NEW VICAR OF ST. PETER'S, HAMILTON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12401, 24 October 1903, Page 5

NEW VICAR OF ST. PETER'S, HAMILTON.

On Friday evening the institution of the Rev. N. C. W. Radeliffe, M.A., to the vicarage of St. (Peter's, Hamilton, took place, in the church. The church was crowded. The institution was performed by the Bishop of Auckland (Dr. Neligan), who was assisted by the Von. Archdeacon Willis and the Revs. 11. Mason, A. H. Buckland, and J. T. McWilliam. After the induction, the "Bishop gave an eloquent and impressive address, in the course of which he said the parish had held together through the efforts of the vestry and the leading laity. They had held together as church- people, not because Mr. So-and-So was taking the service, bat because they belonged: to* the great Catholic Church, or, in our own country, the Church of New Zealand. ; The sen-ice that night was full of solemnity; and.not .mere empty form. It wad an outward expression' of inward principle and conviction that the priest was a spiritual person, and was put there to do spiritual work with spiritual authority. St. Paul upheld the independence and rights of the individual; yet ho said we had to respect people because of their office. The Bishop went on to say: "Let me bespeak from you a really loyal co-operation and hearty sympathy with my brother who is now set over you, to admonish you in the Lord. He will sometimes have to say thing;? which hurt. Would you respect a priest who did not hurt you sometimes? Would you, if you were dying, send for a man to administer the last sacrament who went about making himself popular? We can look forward with gladness, hope, and enthusiasm to that which is before a faithful priest, with a faithful woman to help him, faithful communicants to kneel at the altar, faithful hearts to pray day by clay that God's Kingdom may be extended in this parish." After the service, a social was held in the Sunday-school. Mr. G. Edgecumbe, the people's warden, welcomed Mr. and, Mrs. Radcliffe on behalf of the parishioners. Bishop Neligan congratulated the parishioners on having secured such an earnest and'cap- ' able vicar. He hoped to see Hamilton a great centre of church work, with several clergymen working under Mr. Radcliffe, and supplying services over a large area. Mr. Radoliffo, in replying, thanked Mr. Edgecumbe and the parishioners for the very kind manner in which he and his wife had been received. He- had found on all hands the most hearty expressions of goodwill and a manifest desire to help him. This filled him with courage and hope in his work. Mr. and Mrs. Radeliffe then passed round tho room and were introduced to all the parishioners present.