CAMP SERVICES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16021, 13 September 1915, Page 5

CAMP SERVICES.

APPEAL TO CHURCHMEN.

LARGER INSTITUTES WANTED

Tre questions of properly equipping the Church of England institutes in Trentham and Tauherenikau camps and of conducting church services in these places were discussed at a conference of bishops which was held in Wellington last week. The conference was attended by the Primate, Dr. S. T. Nevill, from Dunedin ; Dr. T. H. Sprott, Wellington : Dr. A. W. Averill, Auckland; Dr. W. C. Sadlier, N-elson ; Do-. C. Julius, Oliristehurch; and Dr. W. W. Sedgwick, Waiapu. Prior to the holding of the conference the following letter had been sent from the Wellington Diocesan Military Affairs Committee to the bishops of other dioceses : —

"The Wellington Diocesan Military Affairs Committee begs to place before churchmen of the province a further statement of the position with regard to the institutes of the Church at military camps. Since Major-Chaplain Gibson made a statementissued last June — changes unexpected then have taken place. The Wellington Committee makes this appeal in view of the fact that it has -been requested by the synods and standing committees of other dioceses to carry on the work. In these circumstances it has willingly undertaken this duty. Cost of- New Buildings.

" Recent events have necessitated two institutes instead of one. Thore will be, we are assured, 4000 men at Trentham and another 3500 at or near Featherston. These institutes must be erected, furnished, and carried on till the war is over. Plans have been prepared by a qualified architect and passed by the committee for a new hall at Trentham, and this work is now in hand. We purpose erecting immediately a small institute from the same plan at Featherston. The estimated cost of the work before us will be £2650. The hall at Trentham will be built at a cost of £1500; the one at Featherston should cost £1050. A sum of £200 will be required for an additional chaplain, and £100 for current expenses. There is a further outstanding liability of £200, incurred by the committee on behalf of the province tip to June 30, 1915. Sums Already Received. " The Wellington diocese is prepared to give £550 and more if required. We ask the dioceses of Auckland and Christchurch to give similar amounts, Waiapu £400, Dunedin and Nelson £300 each. Against these amounts we hold £153 from Christchurch, £45 from Auckland, £41 from Waiapu, £7 7a ' lid from Dunedin, and £4 2s 6d from Nelson. Our experience in this diocese tells us that churchmen will give to their Church institutes rather than to others if they are told what the Church is doing and what is required. Many are ignorant that the Church is doirg anything at all for the men who are staking their lives for Christianity. " We suggest that every parish in every diocese be called upon to contribute according to its means, and that by circular or word of mouth every churchman in New Zealand, should be told of the ! great opportunity before —an oppor- j tunity that we dare not fail to use. The work is already in hand. To complete the buildings within the estimates it is essential that accounts be paid as they become due. Will you, therefore, urge this matter on, and remit to us the amounts asked for as soon as you can Only when this scheme is complete will the Church, hold her right position in the camp, and do her duty to her sons on active service."

Auckland's Share.

This letter was considered by the Standing Committee of the Auckland diocese, and it was decided to guarantee the sum of £550 as Auckland's snare, on behalf ot the diocese. A resolution was also carried expressing the opinion that the number of chaplains appointed to the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces should be Tn proportion to the number of Anglicans iq the forces. Of the men at present in camp, 60 per cent, have stated that they belong to the Church of England. When interviewed on his return from the conference on Saturday, Dr. AveriH said that of the amounts required from each diocese to carry the scheme to completion, Auckland had subscribed £190 15s 6d; Christchurch, £561; Wellington, £683,- Nelson, £305; and Waiapu, £195; so far, Dunedin had not subscribed anything at all. The Auckland amount was obtained chiefly from the special offertories received on August 8. The bishop said he was most anxious that the Diocese of Auckland should come forward at once and follow the example of the others. At the conference it was the unanimous

opinion that the camps at Tauherenikau and Trentham would become permanent camps, and it would be necessary to erect at once, permanent institutes in each camp. The new institute at Trentham was being erected in a good position, directly opposite headquarters. When, completed it would be possible to offer the men a comfortable, well-furnished institute. The present one "was the worst in the camp. Dr. Averill said that although Auckland had appeared to lag behind the other dioceses in New Zealand in this matter, j it must not be forgotten that the Auckland diocese had paid £166 for soldiers' prayer-books of a compact, handy size, which are offered to every man in camp and posted to the relatives of every man who asks for this to be done. In all 16,300 had been distributed during the period between August, 1914, and July of this year. Of the £550 required, there was now about £250 in hand, and he was confident that the balance would be subscribed within a week, when churchmen knew that it was required for this noble work. Owing to his absence in Taranaki, be had not been able to give the matter i the attention it had deserved.