ARCHBISHOP AVERILL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21932, 16 October 1934, Page 10

ARCHBISHOP AVERILL

POSSIBLE RESIGNATION SYNOD EXPRESSES CONCERN RETAINING HIS LEADERSHIP GUIDANCE STILL NECESSARY Resolutions seeking the rotentioUj of the services and guidance of Archbishop Averill and deploring the possibility of his resignation were unanimously carried at last night's session ! of the synod of the Diocese of Auck- j land. Canon J. Haselden said the clerical and lay members of synod desired to express to the archbishop their affection and loyalty, and they would deeply i deplore tho possibility of bis resigna- j tion. They also desired to express tho ; definite opinion that in the best in- ! terests of the diocese and the province j it was essential that his valuable ser- i vices and guidance .should be retained | for some time longer, and to assure j him of their prayers that Almighty : God would continue to him his present health and vigour. Mrs. Averill's Work Tho clergy aud lay members of synod also desired to express to him their very sincere regret that circumstances of health made it necessary for some measure of relief to be afforded to Airs. Averill from the strain of the maintenance of Bishopscourt, and requested that he would make some other arrangements as he might deem desirable. Further, that ho would convey to Mrs. Averill synod's very real sense of gratitude for all she had been to aud done for members, and assure her of their prayers that her health might be restored. Canon Haselden said the honour ot moving resolutions along these lines had fallen to him, as he had now been in the diocese 74 years and a member of the clergy for 53 years. Mr. C. J'. Tunks, on behalf of the laity, said it would be disastrous to the\diocese and'to the provinco if the archbishop were compelled to retire now. He was a leader and a man they could not spare. Mr. Tunks hoped that the archbishop and Mrs. Averill would gain the relief from their duties they were entitled to. The Rev. J. C. Fussell, speaking as one of the old country clergy, said he knew of nobody who was as welcome as the archbishop in the homes of the people in the country. The Rev. M. Te Paa said the archbishop might bo truly described as the father in God of the Maori people. Resolutions Carried Canon W. Fancourt considered that everything must be done to retain the leadership of the archbishop until the Church entered safer and calmer waters. _ Archdeacon W. J. Sitnkin and Canon E. H. Strong were among the others who spoke in praise of the archbishop's work and of the need for the continuation of his services. The resolutions were carried. In reply, Archbishop Averill said that many years ago he hod decided that on attaining the age of 70 he would consider his resignation. As he would attain that age before next synod, he had felt that he would have to place the position before members at this session. Although he had not been as vigorous himself in the past few years, he was thinking more of the health of Mrs. Averill, who had taken a great deal of work upon her shoulders. However, he would do what he could to secure some measure of relief, particularly for Mrs. Averill, and next year he hoped he would be able to give a short new lease of service in the Diocese of Auckland. Later tho Rev. R. G. Coats moved that synod, in view of the fact that the archbishop would be celebrating the silver jubilee of his epis'copate in January next, and the tenth anniversary of his election to the primacy in April, should respectfully request tho Standing Committee to make arrangements for the suitablo honouring of His Grace and the worthy celebration of his jubilee. The motion was carried.