ANGLICAN CHURCH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21639, 3 November 1933, Page 9

ANGLICAN CHURCH

CALL FOR LEADERSHIP DR. SHEPPARD'S PROTEST ITX/ONDON, Nov. 1 Dr. H. R. L. Sheppard, formerly Dean of Canterbury, to-day issued a stirring call to tho Anglican community for 10.000 churchmen who are willing to walk with liim to Lambeth Pnlaco when the archbishops and bishops of the Empire meet, " in order that we may say in respect and passion how deeply we feel their lack of implicit guidance." Dr. Sheppard adds that his protest " is against the constant injunction to bo patient. Church people will remain crippled in the face of the world's need until a leader arises who will tell us what are the causes that must be fought for to the death, and what is the mere trimming of religion." Hugh Richard Lawrie Sheppard, philanthropist, and popular preacher, is the son of Canon Edgar Sheppard, subdean of the Chapels-Royal, and was educated at Marlborough and Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Entering the Church, ho became secretary to the Bishop of Stepney in 1905 and chaplain of Oxford House in the East End in 1907, retaining his connection with it for 10 years. Ho went to St. George's, Hanover Square, as a curate in 1910. In 1914 he was made vicar of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, and there he did work which mado him universally beloved. Dr. Sheppard throw the church open day and night during the war, and later arranged part of the crypt as a night refuge for the " down and out " and another portion as a club room for messenger boys. The Church Fellowship which he started was a great boon to friendless young people who had gono to London to work. " Dick " Sheppard, as he is called, acted also as a chaplain to the forces in France until his health broke down. His services at St. Martin's were broadcast regularly and he became known to thousands as the

" Wireless Parson." Though ho is a High Churchman, his pulpit is always open to preachers of other denominations. A devoted social worker, he initiated the Winter Distress League, which did excellent service for familv men in need of work by its employment schemes. In 1021 he was lecturer on pastoral theology and _ feelect Preacher at Cambridge. Ho is also lion, secretary of the Life and Liberty Movement. In November, 1926, Dr. Sheppard was compelled by asthma to resign his charge, being succeeded by Canon "Pat" MeCormick. In January, 1927, ho was made a Companion of Honour, a high distinction. Ho also received an lion. D.D. from Glasgow. In the following November lie was. left a legacy of £22,000 by Mr. Willjnm Bonbright, a banker of New York and London, who admired his work. I)r. Sboppard was appointed Dean of Canterbury in May, 1929. Some vears earlier he had been practically selected for the post, but it was then urged that it would be a mistake to interrupt his excellent work at St. Martins'. He continued to sutler severely from asthma and in January. 1930, at his own request relinquished his income as dean, except that part which was devoted to official purposes, and went on protracted leave for a further period of treatment.