THE SEE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 1892, 8 May 1890, Page 31

THE SEE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

ARCHDEACON JULIUS CONSECRATED BISHOP. Chiustchujkcii, May 1. Archdeacon Churchill Julius was consecrated bishop and installed Bishop of Curistchurch. The consecration took place in at the Christchurch Cathedral on the Ist inst. Exactly as the clock struck 11 the organist gave out the tune of Sir Arthur Sullivan's martial setting of the hymn " Onward, Christian soldiers," and the procession entered ; from th» western doorway. The clergy and cathedral canons headed the procession after the choir, and lined the top of the aisle as the bishops aud bishop-elect passed up into the chancel to take their seats, the tall slight figure of the now properly constituted primate closing the procession. He, too, opened the consecration service; Bishop Nevill rendering the commandment and epistle ; Bishop Suter taking the gospel. What may be called the preliminary part of the consecration service is short, and lasted barely half an hour. The primate's sermon on the text from Ist of Timothy iv, chapter 16, " Take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine," was also short, lasting some 15 minutes only, and concluded with an earnest exhortation to the new bishop. Then followed the climax, if it may be so called, of the ceremony of consecration. The primate having seated himself within the communion rails, Bishop Suter took up his position on the south side, aad Bishop Harper on the north, ready to present to him Archdeacon Julius. The bishop-elect having retired to the vestry and returned vested in his rochet, tho two elder dignitaries take him by the hand, and the Bishop of Nelson in his sonorous voice speaks

the few words of presentation, and the chancellor (Hon. H. D. Gresson) reads the primate's mandate, the authorisation for the ceremony. In a clear, decided voice the archdeacon promises obedience to the superior powers, and the litany is most beautifully sung, the intoning being done by the Rev. Walter Dunkley, minor canon. The service throughout was Stainer's, in B flat, and one more devotional and more suited to the occasion it would be hard to find. In the same clear, unhesitating, decided tones as those in which he made his vow of obedience before the Litany, the bishop made his answers at the close of that solemn portion of the Church of England liturgy to what might almost be termed the examination clauses of the service of consecration. This ended, he retired once more for a brief space to the vestry, attended as before by the Rev. Francis Knowleg and the cathedral verger, and returned in the full vestments of a bishop to take his position again in front of the primate. The dean's hymn, specially written for the consecration and set to music by Mr G. F. Tendall, a solemn and appropriate composition, was then sung, followed by " Veni Creator Spiritus " in unison and without organ accompaniment, the whole congregation meanwhile kneeling devoutly. This impressive music was the prelude to that final imposing laying on of hands, with which this rare service practically concludes. The tall figure of the Primate, the group of bishops gathered round the kneeling candidate for the highest holy office of the Anglican Church, the strong features, commanding forms, and evidently marked individuality of those who Jreverently placed their hands upon their brother bishop, with the venerable head of the late primate bowed among them, formed a picture that must dwell long in the minds of those who saw it. The actual act of consecration was thus performed, the service lasting in all about an hour and a half. Most of thecongregation then left the building, but a very large number stayed for the communion service afterward 3. The communicants numbered 170, 57 of whom were clergy. When the bishop left the cathedral he was heartily cheered by the crowd assembled in front of the building. In the evening, when the installation service took place, another large congregation assembled in the cathedral.