BISHOP WALLIS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1199, 22 February 1895, Page 40

BISHOP WALLIS.

THE CONSECRATION SERVICE. By ha If-past 10 on Friday morning (January 25) a large crowd had got itselt packed into the Church (St. Paul's), apparently in no way diminished by the service held earlier in the day. Admission was by ticket, a plan to which the smoothness of. all the arrangements was due. At each door the inflow of the orowd was regulated by a tickettaker ; inside the church every one found his place without inconvenience, and very soon every seat was full. A noticeable and striking- feature of the congregation thus quietly packed away was a contingent of young Melanesians from the Mission schooner Southern Cross, grave, reverent, self-pos-sessed, seated close to the organ. To them the Bishop of Salisbury referred in cordial terms later on, towards the end of the sermon, and when the crowd of communicants was making its'way to the rails, the contingent was with them, a verv prominent feature of the slowly moving reverent crowd.

At the appointed hour the choir of St. Paul's., reinforced by detachments from-the other choirs in the city, came into the church. When the members had taken their places, the organ pealed forth the Eighth Tone (Gregorian), the choir took up the 57th Psalm, and before they finished the procession of the clergy and bishops—a vast l number of the former, and seven of the latter —had accompanied the Bishop-elect into the church, and filled the sanctuary and all the spaces set apart for" them. The following was the order : '■•'■>• ■:•

I The Rev Joshua Jones led the' procession, I acting as Master of Ceremonies. Deacons — I The Revs Fitzgerald and Harrison, Tere and | Jenkins, Booth and De Castro, Young and j Tisdall. Visiting Priests—The Revs Windsor and Fitzgerald, McMurray and Webb, St. 1 Hill and Purchas. Diocesan Priests —The ! Revs Harper and Russell, Chapman and Devenish, Cameron and Ernera, Pineaha and Arana, Davis and Torke, Hermon and Aitken, Harvey and Innes-Jones, Kay. and McLean, Waters and Williams, Ballachey and McWilliams, Coffey and Dasent, Archdeacons Stock, Dudley, Govett and S. Williams. Chancellor—Mr W. H. Quick. Bishops—Bishop Cowie (Acting Primate), of Auckland ; Bishop Mules, of Nelson ; Bishop Williams, of Waiapu ; Bishop Julius, ■of Christchurch ; Bishop Wilson, of Melanesia ; Bishop Neville, of Dunedin; The Lord Bishop of Salisbury. The Rev Dr Wallis, Bishop-designate. Chaplain to the Bishopelect, Ven Archdeacon Fancourtj chaplain to the Bishop of Melanesia, Rev A. Brittain; chaplain to the Bishop of Waiapu, Rev St. Hill; chaplain to the Bishop of Nelson,. Rev T. B. McLean; chaplain to the Bishop of Christchurch, Rev W. Dunckley ; chaplain to the Bishop of Dunedin, Rev R. Coffey ; chaplains to the Bishop of Auckland (Acting-Primate); Revs McMurray, Beatty, Sprott; staffRev E. Cowie ; chaplain to the Bishop of Salisbury, Ven Archdeacon Towgood. The service was opened by the Bishop of Christchurch; the music was S+ainer's in " F," given with a full body of sound and much delicate, devotional singing by the choir. The Epistoler was Bishop Mules, of Nelson, and the Gospeler wa3 Bishop Neville, of Dunedin, the choir chanting the responses. After the Nicene Greed, the Bishop of Salisbury preached the sermon, which was most eloquent. . The sermon was appropriate to St. .Paul's Day, also to the occasion, which was typified by its title, ■" The Chosen Vessel." "The Lord said unto him, Go thy way, for he is a chosen vessel unto Me to bear My name before the Gentiles and Kings and the Children of Israel, for I will show him how great things he must suffer for My Name's sake." —Acts ix, 15 and 16. After the sermon the choir sang for the anthem the chorus *■■ How Lovely are the Messengers that Preach us the Gospel of Peace," from Mendelssohn's St. Paulv doing much justice to the telling words and more to the noble touching music, the Bishop-elect standing in the middle of the sanctuary and putting on his rochet the while. When the strains of the anthem had died away,the Bishopelect was presented to the Acting-Primate, after which ceremony the ChanceUor of the Diocese read the authority for the consecration ceremony about to be performed. The following is the document: —" Be it known unto you all, that: (1) th<* See of Wellington became vacant on October 9, 1893, by the resignation of the Most Reverend Octavius Hadfield ; (2) the Synod of the Diocese of Wellington delegated the nomination of their Bishop to the Archbishop of York and the Bishop of Durham ; (3) the Archbishop of York and the Bishop of Durham nominated the Reverend Frederic Wallis to the said Bishopric ; (4) the standing committees of the province have sanctioned the said nomination, and all that was necessary to be done by the Primate has been done for the consecration of the Bishop-elect at this time in your presence." '1 he authority having been read, the Bishop-elect made the declaration of due obedience, and when he had done the Litany (Bamby's arrangement) was intoned by the Incumbent, the choir, with the organ in support, taking up the responses, and the people joining in all over the church.

