LOOKING BACK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21792, 5 May 1934, Page 8

LOOKING BACK

IiONG AND USEFUL LIFE ARCHBISHOP JULIUS ACTIVE AT 86 YEARS In spite of his 86 years and the fact that he retired from the position of Primate, of New Zealand nearly 10 years ago, Archbishop Julius, who on Tuesday last celebrated the 44th anniversary of his consecration as Bishop of Christchurch, remains one of the most' notable churchmen of the Dominion. In Christchurch, where his cheery face, his slightly bent figure, his humanity, and his direct thinking and moving; speech are best known,, he is particularly' loved. Recently the Archbishop has not been able to take so active a part in affairs, as in the past, but throughout the trying times of the depression he has continued to preach, and in showing the widest sympathy he has combined unusual directness of speech, remaining one of the most popular speakers in the city. He has continued active in good works, and in his leisure he has read and indulged the mechanical bent which is his life-long hobby. The /Archbishop, who was interviewed by the press on the occasion of the anniversary, mentioned some of his thoughts about the times through which he had passed. "When I came to Christchurch I was a young man, and though I had had fairly wide experience in England and Australia, I was nervous at taking lip the work to which 1 had been called," he said. "Like all young men I was dissatisfied with things as they were, and not infrequently I found that I was getting myself into trouble." The Past and the Present Archbishop Julius said that he seemed to himself to represent a generation that had gone —a transitional generation linking the grand past and- the present day. " I think my true position was that I represented rather the yearning of the younger and rising generation of " that time than any formed convictions —lacking the assurance of the older generation, dissatisfiqd with -what are now called Victorian standards, and yet not knowing where we are travelling. " I feel now that the Great War was an epoch; that in many respects all things have passed away, and that out of it mpst come something which :is not a return to the old confusions. I represent a time when we were all nationalists and jealous of our own; we are coming' to a time when we shall be driven to realise the unity of the human race, but for the present we are bewildered. The change must come slowly, and an old man cannot be a leader. " I have no sympathy with those who decry the colonial. New Zealand is reaching out with a good deal of in-telligence-r-and with rather half-baked education —and it is free of the restraining influence which a love of the past can give, but it is marked by hopefulness "and vigour, and with God'sr grace will find its way. Bewildering Modern World " The modern world is sometimes bewildering in its complexity. We have achieved a certain freedom of thought, and manners and life —all of us, men and women, boys and girls—but there is danger of going too far until we have freedom without any restraint," he said*. " That is where I hold that the younger generation is in some danger. The old conventions have broken down, and. young people are somewhat adrift. There is, however, a growing number of them who are really seeking a life that is ordered and disciplined. " But I am no pessimist —I am an old man. The fact is that I believe as firmly as ever that God is ruling and guiding us, though in ways we do not know. -I have never regretted the day when I entered the service of Christ, and I believe the hope of the world is still in Him. " Now I am an old man. The responsibilities of office have passed, and I can read and think and pray, and use my leisure in such ways as I have learned to enjoy, and wait. That's where I stand." "Use of the Hands The archbishop's interest in mechanical things began when he was a small boy. Then, when his family was living in a fine old house —part of the palace of King Henry VII., any repairs to ■windows, clocks, or anything else about the house had to be done by his brother or himself. His father did not mind whether in attempting to mend a clock they broke it or not, and they became skilled in doing these things. * In this way was built up the liking for doing things with his hands, which has been 1 one of the archbishop's chief - delights in his leisure time. Through it he achieved a reputation as being able to mend clocks —a reputation that once in England caused him to be suspected of witchcraft. He has built clocks and many electrical devices for use about the house, and in the workshop in his garden he has spent many pleasant hours. "So in a rough way I can do my own plumbing, and so on, or look after electrical devices, or clocks or any piece of machinery," the aged prelate said. " I like to use my hands: I can think then. But I can't sit still and twiddle - my thumbs. I am thankful that in my old age, when I can't move about as much: as I used to, I have this thing that I can do." But the archbishop finds much in addition to occupy his spare time. He reads a great deal of modern writings on social and political questions, he reads theology and history—he has a special interest in the Stuart period. He is fond of music, and he obtains enjoyment from bis radio set, which has the additional attraction for him of providing another outlet for his mechanical bent. I