MISSIONARY WORK

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 36, 11 August 1927, Page 4

MISSIONARY WORK

SERMON BY BISHOP OF

WAIKATO

.Notwithstanding the heavy rain there was a large congregation at St Paul's Pro-Cathedral last evening for the annual service in connection with the Anglican Board of Missions. The service began with an imposing procession of choir and clergy, after whom came the Bishops of Waikato, Polynesia, Dunedin. Christchurch, Nelson, and Wellington, each preceded by his chaplain. Archbishop Averill brought up the rear of the procession, preceded by his chaplain carrying the handsome pnmatial cross that has been recently presented for the use of the Archbishop of New Zealand. ' The Bishop of Waikato (the Bight ifev. C. A. Cherrington) preached an inspiring sermon from the words "Other Nieep I have, which are not of this told, them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd." He be^an by stating that, in their missionary work they were faced -yith two colos. sal difficulties. First, their task at first sight appeared hopeless because thero seemed a doubt as to what their message really was. Owing to the appalling divisions; it was most confusing to the heathen to know what Christianity is offering them. How Bad it is that persons who mis together in so many ways part company at the Church's, door, one worshipping God after his fashion, and the other after a different way. He begged his hearers to work and pray for Christian unity at Home, so that in the Mission field they might present the same Christ to the heathen world. The second great difficulty was to make real headway compared with what we read of as having taken place in other ages of the Church. But he reminded hia hearers that St. Paul, the greatest of all missionaries, had similar difficulties to contend with, and yet owing to his indomitable courage he overcame them all.

The Bishop urged all missionary enthusiasts to do two things. ■• First, to be absolutely conscious in their own minds that there was only one panacea for the ills of mankind, and that was Jesus Christ. Secondly, they must remember the Paulino theology that the Church could not be complete until all the nations of the Earth had made their special contribution to it. Think of what India, China, and Japan could contribute if they were truly Christian. There was, therefore,- an urgent need to double their efforts in the missionary cause.