LATE ARCHDEACON JOHNSON

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 31, 6 August 1934, Page 14

LATE ARCHDEACON JOHNSON

Memorial services for tho late Von'. Archdeacon A. M. Johnson were held in several of tho Anglican churches in the city and suburban districts yesterday.

Preaching at St. Paul's Pro-Cathedral, Canon Percival James said thiit tliclato Archdeacon Johnson was yrcar .of , St. Paul's for IS years, and ho had the unique experience of serving three city parishes in Wellington. It would, bo agreed, said Canon James, that the best of Archdeacon Johnson's good work as a parochial clergyman was clone in the personal .relationships of his ministry. It was the privilege of the parish priest to enter the lives and homes of his people at the most tender and sacred times of their joys and sorrows. In his* work the archdeacon excelled . because of ;his ready sympathy and his . warm kindness of heart. It was at St. Paul's School, iiiiLon.don, that.the. foundations of his scholarship were laid. From that school he was elected to a classical scholarship at Gonvillo and Caius College, Cambridge, and he gained both classical and theological . honours at the university. A great and accurate scholar, a.keen and ardent and a roady writer, lies might have, been expected, had be.remained in England,,to.bo preferred to; a position in the church, in which he might have found leisure for study and scope for writing or teaching, but he chose the harder part of pioneer work in the young church of this colony. After two years in his first curacy, ho came to Wellington, and remained and laboured here for 38. years. Canon James said that ho had been his colleague as a member of the Board of Theological Studies, of' which .Archdeacon Johnson was secretary for 27 years. Only his colleagues on that board could know the- extent of Archdeacon Johnson's labours in that work. "A few weeks ago," said Canon James, "we were offering him our tender sympathy in liis, sore grief, when his beloved partner in life was.taken from him. Those who knew him best, will believe that it is the mercy of God that ordained that 'in death they should not be divided.' In this church and parish their memory will be- cherished."

The lesson was read by the GovernorGeneral. The music by the choir included Spohr's "Blest are- the Departed" and tho ■ "Contakion of tho Faithful Departed," of ' the Eastern Church. . • ' ■ ' . .