ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18159, 2 February 1921, Page 5

ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH

WELCOME TO DEAN AND MRS FITCHETi’.

A big gathering of parishioners of All Saints assembled in tire schoolroom last night to welcome Dean and Airs Fitchett, and to say farewell to the Rev. F. V. Fisher and Mrs Fisher, who are leaving to take charge at v Wyndham. The onair was occupied by Mr Sidney Mirams, parishioners’ churchwarden. The commencement took the form of a pianoforte duet pfayed by Dean Fitchett and Mrs Mason, after whudi the chairman, on behalf of the parishioners, extended a most sincere and affectionate '-welcome to the Dean and Mns Fitchett. They were indeed pleased,.he said, that Dean Fitchett had returned in such good health that on the first Sunday after his return he took two services. Mr Mirams referred to tho trying time experienced while waiting to get snip from Australia, and expressed the hope that Mrs Fitchett would soon be completely restored to health. While they had the greatest appreciation of the worn of Mr Fisher, and of the visiting clergy, particularly Mr Whitehead, the church had never seemed the same place' while the Dean was away. It seemed like a household that had temporarily lost its paternal head, and like the members of that household, they were always thinking about, him. Since hearing ot the departure of the Dean and Mrs Fitchett from England it was quite common to hear parishioners say, “The Dean will soon be back again.” They were glad to have him back, and ho would understand that their affectionate regard was still as strong as ever. Mr Mirams, in conclusion, intimated that ttey were determined that he. should have an assistant, however much he was incliued to do the work of the parish himself, and as soon as he should appoint Mr Fisher’s successor they were willing and anxious to receive him.

Dean Fitchett replied at some length, sitting in a chair and facing squarely to his parishioners. He remarked that he intended to have just a domestic talk; he was not speaking for publication, lie appreciated very much the kind words spoken by Mr Mirams,- and what he intended to say would be just a disconnected talk “in the family.” He began by intimating that in his journey he had circled the globe—quite literally, going by Panama and re- . turning by Australia, travelling always east. Under the conditions obtaining they never knew where the boat might go, and, as a matter of fact, they had spent the Christmas on the way Home at Nova Scotia. The sting of the trip, however, had come “in the tail," great trouble being experienced in getting from Australia to New Zealand owing to the stewards’ strike. Dean Fitchett gave a realistic impression of what that trying month had meant to them, the humour of his , description not cloaking .altogether the difficulties experienced. The greater part of his remarks were devoted to his impressions of the Church of England as seen at Home. He had attended cathedral services, but most of his time had been spent in ordinary English parishes, and his churchgoing was to ordinary parish churches. From the speaker’s remarks it appeared that the service in, some of these was of a highly ritualistic nature, but the preaching had not impressed him. True, it told .the “old, old story,” but it was on the level of the “Sunday school address.” He had heard only two sermons that had left an impress. One of these was delivered at a' very advanced ritualistic service in Sussex, processions with banners and lots of incense, and where the church was always crowded. The preacher was in middle life, a trained speaker, and what he had to say the people were, compelled to listen to. It was plain, uncoloured speech; but he noticed a disposition to drop to the trivial, the speaker evidently deeming that this served a purpose. The same applied to the other preacher, the sermon being delivered in a Jesuit church in Manchester, where “you really were' transfixed by the splendour of the place.” Yet the sermon “might have been preached in Knox Church.” The general criticism of the preaching of the Church was that it was not in touch with the time or the march of science, and Dean Fitchett passed on through this to the reports of the Archbishops’ Committee on the Church of England. The committee found that the Church had lost its hold jpn the working classes, . which had set up the Labour movement as its religion. The whole trend of extremist Labour revolution was sketched by the speaker, who also indicated how the Church, must meet pre-sent-day needs. He proceeded to speak of the Lambeth Conference, which had brought perceptibly nearer the union of Protestant churches by the adoption of the principle of reciprocal ordination. The leaders were far in advance of the ordinary clergy and church people, but the subject would be discussed in Synods all over the Empire, and the people would eventually come to understand what the nature of the proposal was.. More homely matters, and matters more directly connected with the parish church as a parish church, were frequently referred to by the speaker, who dealt appreciatively with the great care bestowed on church surroundings at Home, their appearance being very different from what was <he case in New Zealand. In bidding farewell to Mr Fisher, on behalf o£ the parish, Mr Mirams said that Mr Fisher had more than fully risen to the occasion, and that the parish could not have been in better hands during the time the Dean was absent.—(Applause.) Mr Fisher had organised the Men’s Club, which was a real live association. It had been of great value in bringing numbers of the parishioners and well-wishers to the church together. They had largely assisted the parish in social functions, and, to show their interest in church matters they had raised a great deal of. money, and handed the sum of £ll to the Ladies’ Guild. Mr Fisher had also' put the Young Peoples’ Club on a live footing. While they must sincerely congratulate Mr Fisher on his preferment, they were sorry that he and Mrs Fisher were leaving the parish. On behalf, of the parishioners, he wished them Godspeed and every happiness and success. Dean Fitchett said that when he went away he had full confidence that the arrangements he had made would work very well. He had been sure that Mr Fisher would be equal to the occasion, and his confidence had been fully justified. He had great pleasure in testifying to the value of Mr Fisher’s services 'in the parish. Assisted by Mr Whitehead, he had carried on splendidly, and he_ was sure he had a great future before him. Mr H. Black, on behalf of the Young Peoples’ Club, said that it was mainly owing to Mr Fisher’s close co-operation that the club had finished the year so successfully. They rejoiced, nevertheless, in Mr Fisher’s promotion. On behalf of the club he handed to Mr Fisher an umbrella, expressing the wish that Mr Fisher would receive it not for its slight intrinsic value, but for the spirit of real goodwill that prompted it. On behalf of the Sunday Schoolteachers he presented Mr Fisher with a Bible and Prayer Book. In acknowledging the gift. Mr Fisher said his connection with the parish had been the happiest three years of his life. The Dean had always been the kindest ,of fathers, and everybody in the parish had co-operated to make the work _ easy. The parish, by reason of the spirit pervading it. was not difficult to work. He naid a tribute to Sister Elizabeth and Mr Whitehead, and said they had been a happy family together in the work of the parish.

At intervals during the proceedings songs were rendered by Misses Ruby Holmes, Crotchett. Homer, and Rowntroe. and bv Messrs Black and Sumner. Mr A. W. Lilly, the church organist, played the accompaniments. Supper was served, and an enjoyable period of social intercourse followed.