MELANESIAN MISSION

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 10566, 20 April 1928, Page 2

MELANESIAN MISSION

PRIMATE’S TRIBUTE TO BISHOP STEY ARB. FUTURE OF THE DIOCESE. DUAL- CONTROL - WITH AUSTRALLY DISAPPROVED (Press Association.! , , . ] WELLINGTON. Auril ly c Archbishop Averin, at- the‘General Synod this afternoon, referred to the loss suffered by Die Church through tlie resignation of Bishop Steward of the .Melanesian ALssion. After referring to Bishop Steward’s tweniysibc years’ service in the tropics, he said, Even his decision to resign his solemn charge and hand over tlie control of the mission to another lost physical disability, should detract from the efficiencv of his work would entitle the name or John Alainwamig Steward to rank with the heroes of the mission, including the great missionary Bishons who had preceded linn.” . The Archbishop, referring to tlie question of the status of the missionary diocese of Alelanesia in relatiou to the province of New Zealand, and as to whether the diocese should be divided as between the Australian Church and the New Zealaud Church said: “Both for political and ecclesiastical reasons it is highly desirable that t-lie Australian .Church should take over the full responsibility for the Northern Territory aiid that it should be dissociated from tlie sphere of the present Afelanesian mission. The Australian Church, with -financial assistance from England. is willing to finance operations in .that area, and it is inadvisable that there should he any kind bi dual control.”