BISHOP OF NORTH POLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19292, 3 April 1926, Page 14 (Supplement)

BISHOP OF NORTH POLE.

DR. LUCAS RETIRES. The Rt. Rev. J. R. Lucas, Bishop of Mackenzie River, Canada, since 1913, has relinquished his diocese owing to the illhealth of his wife, and his resignation becomes effective on March 31. Mrs. Lucas' breakdown in health is due, to the trying life of tho earlier days in the frozen north. Dr. Lucas, known to his brother clerics as the " Bishop of the North Pole," has a diocese covering 600,000 square miles, with only about 6000 people, almost entirely Indians and Esquimaux. On one of his visits to London he gave some interesting particulars of his great " parish," remarking. " The diocese includes the North Pole, but I don't think an endeavour will be made to establish a mission there until we know our way about those regions better. The cathedral church is at Fort Simpson, arid to catch a train we have to start six and a half weeks in advance. -The nearest railway station is a thousand miles away." " Tho transformation worked in our Esquimaux has been profound. Formerly they used to be dirty, dishonest and untrustworthy. Now, before attending church every week, they insist on having a bath, no matter how low the temperature may be. They will melt snow in their huts to do it."