The hymn No. 353 havirjg been sung by choir and congregation, the Bishop-elect was questioned by the Priimite in- the manner prescribed, and made the due replies, after which the choir sang the anthem from Benedict's " St. Peter," " The Lord be a lamp unto thy feet," during which the Bishop-elect put on the rest of the pontifical habit. At once came the " Veni Creator Spiritus " (intoned by the Primate), in the old Gregorian, pealing from the choir. And then came the most impressing- pax-t of the day's ceremony, the " laying on of hands." The Primate in the centre, the Bishops on either side in a semicircle, all laying their hands on the head of the Bishop-elect kneeling before them—it was an impressive sight. The offertory (in aid of the country districts of the diocese) followed, and after the offertory che prayer for the whole state of Christ's Church. The Celebration came next, the Acting-Pri-mate celebrating. At the Communion large numbers presented themselves, the_ eight Bishops administrating, the " Gloria in Excelsis" was given with great spirit by the ohoir, and the service concluded in the usual manner. THE INSTALLATION. St. Paul's Pro-Cathedral was again crowded to excess in the evening, when the ceremony of installation was performed. Punctually at 8 o'clock the choir entered the church and took their seats, folio-wed shortly after, during the singing of hymn 393, '* Rejoice ye pure of heart," by the olergy and bishops. The Chancellor (Mr W. H. Quick), then read the deed of consecration, after which the newly-consecrated Bishop made his declaration, in which he promised

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" to respect, maintain and defend as Jar as in \ me lies, the rights, privilegesandliberties of this church and diocese," and to "rule over the diocese with justness and charity, show- ! ing myself in all things an example to the flock committed to my charge. The Ven. Archdeacon Fancourt then delivered the sentence of authorization, by which the Bishop is installed into " all the rights, authority and jurisdiction pertaining to D the bishopric." . This concluded the ceremony of installation, and the incumbent of St. Paul's (Rev I T H. Sprott) then intoned the evening service.' The first lesson was read by tho Ven. Archdeacon Fancourt, and the Rev R. Coffey read the second. The special Psalm 3 were the 84th, and 150th, the praises and responses were by Tallis, the canticles by Trimnell in F, and the anthem " The Earth is the Lord's," was also by Trimnell. The soloists were Messrs W. Warren and J. Prouse. The musical portion of the service was under the direction ot Mr R. Parker, and Mr T. Tallis Trimnell, Mus. Bac, Oxon;, presided at the organ. For an offertory he played an andante by Henry Smart. The collection was in aid of country districts. „. , The sermon was preached by Wallis, whose clear voice was heard witn tne greatest facility all over the church. His text was : St. Paul's Epistle to the, Galatians, sth chap., 13th verse :—" Ye, brethren, were called for freedom ; only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another. lhe sermon was most eloquent and impressive. At the conclusion of the sermon, the Bishop of Wellington pronounced the Benediction, and hymn 379, "Now Thank We All Our God," was sung as the procession ot clergy left the church.

