NEW WAIKATO DIOCESE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19509, 13 December 1926, Page 12

NEW WAIKATO DIOCESE.

CONSECRATION OF BISHOP

AN HISTORICAL EVENT.

CEREMONY AT HAMILTON.

GREAT ASSEMBLY OF CLERGY

[BT TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.]

HAMILTON. Sunday

In the consecration and enthronement of the first Bishop of Waikato, which took place, at Hamilton to-day, the Anglican Church in New Zealand celebrates an event which has had no parallel in its history for 67 years. In 1859 the diocese of Waiapu was created out of portions of the Auckland and Wellington dioceses, and Archdeacon William Williams was made its first bishop. For mora than half a century the ecclesiastical province kept its subdivisions unchanged, save only that recently the boundaries were extended to include the formerly independent diocese of Polynesia.

The . bishop designate, Archdeacon Cecil Arthur Cherrington, until lately 'Archdeacon of Mauritius, who arrived in the Dominion less than a fortnight ago, doubtless found much encouragement in the .large assembly of bishops, clergy and laity present at his consecration.

The laying on of hands was performed by .the archbishop and five bisliops of the province. Bishop Steward, of Melanesia, his assistant, Bishop Molyneux, and Bishop Kempthorne, of Polynesia, were prevented by distance from attending, and the aged former Bishop of Nelson, Dr. Mules, who was entitled to ' take part in the ceremony, was also unable to do so. Accommodation Inadequate. St. Peter's Church, the cathedral of the new diocese, standing on its grassy hilltop overlooking the town and the river, was the scene of the consecra-. tion. It is but half completed, and only part of those who would have been present could find seats within. The clergy put on their robes in the Town Hall, just below, and marched in procession up the winding drive to the church a shower of rain. Tho choir of boys,, women and men led the way, a crossbearer in front. Then came the lay synodsmen, lay readers in their cassock 3. and surplices, the clergy, the Archdeacons of Taranaki (Ven, F. ~G. Evans), Waikato (Ven. E. M.Cowie), and Auckland (Ven. G. MacMurray)', the acting chancellor of the diocese (Mr, A. Swarbrick), in wig and gown, and the bishop-elect in his white rochet.' 'Last were the bishops, who made a vivid mass of colour in their jrobes of scarlet and white. The archbishop was preceded by the | 'Archdeacon of Waimate (Ven. H. A. Hawkins), bearing the magnificent new primatial cross, lately presented by a group, of. churchmen. The other bishops, , each of whom was accompanied by his ; chaplain,. were those of Waiapu (Dr. W. ;W. Sedgwick), Wellington (Dr. T. H. Sprott), Nelson (Dr. C. Sadlier), Dunedin; (Dr. Isaac Richards)), and Christchurch (Dr. C. J. West-Watson). Proceedings in the Church. As the procession entered the church , the congregation sang the hymn, "Soldiers of the Cross, Arise," after which . the archbishop proceeded with the celebration ;of the Holy Commjjhion..' The Epistle was read by the Bishop of Wellington and the Gospel by the Bishop of Chmtchurch. After the Nicehe Creed came, the" sermon, preached by the Archdeaicon of Auckland. _ The archbishop then seated himself in a.chair before the altar, facing the corii gregation, and the Bishops of Waiapu and Nelson presented to him "this godly and well-learned man to be ordained and consecrated bishop." The archbishop's mandate lor the con- ; aecratidn' was then read by the actingchancellor. It proved to be a long document ..relating' the history of the new dioccso and the steps taken to choose a bishop/ This over, the bishop-eladt took the oath of reverence and obedience to the archbishop and the metropolitan church of New Zealand. The .litany was recited by the Bishop of Dunedin and a prayer for the bishopelect followed. The archbishop next put the prescribed questions and the bishopelect promised, among other things, to read the scriptures, to pray,, to teach, to banish and drive away all erroneous and strange doctrine contrary to God's word, to maintain so far as in him lay quietness, love and peace among all men and to be merciful for Christ's sake to poor and needy people. The archbishop blessed him.

The Laying-on of Hands. After further prayers and the, singing of the Veni Creator the bishop-elect, vested in his full habit, knelt and the archbishop and bishops, standing round him, laid their- hands upon his head. The archbishop said the words of consecration, beginning "Receive the Holy Ghost for the office and work of a bishop in the Chnrch of God," and ending "for God hath not given us the spirit of fear but of nower and love and soberness." The pectoral cross was hung-round the neck of. 1 the* new,made bishop and the pastoral staff placed in his hand. The communion service proceeded and the hymns, "Lord of the Harvest" and "Lord Enthroned in Heavenly Splendour" were Bung., _ ; •'

The service concluded with the benediction and the singing of the Nunc Dimittis. As the pi-ocession returned down the hill the new bishon's staff was borne by .his chaplain, Archcleacon S'rhnt-jin, It is a beautiful piece of wor'- >bonv and silver, presented to him by the church people, of Mauritius. He has two others, one presented by the Bishop of Mauritips and one subscribed for some time ago,by,members of the diocese of Auckland for the use of the future Bishop of Waikato. The bishop's pectoral cross was' given to him bv his mother and his episcopal ring by his late wife, who died in En eland ivhen he was a few days' steam from New Zealand. For the benefit of those who could not enter the church a loud-speaker was instnJled. outside the church and connected with a microphone in the pulnit. The device was moderately successful.