BISHOPRIC OF DUNEDIN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1024, 15 July 1871, Page 17

BISHOPRIC OF DUNEDIN.

A special service was held in St. Paul's Church last week, at the conclusion of which the following Address, signed by the clergy and a number of the laity, was presented by the Rev. E. G. Edwards to Bishop Nevill, who leaves for England by the Nevada to-day :—: — To the Right Reverend Samuel Tarratfc, on his consecration to the Bishopric of Dunedin, We, the undersigned, the Clergy and Lay Eepresentatives of the v«rioua parishes and parochial districts in the Diocese of Dunedin, beg to offer our hearty congratulations upon the event which has placed you in one of the highest positions in the Church, and has also given to us a centre of union of which we have long felt the urgent need. We trust that your la re visit to the mosb important districts in this province has made you acquainted with the pressing wants of the Church ; and we hope that this, together with the cordial welcome which you appear everywhere to have received, will have considerable weight with you in fixing as early a date ac possible for your return from England, whither we understand you purpose going to make final arrangements previous to undertaking the regular spiritual oversight of the Diocese. We fully believe that you have already received sufficient encouragement to assure you of the hearty co-operation of both clergy and laity in carrying out any objects you may deem desirable for the advancement of the Church. Permit us to express our best wishes for the homeward and outward voyage of yourself and Mrs Nevill, and to subscribe ourselves, Your faithful and obedient servants. In reply, the Bishop said that in addition to the address then presented, he had already received everywhere throughout the Diocese expressions of good will, cordiality, and Christian feeling. However unworthy he felt himself to fulfil the exalted condition in which it had pleased Providence to place him, he should rely upon God for assistance, and he hoped to be aided by the prayers of those present, so that he might obtain sufficient grace. He had had no other opportunity than was afforded him then in that sacred place to render thanks from his heart for the token of good will he had just received, and for the kindness which he had met, not only from members of his own Church, but from very many of other denominations. Wherever he had been he had met with encouragement in his future work. It had been proved to his mind that the Church in this province had a sound basis ; that the utmost good feeling existed between the clergy and laity, and that they were closely united In the good work. During the short time he had held his present office he had laid the foundation of one church, consecrated another, and held two confirmations. From the evidence adduced by the officers of the Church of the work already done, and the progress made, a bright future for the Church could be relied upon. It was no mere sentiment he uttered, but he looked forward to a future of real work. He could not, while he stood before them, remember that not another day would pass before they were separated, without feeling the present moment one of great solemnity. It was, however, a source of rejoicing to him that in the Providence of God he would soon be able to rejoin his friends and fellow-workers of the past, though it was mingled with feelings of deep regret at parting with those amongst whom he had been so welcomed, and with whom he was to spend his future, in, he trusted, an unusually happy intercourse of all parties. The Eight Rev. gentleman then alluded to the parish in which he had laboured for so many years, and the bonds of union which, existed between himself, the churchwardens, vestry, choir, and Sunday school teachers, of whom there were no Icbs than fifty. There were many occasions, little known to his people, of anxiety and grief on the part of the pastor, and he trusted that it would be their endeavour to assist their clergyman at all times by their prayers that he might be enabled to carry on assiduously the work of his Master. Those who were officers of the Church he would ask to seek aid from God, the bestower of all grace, that they might be enabled to fulfil the task they had undertaken, and to look upon their duties not merely as a charge but as a loving work before God rather than their fellowmen — to seek grace with reverence and godly fear. There were many ways in which all could aid the work of the Holy Catholic Church. He stood there as a representative of the catholicity of the Church of God, for he represented both the Church at home and the branch here. He trusted that this feeling of catholicity would be an incentive to that unity which should exist between each member of the Church of Christ. He had spoken of the evidences of the life of the Church in this dloceße, but these things were not tokens of an outward life only, for though we constructed walls and bulwarks, they were but for the protection of the citadel

within. If permitted in the mercy of God to come back, he hoped soon again to take hiß place among them. A collection was made on behalf of a de'pofc to be established in Dunedin in connection with the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge. The benediction was then pronounced by the Bishop.