THE PUBLIC WELCOME. A social gathering took place in the Drillshed on January 26 to welcome Bishop Wallis to his diocese. There was a very large attendance. Among those present were the Bishop of Salisbury, the Acting-Primate (Bishop Cowie), the Bishops of Christchurch, Dunedin, Melanesia and Waiapu, the local and visiting clergy, the Hon the. Premier and Sir James Prendergast. . The interior of the building had undergone a complete transformation. The bareness of the roof was hidden by varicoloured strips of cloth, whilst flags of al nations and of divers colours hung from every point of vantage. Over the mam entrance was a flag showing the arms of the Wellington City Council, and opposite to it at the other end of the building, and facing the visitors on entering, was the woid " Welcome" in bold letters, an almost unnecessary labouxyfor everything showed that. Behind this were lines and lines of flags artistically arranged, with banners filling up the smaller spaces. At the eastern side of the building a dais had been erected, surrounded by a railing ornamented with imitation flowers and flanked with richly-foliage'd pot plants. Here the chairman (the Ven Archdeacon Fancourt) was seated with Bishop Wallis, the Bishop of Salisbury, and some of the speakers. On other side of the building a platform had been erected for the orchestra, under the leadership of Mr Schwartz. The seating accommodation was inadequate, l and many had to stand during the.proceedings, which lasted upwards of two hours. During the evening the orchestra performed the following programme:—Overture, "Siege of Rochelle" (Balfe); "Mignon" (Thomas); "La Colombo" (Gounod) ; "Finale to Symphony in D" (Haydn); "God Save the Queen." About twenty lads from the Southern Cross sang a quaint native melody. __ . Bishop and Mrs Wallis arrived shortly after 8 o'clock, their arrival being the signal for applause. About twenty minutes were spent in friendly conyersation, after which the speech-making commenced. The Chairman said they had mot together that evening to give outward expression to the inward feeling of joy which they felt towards him who had come amongst them to be head of the Church of England in the diocese of Wellington. He read an apology for the absence of Lady Glasgow, who was prevented from being present in consequence of Lord Glasgow leaving for the South that evening. He had to express his sense and that of his fellow - clergy of the diocese of the high honour conferred upon them by giving them so learned a representative of the University of Cambridge to fill the office of bishop. Many of them had irf their minds an ideal of the man whom they wanted as bishop, but tbey were afraid that it would not be fulfilled; but he felt now that they had got their ideal. He had to express to the Archbishop of York and the Bishop of Durham, to whoin the clergy of the diocese had delegated right of nominating a bishop, their thankfulness for tho kindness and by them, and for sending such a man to -The. bishop of the diocese. He had also to express Ms sense of the honour conferred upon them fr? the Bishop of Salisbury assisting at the execration of their bishop. He offered Bishop Wallis, on behalf of himself and the clergy the laity of the diocese, a hearty welcome, plause.) He would promise him thev loving obedience and loyal support From his long experience and labours m Wellington he was confident the Bishop could count on the laity for their support as well as-on the clergy. (Applause.) The Chancellor of the Diocese (Mr W. H Quick) tendered to Bishop and Mrs Wallis, on behalf of the laity, a warm welcome. They felt that Bishcp Walks in coming out here, had made a great sacrifice; they had nothing brilliant to offer him. Mrs Wallis had also sacrificed a great deal. There were, however, some compensations which they could offer them in Sew Zealand. The people in this Colony looked upon matters in the Old Country as being crystallised and stereotvned On the other hand, everything is or?the move here. On the Bishop's first Citation to someof the country districts he might have to pass through dense #£*s» • but by the time of a second visit the trees would very likely have disap-

nave progressed, and a church would be built, and that church would be more in- | teres to him because it would be one , of his own. He tendered again a cordial and hearty welcome to Bishop and Mrs : Wallis on behalf of the laity of the diocese. (Applause.) Sir James Prendergast tendered on be- | half of the laity of the Church of England of the diocese a hearty welcome to Bishop Wallis, and desired to express their sincere gratitude to the Mother Country for having sent a man so eminently qualified to fill the responsible position to which they had invited him, 'and which he had accepted. It only wanted the stamp of those eminent bishops to •justify the people of Wellington in hoping that they were to be provided with the best that England could afford. There were no doubt many sincere, energetic, learned men in the Colony well qualified to fill the position, but they considered that if they resorted to the Mother Country they would get one with the experience and advantages arising from a knowledge ox the many movements existing at Home. The vacancy had been undoubtedly a prolonged one, but Bishop Wallis could rest assured that the attairs i of 'the diocese were in the hands of a man who had the respect of all." (Applause.) 'He begged again to welcome Bishop Wallis, and it was hot the least clairn he had upon their gratitude that he had brought with him the gracious lady who was present. The Hon R. J. Seddon, who was received with applause, remarked that it was the un.rr, <• • -I 1 1 «o. 1-. M

