ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH

Evening Star, Issue 19923, 20 July 1928, Page 6

ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH

INSTITUTION CEREMONY WELCOME TO NEW VIGAB All Saints’ Church was crowded last night, when the Rev. W. Hardy Johnson, M.A., was instituted to tho parish of All Saints’ in succession to the Very Rev. Dean Fitclictt, who lias resigned from that position. Bishop Richards, who was attended by the Rev. V, G. Bryan King ’as chaplain, officiated at the service, and Dm Rev. C. II Statham read the new vicar’s letters of institution and took his declarations. The keys of the church, schoolroom, and other buildings were entrusted to Mr Hardy Johnson’s care by Mr C. Stanley Smith, churchwarden At the conclusion of the institution ceremony tho bishop delivered the sermon, and he commenced by saying that when a clergyman was instituted in tho charge of a parish it would seem to be fitting to speak of tho character of tho ministry in relation to its being representative of the whole church in relation to the authority with which it was invested, and, further, in relation to tho power with which it was endowed. To discuss the question of the ministry from any or all of those points of view would take rather a long time, and so it was his wish to speak rather on the underlying principle that was applicable to the clergy and to the people alike, and without which tho church could not be really as strong and attentive as it ought to bo. The sixth chapter of Galatians,, verso 2; read: “ Bear ye one another’s burden, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Verse 5 reads: “ For every man shall bear his own burden ” That was just one of those paradoxes and of tho contradictions in which Paul seemed at times to delight. However, they need not discuss that, becaue tho underlying truth was simple The truth was that however heavy tlm burden should he which a man had to bear in life, then he could only stand up to it by bearing other people's burdens as well. That seemed a strange thing and contradictory, and they were led to ask how it came about. It arose from the fact that men were not isolated unions. They were linked together by what they called unity of life. The law of existence was that of mutual sympathy and mutual burden - bearing. As an illustration, the Lord said; “I am a vino and ye are the branches.” Tho branch of a vino was not a separate tiling cut olf from tho parent tree or stein. If it were to become separated then it would simply dry up and bo useless. It was only when the branch remained on tho parent stem of the tree, when it took its share in the burden of the whole tree, that it was able to bear its own burden and to boar its own fruit.

It was impossible for a man to cut himself oil’ entirely from his fellows. If there was any man who thought ho could, then bo would absolutely fail on tho day of trial. By cutting himself off from his friends and refusing to bear their burdens, a man would, when tin day of trial came, collapse, and would ho unable to carry ills own burden. As Paul said: “Boar yc one another’s burdens, and so iulfil tho law of Christ.” It was only by bearing oilier peoples’ burdens that people were able to bear their own burdens. Was there anywhere, tho bishop asked, that that was more clearly illustrated than in tho priestly life? Ho was once told by a layman that it was a soft job to be in charge of a parish. Of course, ho had not the slightest idea what lie was talking about, and it was useless to argue with him. To take charge of ■a parish was not a soft' job by any means. It meant studying, preaching, teaching, visiting, working, directing, advising in difficulties of all kinds. Still he had a bod.ily and mental spirit which were taxed at times, almost to breaking point. How could a clergyman bear tho . burden of taking charge nf a. pans'll like All Saints’ ? It was by visiting and going among bis people, learning to know them, to sympathise with them, sharing their sorrows and their difficulties, making their burdens his own, loving his people, and praying for them a lid with them, sharing, as it were, their burdens, making them absolutely bis own. And tho result? Well, it was a wonderful result. He felt and knew Unit the Master was always at hand to uphold and strengthen him and., his own burden became bearable because it was a burden of love. Following the institution ceremony, a social evening was hold in the schoolroom, over which Archdeacon Whitehead presided. In his opening speech tho archdeacon said that they had gathered to welcome tho new vicar, who had come from the old Edinburgh to the new one, and they all hoped that lie would not be disappointed in the new one. Mr Hardy Johnson might feel discouraged by coming to a place like All Saints. Ho was to be 'successor to a man who, when the history of tho church came to be written, would be one of tho greatest men in it. (Applause.) No one who had been in tho ministry of the Church of England in Now Zealand could exceed in distinction their dean, and it was a matter for regret to him and to all present that ho was unable to be present on that occasion. The fact that a, man of such distinction had been his predecessor might make Mr Hardy Johnson feel that he had a hard task before him, but there was something to encourage him. There was no parish in the whole of New Zealand that contained more promise than that of All Saints. They wore a very generous people, and there was an enormous amount of work to do. llishop Richards, in opening, read a letter from Dean Fitchett as follows 1 associate myself with the

