bishop, but such a service took place yesterday morning in St. Paul's Pro-Cathedral, when the Rev. F. M. Molyneux, M.8.E., M.A., was consecrated as the Assistant-Bishop of Melanesia. The consecration service, which was taken by the Archbishop of New Zealand (Dr. Averill), was a most impressive and beautiful ceremony. Tho Archbishop was assisted by the Bishop of Wellington, who read the Gospel, tha Bishop'of Melanesia (the Eight Rev. J. M. Steward), who acted as Epistoller, the Bishop of Waiapu (Dr. Sedgwick), who recited the litany, and the Bishop of Duuedin; who attended the Bishopelect, and assisted in the laying on of hands, and in the administration of the, elements in the Eucharist. The Bishopelect was presented to tho Archbishop by the Bishops of Wellington and Melanesia. Then followed the reading by Mr. T. F. Martin, the Chancellor of the diocese, of the mandate for the consecration, after which Mr. Molyneux. mado the customary vows, wherein he' promised due reverence and obedience to th» Archbishop and to the Church of the Province of New Zealand. During the retirement of the Bishop-elect to put on thft rest of the episcopal habit, the choir sang as an anthem, "Tho • Lord be a Lamp Unto Thy Feet." Then was Bung the solemn Veni Creator Spiritus (Come, Holy Ghost, Our Souls Inspire); the Bishops ' and congregation singing alternate lines. All the Bishops present took part in the laying on of hands, after which the Archbishop presented the newly-consecrated Bishop with a Bible, handed him a pastoral staff, and put.on. him his pectoral cross aud episcopji rfng. The cross wag the sift of the studauts who were under the' new Bishop when he was nhaplaiu at Cuddesdon, and the ring was a present from his fellow clergy at High Wycombe. The Communion service was then proceeded with, there being a large number of communicants.

The musical portions of the service were all impressively rendered by a very large choir, with Mr. Parker at the orpan.

The Bishop of Melanesia was the preacher, taking as his text I Corinthians IV., verses 1 and 2 : "Let a man «o account of ua, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful." In a scholarly address ..Bishop Steward spoke about the duty and office of a Bishop, showing how it had come down from Apostolic times, and how it .should be esteemed. Referring to the hardships and difficulties of 'a. missionary bishop, the preacher omphasised the need of Divine help. in the evening Bishop Molyneux preached at St. Thomas's. Newt-own.

WELCOME TO NEW BISHOP

The welcome meeting to give Anglicar) Church people the "opportunity of hear ; ing and meeting the 'AssistantBishop of Melanesia takes place to-night at 8 o'clock. It has not been found possible to hold the snoetiiiK in tho Town Hall, as was at Drat intended, therefore, ns tho acrommodution of the. Sydney street schoolroom is limited, friends of tho mission aro uriiod ftj bn early. The other s<pcaKcrs will bo Archbishop Avorill and tho Bishop of Melanesia (Dr. .Steward). Tlmro will bs a wlkctiwi for tho mi,v