expected which always happens, as he little thought that he would be called upon to address them, a request which he considered a great honour. By the presence of Bishop Wallis in the Empire City a reproach had been removed f church people of Wellington, and he believed that in the Bishop they had the right man in the right place. He considered that His Lordship would have the assistance not alone of the Church people of Wellington but of all denominations in doing his duty. He would be wanting in his duty if, not alone on behalf of Wellington, but of the whole of New Zealand, he did not cordially: welcome His Lordship. (Applause.) Bishop Wallis, who, on rising, was greeted with continued applause, said he was thankful on behalf of himself and Mrs Wallis for the welcome given hitn that e ening—an inspiriting welcome which had been preceded by many other earnests of good feeling, for ever since they left Colombo they had received evidences of that hearty, warm welcome which awaited them in their new home. He felt he was not to be among strangers when he was coming to Wellington, and he always thought that if he made his home outside of England he would prefer, Wellington. It was a great joy to him to feel that he was placed in the midst of such active church life. He was not altogether a stranger to the people of the Colony, for he had relatives here. When he used to visit the Continent he felt what a small place England was, but during his journey out the feeling came more and more home to him that he was not going away from England, for after leaving Colombo they saw the British, flag everywhere, which was an evidence of that greatness which God had bestowed on Englishmen. In his old home at Cambridge there was a small stone to the memory of Henry Fawcett, on which were the words, " Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward." That was what they wanted in the Church of England—to work, to go forward, to win new victories for Christ. He felt that God had sent him to Wellington. He knew that the people of Wellington would support him, and that they would go forward to the place where God bade them travel. He knew from their kindness to himself since his arrival that they would work for God's honour and glory. (Applause.) The Acting-Primate said it was twentyfive years since, as a junior bishop, he took part in the consecration of Bishop Hadfield, and now as senior he took part m the ceremony the previous day. He thought it was very undesirable that bishops should return from the colonies to the Mother Country leaving their work half done. Bishop Selwyn was here 26 years, and had come by the direction of the Bishop of Canterbury, who also ordered him to return. Bishop Hadfield had laboured long amongst them, and merited retirement. Whilst they were waiting for the appointment to be made to the Wellington diocese many became impatient, and said that two or three had declined the bishopric, but this was not the first time that such positions were declined. He offered a most cordial welcome to Dr and Mrs Wallis. (Applause.) , The Bishop of Salisbury said he was not a stranger to the attractiveness of this new country, as he had been a great personal friend of Bishop Selwyn, from whom he had heard much about it, and it was always his desire that he might visit the country where Bishop Selwyn laboured. He had his highest hopes and expectations fulhlled by what he saw. He found bimselt in .New Zealand in no strange land, but at home among friends whose hopes he shared. T,he people at Home took a great interest in New Zealand, as it was a country in which many wonderful political experiments were being tried. He wanted to make it clear that anything he could possibly do for them amongst, his brethren at Home would be done. It should be the prayer of every Christian. man that the Church of England might grow stronger, for other Christian bodies would be none the worse for it. They had a bishop who would help them to grow in grace, whilst his abilities to govern had been fully shown in his successful management of a large body of undergraduates. Bishop Wallis had helped very much in the diocese of Salisbury by taking up, during his vacation, when he might have gone to the Continent, the work of the parochial clergy, and thus preparing himself, though unconsciously, for the work which God had

called hini to. His experience at the University would especially fit him for his episcopal work, for there he had an opportunity of knowing English character from youth to old age. If they , were founding a university college j here Bishop Wallis would be able to give I them very efficient help without in the ; least way forcing forward the interests of the Church of England, for the lesson learned ab the University was that there must be respect for other interests, while at the same time he would be a decidedly strong churchman. (Applause.) Bishop Neville said the church people of his diocese were filled with great thankfulness to Almighty God for having sent such, a man as Bishop Wallis to Wellington. Bishop Julius said there were parishes in New Zealand where the people thought they would be all right if tney had a good clergyman notwithstanding their own carelessness and indifference. In the same way they imagined that if they had a good bishop they would be all right. But they would not unless they were prepared to follow his lead. Speaking in the name of his clergy, he tendered Bishop Wallis a hearty welcome. They were thankful that he was settled in the Empire City, bringing with him his experience, for the legislators who came here from all parts of the Colony wanted their hearts touched. (Laughter.) The Bishops of Waiapu and Melanesia also gave brief addresses of welcome. On the motion of Mr W. Gill, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the chairman and to the bishops.