parishioners in tho welcome they give to tho Rev. William Hardy Johnson, Mrs Hardy Johnson, and their family. The new vicar will find the ivarishioners of All Saints’ duly submissive to him as their teacher _ and guide in things spiritual, an amiable people, happily at peace among them-: selves, of one heart and mind in loyalty to the church, and in reverently maintaining the public devotions of the church, disciples of the Great Teacher who have learned to approach in penitence and faith the holy mysteries of tho altar, and who will give themselves readily to good works under flic leadership of their minister. On the part of the parishioners it is with prayers, with good wishes, and with great hopes that Air Hardy Johnson has been instituted by the bishop as their parish priest, and will bo received into fellowship with the elergj of this diocese. Tho Bishoji said they were all very sorry that the dean was nob able to be present, but they knew that ho was with them in spirit. He wished to say how very pleased they were to have Mr Hardy Johnson with them. Ho was also pleased to sec on the platform their friends representing other churches. It was gratifying, also, to sec with them clergy and laymen from most of the parishes in Dunedin and suburbs. It snowed tho real fellowship they ought to have, and happily they had it. Ho congratulated -the; parish on having a clergyman of their own. for ihev had been waiting a long time, ft was a very difficult thing to get one, and they had had to go to Scotland for a suitable man.

Dr Merriugton said that, on behalf of the Presbytery of Dunedin, of which ho had the honour to be Moderator at the present time, he extended a welcome to Mr Hardy Johnson. Speaking personally as minister of First Church he would like to say that the first nonPresbyterian minister to call upon him after his arrival in Dunedin was the venerable Dean. Ho happened to he living in the parish, so maybe the Dean looked upon him as one of his parishioners. He also referred lo the excellent relations that had ilways existed between the churches ot tiie various denominations in Dunedin, and recalled the fact that in the very early days when tiro only church in Dunedin was First Church, Bishop Selwyn advised the Episcopalians to worship at First Church until they had a place of their own in which to worship. The Rev. IL E. Bellhouse, on behalf of the Methodists, expressed pleasure at being invited to take part in the welcome to Mr Hardy Johnson. It showed the spirit of goodwill and fellowship which existed _ between the various churches. Ho said that lie was once visiting Edinburgh and went to see the famous chapel there, and a young clergyman spoke to him. That clergyman was the new vicar of All Saints. He had acted in a very brotherly and kind manner, and lie (Mr Bellhouse) was pleased to give that credential. The Rev. Mr W. Walker welcomed the new vicar on behalf of the Council of Christian Congregations. Ho thought, it would be safe- to say that never in the lifetime had there been such need for the work of the Christian Church ns there was to-day. The conditions of life were changing _ very rapidly. Movements had been initiated which were having a far-reaching effect, but there weer some things that did not change. Jesus Christ was still the world’s Redeemer. The Christian religion had stood secure against all the criticism that had been brought to bear upon it. It stood unshakable in a world that had been shaken almost to its foundations. Archdeacon Fitchett also added his tribute to the new vicar.

Mr Hardy Johnson, on rising to reply, was received with prolonged applause. He said ho could scarcely find words to thank them for their welcome. Tho welcome had begun before they had fnlished packing in Scotland, somcono having written saying that it would be very pleasant to have a piece of Rossi,yn soil in Dunedin. In Wellington lie was met by Lady Allen and taken to tea with Sir James Allen, who was unfortunately ill,. He was also taken to tho House of Representatives, where he saw how Dunedin ruled the country, mentioning the names of Sir Charles Statham and Mr Downie Stewart. He w T as also welcomed by the Bishops of Wellington and Christchurch, and all tho way down the lino there were people to meet him. On arrival in Otago he was presented with a telegram of welcome from Mr Stanley Smith, and on arrival in Dunedin he thought a welcome had been arranged for the Prints of Wales. However, he discovered that the welcome was for him. Since he had been here he had received nothing but kindness, and on behalf of his wife, family, and himself he offered his very sincere thanks. The church choir then rendered an item, after which supper was served, and the evening concluded with a dance.

On the motion of Mr C. Grater it Was decided to send a message to the dean expressing the hope that he would soon be restored to health.