ANGLICAN SYNOD

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 July 1936, Page 5

ANGLICAN SYNOD

BISHOP OF NELSON’S ADDRESS.

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

NELSON, July 22

“Several contacts have been made during the year with organisations not officially associated with the Church, and l was glad when members of the Rugby Union included in the ceremonies which marked their jubilee, a service in the Cathedral,’ said the Bishop of Nelson (Rt. Rev. W. G. Hilliard), in his address to the Nelson Diocesan Synod. ‘‘This was a symbolic act. which I could wish would burn its way into the mind and imagination of every spofrtsman. There is no real conflict between religion and sport, and it is a pity when men allow the appeal of the latter to interfere with the claims of the former. If we learn to play the game on the field of sport, we should do our best to play the game by God. If we learn in cricket or in football, that the team must not be let down, we should remember not to let down the Church to which we belong. If we strive to play according to the highest traditions of our game, we should learn to live according to the noblest traditions of our faith. 1 was more than gratified by the ready and friendly response which the bowlers of Nelson gave to my appeal to them to suspend their Easter Bowling Tournament during the most sacred part of Good Friday. There was no play on their greens from half past one until a quarter past three, and their example has made an impress’, m upon other parts of the Dominion, securing some official recognition of the sacredness of the day by the bowlers in Christchurch. Oamaru and other places.

■•[ know that this degree of recognition has been belittled in some quarters. and that I myself, have been held to be guilty of a compromise, but I would point out this is apparently the first, recognition of the day that has been made by any considerable sporting body throughout the Dominion. and that in a year when the Empire marked the date of the late King's funeral by two minutes silence, the bowlers marked the memory of’Our Lord’s Redemptive death by two hours’ interruption of their tournament. Moreover, a number of them attended the service which I held in the Cathedral at that time. It may not be all the recognition all of us would desire, but it is to be remembered that Good Friday is not an actual anniversary, that several of the Christian Churches have only recently begun to mark it by services, that it is not even yet universally observed by the Christian people, and that among the bowling fraternity there are possibly at least some who owe no special church allegiance at all. Nor am Ito be deterred by that blessed word “compromise” from accepting with gratitude such recognition as in the circumstances may be obtained in the hope that, it will deepen in the minds of many who formerly gave no recognition of the day at all, the sense of its sanctity and the realisation of the challenge and appeal of that which it commemorates. It may be that in some lives what begins with a. two-hour cessation of play may lead to a thorough consecration of the heart and mind and the will to the love and service of Our Lord.” The report of the Missionary Committee revealed the wonderful support given by each parish, thus enabling the diocese to pay to the Board of Missions £1,492/5/3, instead of £1,346, and £B6/8/6 for a special appeal on behalf of work in Karachi, India. This means £234/8/6 over and above the diocesan quota.

Interesting figures are as follow: — Communicant, members on diocesan roll 4,922, new members 273, baptisms 528. Sunday' school scholars 2.961. Sunday school teachers 297, Bible classes 51, State schools in which religious instruction is given SO.