Untitled

Manawatu Standard, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 6698, 17 May 1900, Page 4

lancM^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H the stenH^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H the passengers xvl^^^^^^^^^^^H that port were lond^^^^^^^^^^H the work the respeot^d^a^^^^^^^l new vicar (Archdeacon V^^^^^^^^H <■ Timaru) was then doing amongw|Mßl r* miners of the West Coast of the Middle Island. Then, who in looking back upon the past history of the Church did not re- | member that old grey headed man (the k late Bißhop Harper), who for so many ■ ..years presided over tha Church in CanwL te^bary, and later, as Primate, over the Church in the province in New Zealand. It was* pethaps difficult for him to say much or Mr Harper himself, when they knew bo little of each other; but if he thought they were a people who were ■ Blow in the " uptake " of a friend, he would also find that they were able to recognise, and appreciate a good man when they see him. He hoped that Mr ,#** Harper would have a long residence in Palmerston North, and that his sojourn amongst them would be a pleasant one, Mr Harper, in replying, thanked Mr Wilson for the kind introduction he had given him to the parishioners. In accepting the position of their Vicar, he felt that he was under a considerable dffieulty by virtue of the very name he bore, and which Mr Wilson had so - generously referred to, because he had to aim very high to anywhere approach the lofty standard with which the traditions of his family had made them all so familiar. He had;been amused, and at the same time pleased at the constant references he had heard made, sjnce his arrival here, to the work done by his uncle, the Archdeacon, and some had even thought they had discovered a similarity in appearance between what the Archdeacon was like many . years ago, and his (the speaker's) present .features. Whatever there may be in .'that be sincerely hoped that he would no,t fall from the high pedestal upon which the people seemed to have placed him. Tn coming to Palmerston he felt Bure he and Mrs Harper were coming amongst a people who would take them (^at their' bast, and he was glad to see so ' maDy people who took an interest in Ohnreh work s because they could not ."get on without lay help, and it was only by the hearty co-operation of the parishioners that they could make the work a living one, So far as he was personally concerned, he believed that the Vicar of a district like Palmerston North should take part m many things outside his clerical duties, and he in tended to do bo, for the clergy ought to live as much as citizens as parish priests But in view of the many large and important undertakings promoted in a growing tcwn such a3 this, he could not promise to give his attention to all of them, but he hoped to be able to do something in the field of sport and athletics, as well as to promote the spiritual and intellectual wellbeing of the people. Mr Harper concluded by asking the parishioners not to hesitate in making themselves known to him, and not to feel slighted if he was unable to recognise them all at their next meeting, as it was impossible for him to remember all tha Hew faces he met with. During the avening refreshments were handed round by the ladies of the congregation, and the following musical items were rendered: — Song, " Sailing," Mr J. H. Taylor ; song, " The Three Beggars," Mr L. A. Abraham, encore, "Sneezing"; song, "Life's Lullaby," Mies Drew; soDg, " Albion's Flag," Mr «T. 0. Batchelar, encored; National Anthem. The accompaniments were nicely played by Mrs Fitzherbert and Miss Batchelar.