PARISH OF ALL SAINTS

Evening Star, Issue 22072, 4 July 1935, Page 15

PARISH OF ALL SAINTS

INSTITUTION Iff THE VICAR ARCHDEACON WHITEHEAD WARMLY • WELCOMED The Yen. Archdeacon L. G. Whitehead was instituted as the vicar of All Saints’ Parish last evening, when the ceremony in the church was followed by a social welcome in the schoolroojn by a large gathering of parishioners. The Anglican churches of the city were strongly represented, for associated with Bishop Fitchett were _ the following clergymen:—Dean Cruickshank, Revs. Bryan King, Thompson, Fisher, Wingfield, PyweTl, Bate, Hamblett, CurzonSiggers, Canons Small and Button. _ At the institution service the vicarelect made the necessary declaration, and the keys of the various church offices were then presented to him by the vicar’s churchwarden (Mr G. R. Ritchie). The sermon was delivered by the Rev. J. N. Thompson, who, in an eloquent address, said that he was the first student under Archdeacon Whitehead when he became warden of Selwyn College, and he referred to the archdeacon as a man of the highest ideals and a constant inspiration to the students in their work. The speaker went on to deal with the subject relating to' the reunion of the churches, denouncing the view that the existence of numerous denominations made no difference to the work of Christianity, as representing blind ignorance tp the actual position. It was obvious, he said,' that reunion of the churches would result in a considerable saving of expense and time, and go a long way towards clearing the air of tear and suspicion. He maintained that fear on the part of the laity that reunion would mean sacrificing principles, together with a, certain amount of apathy amongst , the clergymen was mainly responsible for the lack of progress and failure tp meet changing conditions. However, he was firmly convinced that ip their new vicar they had a man who could give something of an antidote for the numerous “ isms ” which were prevalent in New Zealand ’ to-day. Young people of the present generation were not satisfied with the church merely telling them that they had to do something; The church had to give them something to dbi He stressed the need for many radical changes, pointing out that it could not be said that the average church service was inspiring while at the same time venturing the opinion that the appeal of the church was too low. The result was that men thought that the church was not worth while, believing that its activities were of a purely domestic character and outside their sphere. If the church was to play its right part in the community its appeal had to be a high one. The speaker quoted from H. 6; Wells’s hook. ‘ Joan and Peter,’ to prove that people wanted action. “ Take war out of the world and we must have some other activity. We do not want a preventative League, of Nations. It has to be creative. People do not want a passive existence.”

Mr Thompson concluded by referring to the important part played by the church in the past, and expressing the utmost confidence in its ability to lead the people in the future. With such an able vicar as Archdeacon Whitehead AH Saints’ Church was assured of success, and he exhorted the parishioners to help tho new vicar in his work. At the social function various speakers referred, in glowing terms to Archdeacon Whitehead’s exceptional ability, and he was accorded a very cordial welcome by the parishioners. Mr Ritchie felt sure that the parish would flourish under Archdeacon Whitehead’s care, and it was quite evident, by the attendance, that Mr Thompson’s prediction of a brighter future was about to come true very soon. He assured tho new vicar that the vestrymen would do all in their power to assist him in his work.

Sir James Allen said he rejoiced in the fact that they had such a competent figure as Archdeacon Whitehead to take charge of the parish of All Saints, with which he had been connected since before 1860. He was pleased to see that the church was to he associated with students from the Otago University, as New Zealand’s future depended upon the type of man turned out by our academic institutions.

Bishop FitcHett confessed to a long association with All Saints’ parish and said he had a very deep regard for the church and its traditions. He thought that the archdeacon should be warmly complimented on securing charge of a parish which was the most important in the dominion on account of its association with the University. There was an impression abroad, continued the bishop, that the appointment of the archdeacon as vicar, while he still retained the wardenship of Selwyn College, was a cheap way of finding a vicar, but he assured the gathering that they would be paying considerably more than in the past. They were most desirous of getting the best man possible, and he was convinced that there was not a better man for it than Archdeacon Whitehead in the dominion. (Applause.) The curious thing about him, continued the bishop, was that, while ho was a brilliant acnolar and one of the closest and deepest thinkers in New Zealand, lie was a practical man. He had proved this in ’ carrying out _ administration work, and the surprising thing was that, for a scholar, he possessed a good deal of commonsense. (Laughter.) He indicated that, in the near future, the work thrust upon the archdeacon was to bp eased by the appointment of a subwarden at Selwyn College, and a new curate. He concluded by appealing to those who engaged in the work of tho church to follow the of the vicar if they desired to obtain the greatest# success. Archdeacon Whitehead expressed gratification at his appointment and grateful thanks ‘for the manner in which he had been received by the parish. He had been greatly inspired by the institution and also by the message delivered by Mr Thompson, and he looked forward to his work in the parish with high hope. Without making any large promises he felt confident, to borrow a metaphor from trade, that lie and his' assistants would be able to deliver the goods. As to what effect the parish could in future have on the University and the contacts that might be established, they remained to be seen after he had made himself familiar with the various parish organisations and _ the different branches of church activity.