BISHOP HOLLAND

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 108, 3 November 1939, Page 14

BISHOP HOLLAND

VISIT TO OLD .PARISH

EMPIRE IN WAR

TESTING TIME FOR CHURCH

(By Air Mail. From "The Post's" London Representative.) LONDON, October 6. A large congregation extended a warm welcome to the Bishop of Wellington, the Rt. Rev. H. St. Barbe Holland, a former rector of Hampton Lucy, whetf he preached in his old church on the last Sunday in September—the first time he had been in a pulpit since Christmas. The Bishop expressed pleasure at meethig so many old friends, but said his hurried visit was different irom what he had hoped, it would be. Mrs. Holland and he had anticipated seeing many parishioners in their homes, but it was time he got back to his job. One thing that had impressed him since he left this country was that many things did not grow older; for instance, those wonderful links of friendship that were formed when one had been in fellowship with other men and women in any form of social life and in the work of the Kingdom of God and the life of His Church. "In these three years," he added, "I have had proof in my own life. I have seemed closer to the Old Country even when separated by 12,000 miles of water.. When I see you 1 know you have not changed in your feelings towards me, and I have not changed towards you. Friendship ever goes on. It has been astonishing how I have been stirred and moved by letters sent from the Old Country,; telling the sort of. things I hoped, but never dreamed would happen—people saying that they want me to know they offer prayer for me every day. It is wonderful to know you are" not forgotten and that other people are helping a man who is trying to do his bit and often finding it difficult. It is that sort of thing that makes life so gloriously worth living, and it is that we have experienced since we went overseas. IN NEW ZEALAND. "I discovered soon after I got to my new work that one thing I had to do was to identify myself with the Church and the people whom I had gone to serve, and to throw myself into the life of the country. In my last words in reply to the magnificent welcome that waited toe there I said I felt I was too-old to became on "All Black," but I hoped I was young enough to become a good New Zealander. That has been my job in the last three years." After referring to the fact that one of the men taking part .in the Kiel Canal .raid was a New Zealanderi the Bishop said that one did feel thankful, even more .than in the last war, that there seemed to be, when there was no necessity for it, a real uprising of; the British Empire to take part in "this last great stand for all. that makes life decent and worth living." The British Empire was going to be foremost in its willingness to provide the Old Country with the help it needed to Win through in the tremendous struggle that was just beginning. The Bishop referred to the work he was endeavouring to do in the new country. It was not an easy task, but it was a glorious opportunity. GREATEST TESTING TIME. , Turning to the present international situation, Bishop Holland said he believed the Church was going to experience the greatest testing time that it ever had. Christians had two loyalties: their loyalty to their nation and their loyalty to.God. In the last war they forgot that they were also citizens of Christ, and the result was the. Versailles Treaty!, "Let there- be no hymns of hate," he said. '"Let us crebate a public conscience and see that the-right kind of treaty is made, We are going to show ourselves, that Christianity is still in control of our life." The, Bishop, concluded: "May God give us the joy of meeting in, very different circumstances from these. Let us give ourselves to the service of our country and our God." There, was a. very happy gathering Of parishioners in the Women's Institute, when the rector (the Yen: Algernon Ward), and. the ladies Of the Church Council, and others, organised a social gathering in order that the Bishop and Mrs.. Holland could- have an opportunity of meeting old friends and parishioners; Nearly' every parishioner who knew the Bishop as rector- of Hampton Lucy was present, and many old friendships were renewed. The Bishop and Mrs. Holland • expect to Jeave for New Zealand. early in .December.