AN ESTEEMED CLERIC

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22268, 22 May 1934, Page 10

AN ESTEEMED CLERIC

FAREWELL TO BISHOP RICHARDS PUBLIC PRESENTATION TRIBUTES FROM CLERGY AND LAITY The esteem in which Bishop Kiehards is held not only by (he Anglican communion but by all sections of the community and the respect he has won during his 40 years of service in Otngo and Southland were expressed last evening, when, on the eve of- his retirement, from flic bishopric of Dunedin, a largo and representative gathering of the public assembled in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall to bid him farewell and picsent him with a tangible token of appreciation. Archdeacon Fitchctt presided, and in addition to the clergy of Dunedin and suburban Anglican churches, there

CHAIRMAN'S REMARKS. Archdeacon Fitchett said that the bishop was with them again after an absence of some weeks, and he wished, on behalf of those present, to welcome him back among them and to express pleasure at his looking so we'll. Unfortunately, illhealth had necessitated the bishops resignation of the diocese of Dunedin. This would take effect at the end of the present month, and it was certain when the news of his retirement was announced there was no member of the church who did not feel regret that ill-health was tho cause. The relaxation from the arduous duties of the diocese had already helped partly to restore him to health, and it was hoped that this improvement would continue and that his years of retirement would be spent in health and comfort. Dr Richards had been. 14 years a bishop, but his connection with the church dated back earlier than that, and while it was difficult to say farewell and break the old association, it was pleasant to do something and pay him some material tribute. In saying farewell to the bishop they did so with all sincerity, mul hoped that he would, indeed, fare well during his time of retirement. To enable him to do so, they proposed to make him a presentation, which they trusted bring, him the comfort and happiness which he had so well earned. A RECORD OF SERVICE. Mr W. J. Morrell said he felt that a high and responsible duty had been laid on him when he had been asked to act on behalf of and express the feelings of the church people as a whole, who wished to show in some tangible form their warm love and esteem for their bishop. Although he hailed from the same country as the speaker (Devonshire), the bishop was really an Otago man, as of the 48 years he had been in New Zealand 40 had been spent in Otago. He came to Dunedin as warden of Selwya College, but for the greater part of his time in thu province he carried out the responsible and exacting duties of parish clergyman, in which capacity he .was respected and beloved by all with whom he came in contact. He had the precious gift of sympathy, and, while he shared the joys and sorrows of his parishioners, they shared his. Indeed, it was not so many years ago that as a cricketer he had also taken part in their recreations. For some years he held the responsible position of archdeacon, and in 1920 he was elected bishop of the diocese. It would be presumption on the part of a layman to attempt any full ap praisement of the bishop's work in the diocese, but one thing that could be said with confidence was that he had carried out his high and exacting office with the utmost and most unswerving devotion. Every member of the diocese was grateful to him for the manner in which he had carried out the duties of his episcopate in particularly trying times.—(Applause.) In doing so, he had used vision, and had set his eyes on the things that were highest—the things unseen and eternal. His special qualities and individual gifts, his fine character and personality, his sense of the beauty of holiness, and his high ideals had helped to build the spiritual fabric of the church in Otago, and he had made individual and valuable contributions to the history of the church in the diocese. He was a man among men, and of him it could be said confidently that there wa« no one who came into close contact with him, who did not hold him in the highest personal esteem and regard. He had always displayed a consistent interest in Christian education, both before and during his episcopate, and the authorities in charge of St. Hilda's College knew how much he had done for that school, and were grateful for his interest and support. Dr Richards was strong for the continuity of tradition. He had a high sense ,of the mission of the Anglican Church, but his sincerity of character and simplicity of faith made him respected not only among his own churchmen, but among the members of other churches as well. "We exteud our thanks to God,' said Mr Morrell in conclusion, "for the work he has been able to do in this diocese. The memory of his line character and personality will linger long in the minds of all those who have had the privilege of knowing him." Mr Morrell then handed to Bishop Richards a cheque, which he said carried with it the goodwill, love, and gratitude of the people of the Diocese of Dunedin. A SUCCESSFUL APPEAL.

Mr S. Dunkley, who, under the auspices of the Standing Committee of the diocese, organised the appeal, of which the presentation was the outcome, said that it had met with such an enthusiastic response that a considerable amount in excess of the sum aimed at was raised. Mr Dunkley went on to express his warm personal regard for Bishop Richards, and paid a tribute to the work of Messrs J. Breen and S. Jflgo, who had assisted in bringing the appeal to a successful issue. He also thanked organisations outside the Anglican Church, which had volunteered to defray all the expenses of the campaign, so that every penny collected could be devoted to the purpose for which it was intended. TRIBUTE FROM CHRISTIAN CONGREGATIONS. On behalf of the Council of Christian Congregations, the Rev. P. Paris expressed that body's high appreciation of Bishop Richards's work in the city and the diocese. They of the non-episcopal churches hud always revered him because he wag a devout, able, scholarly, and saintly bishop of Christ's Church, and they appreciated his public utterances which they realised were the words of a man, a great churchman, a great scholar, and a great Christian. They all knew of his concern for the le6s fortunate in life, and' his practical sympathy towards them, and their hearts had gone out to him in love and reverence. Bishop Richards was an ideal chairman, and he (the speaker) could recall some wonderful and gracious meeting under the chairmanship of the bishop in his own home. Whilst it was outside the Anglican communion, the council had come into close contact with the bishop, and the closer they had come to him and the better they knew him. the greater love the. members had for him. They all prayed that ho might have a long and golden eventide in his retirement.

THE BISHOP'S REPLY.

Bishop Richards, who was greeted with prolonged applause when ho rose to reply, said he was glad to be back in Dunedin and among his old friends. He thought Dunedin was the most beautiful of the larger cities of the Dominion, and he loved it, not so much for its beauty as for its other associations, for to him its real attraction was the very dear friends he had made in the diocese. He had been in the diocese nearly 40 years, and during that time he had got to know a large number of people, all of whom had treated him with exceptional kindness. He greatly appreciated the gener-. ous gift, and he was grateful to the givers. He was also grateful for the many kind things that had been said, and while he really could not take them to himself, they expressed to him an ideal which he would endeavour to live up to. A bishop's work was strenuous, and involved a great amount of speaking and travelling, but through it all he had been very nappy, and he trusted that his successor would be equally so. He had at all times met with universal kindness from the clergy with whom he had stayed, and the laity, and he considered that the diocese was greatly blessed in having in every parish or district, large or small, a nucleus of thoroughly sound church people. He could not speak highly enough of the loyalty and devotion they had displayed in the advancement of the work of the church, and he hoped that they would extend the same loyalty to liis successor. Bishop Richards went on to express appreciation of the presence that evening oi the representatives of other denominations, for he realised that strong bonds of union existed between those who were serving the Master, and. he was happy to have been able to do something to get iuto effective touch with the ministers of non-episcopal churches. The one great aim of tbe Church was to serve, and to learn to serve was to learn to "I thank the people ot Dunedin,'said Bishop Richards, in conclusion. "1 shall forever have them in my heart, and when in Christchurch my heart will ever be returning to Dunedin." Following his remarks, the bishop pronounced the benediction, and the reciting of the Lord'6 Prayer and the singing of the National Anthem brought the function to a close. During the evening an enjoyable programme of vocal and elocutionary items was contributed by Mioses D. Drake and F. Simmer and Mr H. Drake (songs), and Miss K. Falconer (recitations).