A NEW AGE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9719, 23 July 1917, Page 3

A NEW AGE

ITS INAUGURATION TO BE COMMEMORATED BY A CATHEDRAL. AX ANGLICAN IDEAL. Some memorable words wore uttered by the Bishop of Wellington recently, which will bear repetition. Speaking of the proposal to erect a cathedral in the capital city of the Dominion, ho said:

“The age which in and through the great war is passing away, will bo known in history as an age pre-emi-nently materialistic in its view of the work! and life, it was an age in which faith in the spiritual, the unseen, the eternal, seemed to bo utterly perishing out of the hearts of men. The worship of God was rapidly being supplanted-—for man must worship something—by the worship of the twin deities of Materialism; Mammon and Moloch —Wealth and Power. If it be true that the German x>ooples became the votaries of Moloch, it is equally true that we had become the votaries of Mammon. Neither deity had any use for cathedrals. It, as a recent writer remarks, Moloch shelled cathedrals, Mammon despised them. How, then, could we better inaugurate the new Ago than by the erection in this capital city of our country of a great and noble cathedral, which, by its prominence, its beauty, and its dignity shall witness to men, even to those who can sec only with their outward eyes, that there is a nobler worship than that of Mammon and Moloch, and which shall be the symbol to generation after generation that there is a nobler and wider citizenship than the restricted citizenships of earth, oven citizenship in that spiritual and universal Commonwealth whose Builder and Maker is God ? I am convinced that this is the day’ and this the hour at least to begin this work, and I think that the scheme to bo submitted. to you will show you that, if only we have a little faith, a little courage, and a little hope, the task will not prove beyond our powers.” These eloquent* words seem to body forth the aspirations and faith of tho Anglican community. They have set out to build a cathedral with the idea that if man is the noblest work of God, a cathedral is the noblest work of man. The gross materialism of tho ago, its absence of great ideals, the poverty of its art, are clearly soon in the failure of modern civilisation to reproduce works of art and faith equal to the great cathedrals ot Prance and Britain. These great works were not done -by contract; they were work of a community of mpn who put their souls into their work—for the love of the work, not for their wages. The genius than built these venerable piles has gone, perhaps never to return, and the world is the poorer for tho loss. The earnest attempt being made by the Anglicans of the community to erect d cathedral worthy their faith and as a noble token of the belief in the things unseen which are eternal merits the support and praise of all who believe that architecture should .embody the character of a people. Wellington is poor in architectural monuments; there are few buildings in this city upon which tho eye can rest with a noble pride or artistic satisfaction—and all who love the noblest of arts should feci glad at the prospect that amidst so much reared for profit a building should stand as a symbol of faith and an embodiment of beauty and the pride man has in the work ot his hands. Tho new cathedral will he a beautiful Gothic edifice, standing on the site occupied by St. Mark’s, overlooking tho Basin Reserve. This is one of tho finest sites in the city. Situate in tho heart of Wellington, it confronts the commanding site now occupied bv the barracks, which in all likelihood will be the site of a great national building in days to come. Behind it is the Bovs’ College and the grassy slopes of the Town Belt. It will stand on ground some thirty feet above the level of the street. Tho scheme has been taken up enthusiastically by tho vicar of St. Mark’s, Rev. O. P. Askew.

Before lie, came to'New Zealand, Mr Askew 'ministered to the spiritual welfare of citizens of a cathedral city in England. He was much impressed with the fact that Wellington had no more worthy places of worship than wooden buildings, which at most could not last for many years longer. He felt it was a reproach to the Empire City to bo in such a position, and since the commencement of the war he has been more convinced that something should bo accomplished in the nature of a me. morial to the manhood who have served and are serving the Empire on the field of battle for justice and right. The people’s imagination would only have to be touched, he argued, and there would 'ho a genuine response to a scheme to build a cathedral as a thanks-offerhig from the country to the men who come back, and a memorial to those who had made the great sacrifice. There were thousands of citizens whoso dear ones would return to them, and his idea is that the cathedral should he regarded as a collection of memorials from a grateful community, so that those willing and able might provide means to erect the various parts of the great whole. ‘‘lt is the duty of every citizen to help the returned soldier, some of whom have lost limbs, and to Help them as far as possible, but there was a danger of forgetting the men who woOld never come hack. The hravCj loval hearts that lie on the Gallipoli peninsula, in France, in Egypt and elsewhere. Remember the living, but don’t forget the dead, and the danger of forgetting our dead exists,” said the vicar.

The scheme for the erection of the cathedral was placed before Synod and enthusiastically adopted. No time was lost in getting plans submitted, and that selected was a beautiful architectural drawing by Mr Frank Peck, F.R.1.8.A., a gentleman who has made a'special study of ecclesiastical architecture. For eight and a half years he was chief assistant to Sir Aston, Webb. one of the world’s greatest architects. and later was in practice in Westminster for eighteen years. The scheme is now well under way. Mr Askew has no misgiving as to its success. and recognises that many parts of the building will he given as a memorial and as a thanks-offering for the return of a son or a brother. Although the scheme lias not. been long b'fove the public, the “um of CS2!000 has been subscribed or pro-nd-ed already. B?-.dr- the baonstry. the co»t of eight, pillar- and other parts of the edifice have been pro-

misod. Provision is being made so that everyone may subscribe from tho modest sum of -s Gd upwards, so that all may have their part in the great work. * The organiser anticipates that the sum of £50.000 at least will bo subscribed before April, 191 S. He purposes visiting England later on. and approaching the British Church people for funds to build a memorial military chapel. In this chapel it is hoped the colours of the Allies, as well as tho.se of the .. • different New Zealand regiments, banners of the .several Governors, past and present, and features symbolic of the New Zealand regimental companies will _bo placed. "The chapel should be. to New Zealand what "Westminster Abbey is to Kngiand. I fool that in tho course ot time it will become a national memorial to the- intellect of the DominionFor instance, busts of New Zealand poets might be placed there—-don’t you think the writer of ‘Not Understood’ deserves a place of honour — busts of ' artists, statesmen, literary men, and so on should find an honoured place on its walls. It should bo a chapel, not only for worship, but for memorial purposes as well—a repository of the history and traditions of the Dominion,” aaiti -Mr Askew. Speaking to a- "Times’* reporter, the vicar of St. Mark’s said that it was hoped that the different parishes would undertake the furnishing of the chapel. One might furnish the chancel, one tho electric fitting, another 'the marble tiling, and so on. Parochial districts might help in a similar way. “Tremendous interest and enthusiasm is being evinced in the scheme, and I have not the slightest doubt as to its success. The first donation received. was from a Baptist, who sent the following letter; ‘Although a Baptist, please allow' me to record my apSrociation of the Anglican Church’s ecision to erect a cathedral in Wellington, and the effort you are making to that e.ud. I have an intense loyo of church architecture and a conviction that the best work of our architects and builders should be put into the hoitso of worship. I pray that it may mark the beginning of an increased effort in raising tho spiritual tone of our community, and that your church’s work; with others, may bo blessed accordingly by our common Lord.’ A substantial donation was also received from the staff and pupils of the Marton Diocesan School, and with such encouragement' success is assured.”