CONSECRATION AND INSTALLATION OF THE BISHOP OF WAIAPU.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9993, 21 January 1895, Page 3

CONSECRATION AND INSTALLATION OF THE BISHOP OF WAIAPU.

The consecration of .the Bishop of Walapa took place yesterday morning in St. John's Cathedral in the presence of an ovei flowing congregation, a considerable amonnt of additional seating being required. The solemn service was commenced with a processional hymn with trumpet accompaniments, the olergy, to the number of about 35, preceded by a surpliced choir about 50 strong, presenting a most imposipg appearance. Among tha olergy were the Aoting-Prlmate ol New Zealand, Bishop Cowie, of Auokland, Bishop Jnllna, of Cbristchnroh, Bishop Mnles, of Nelson, Bishop Wilson, of Melanesia, the Very Rev. Dean Hovel!, Archdeacons S. Williams, W. L. Wil-

Hams, and Clarke, Canons Webb nnd St. Hill, the Rtvt>. A. G. Pnrchns, M.R.C.S,, F. T. Baker, E. M. Cowio, 8.A., W. Colenso, F.R.S., P. T. Wll-

Hame, M.A., H. Williams, M.A,, J. Hobbs, and many others, including Maori clergymen, whose names we were unable to obtain. After all had filed into their places in the sanctuary and chancel the communion service was proceeded with, at the conclusion of which followed the sermon, preached by Biehop Mules, who was listened to with rapt attention. The Bight Rev. speaker chose for big text the first chapter, of the Bpbeeians, the 22nd and 23rd verses, "The Church which is his body." He said the epistle, short as it was, covered the whole field of Christian doctrine and practice, and the summary which St. Paul gave of both centred round a society of men and a Church one and universal of which Christ was the predlstined head, and which was the crown of God's purpose. He then went on to describe the circumstances which made the test especially applicable to the Ephesiane. The history of the Christian Chnroh einoe the epistle was written was the history of the development of the Divine purposes which he had mentioned. Ho described the unity of the Churches in the time of the apostles, saying that this was maintained by oneness of organisation, and of doctrine, and, he might add, of heart.

When, however, the Chnroh spread beyond Jerusalem controversies sprung up among the converts, though not amongst the apostolic leaders, as evidenced by the serene character of the correspondence which passed between

them. Bat Hbtle by little imlty gave place to a very different condition of things. The Churches of to-day were not one in organisation, or doctrine, or heart, as theJ[Bpoatolic Churehea were. The Roman Church was not In communion

with the various sections of the Eastern

Chnrch, from which they of the English Church were divided by serious differences. Then, too, there bad grown np many communities of Christiana differently organised from the English Chnrch, and from one another. In apoatollo days

the Church might) have been cemented by judiolouß management. Now that was impossible. Their church existed to them as the church of their convictions, perhaps

of their choice, of their baptism, or of their Bible ; it existed for them as a

society of believing persons amongst whom the word of God was preached and

the sacraments administered, and so far

;s existence was one of thoee providential

facts wblah waa quite independent of themselves. It was planted in the earliest timea ot EBglish national life. It grew

with tbe growth of the nation, and proved a model for nation after nation in other

quarters of the globe. The English Church was a society which had baen wisely organised to fulfil God's purposes, a foeiety tho members cf which helped to form a great character which was handed down

irom one to the other. Bnb they could

not chut their eyes to the existence of other Churches side by eido witb their owd, therefore they hod to consider their rel ■ tlons with them. They conld not pub aside tbe fact ot the difference in con-

dltions between tho Eplacopalean Church in England and here. The Cbnrcb here was not national or established in the sense that it was at Home, therefore the

lino for them to adopt bere could not be identical with tbat proposed to be adopted there. They conld not ignore the other Churches, as that) would be inconsistent with fact ; their actions rendered it impossible to have nothing to do with them, especially in face of the views taken by the Saviour and St. Paul ; they conld not ask them to make concessions

if they themselves were not prepared to give way. The view they mußt take was that in view of the social, intellectual, and moral differences which existed between man and man the formation of distlnot societies professing similar beliefs was necessary to meet them. This should lead them to be tolerant of existiog disunion both in theory and in practice. It was noity of well-doing that ' brought them into common relation with Christ.

At the conclusion of the setmon (to which we regret we can do each scant justice owing to lack of space) the anthem ■' How Lovely ate the Messengers " was rendered while the Btoop-elect put on hla rochet. He waa then presented to the Primate with the usual ceremonies, and

the authority for the consecration was read by the Chancellor, Mr Catterell. The Bishop-elect! then made tbe solemn declaration of obedleccs, after which the Litany was chanted. The stirring hymn "Tell It Oat" was then song, beginning—

Tell it out among the heathen that the ]Lord is King I ToUitoutl Tell it out!

Tell it out among tho nations, bid them shout and sing t Tell it out! Tell it out!

Tell ie out wltli adoration, that Ho shall increase ; That the mighty King of Glory is tho King of Poaco; Tell it out with, jubilation, though the waves may roar; • That he nitteth on the water-floods, our King foreyermore. The Primate pat the customary questions to the Bishepreiest, after which a hymn waa sang while he assumed his fall

robes. Appearing again he knelt at tbe altar, the solemn laying on of hands being performed by the Bfchops assembled. The ceremony was concluded by a general participation in the holy sacrament, and a recessional march.

In the aitornoon a special service for yonng people (to which others were also Invited) was held, at whioh a tremendous crowd assembled, Bishop Julias preaching thfl sermon. In the evening the ceremony of installing the now Bishop was condncted in the presence of a large congregation, the procession entering the church in the follow- I log order:— The aynodsmea, the choir, ! the reßhtrar, the chancellor, the clergy, the canons, the arohdeacons, the Dean, the newly-conaecrated Blßhop (preceded by his chaplain), the Blshopg of the Province, the Acting Primate, The Dean and the Chancellor then ascended the chancel steps, thenewly.appolnted Bishop standing below, and the Chancellor read the sentence of the consecration. Tbe Bishop, taming to the people, made the usual declaration as follows j— "In the name of God, Amen. I William Leonard Williams, duly eleofced, confirmed, and consecrated Bishop of the Dloceae of Walapn In the ecclesiastical province of New Zealand, do hereby promise to maintain and defend, as far as in me lies, the rights, privileges, and liberties of this Church and Diocese, as declared and established by the Constitution and Canons of the Church of the province of New Zealand, and by the Canons of the Synod of the Diocese of Walapu. And I do hereby promlae, by

tho help of Almighty God, to rule over this .Diocese with justice and ch.-.uty, not lording it over God's heritage, liui lowing myself in all things an example to the flock committed to my charge. Amen." Then the Dean, taking the Bishop by the right hand, led him, followed by his chaplain, to the Episcopal Throne, and placing him thereon, said :—

"I, De Berdt Hovell, Dean of this Cathedral and of tbe diocese of Waiapn, do enthrone thee, tbe Bishop, in this See and Church of Wulapu; and do metal thee into all the rights, dignities, authority, and jurisdiction which pertaiu to the Bishop of tbis See ; and miy the Lord Jesus Christ preserve thee in thy going out and thy coming in for many years, and mayst thou abide In faith and liolldgjs, and adorn the place delegated to thee by the Almighty Father. Amen." The ordinary seivice then proceeded, Bishop Williams preaching a powerful sermon advocating greater uniformity amongst tho Christian churches, and speoially pleading for the appointment of itinerant preachors to the spiritual wants of settlers in scattered districts ; also for more practical sympathy with efforts to thus spread tbe Gospel than had been shown heretofore.