ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL

Otago Witness, Issue 3196, 16 June 1915, Page 83

ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL

OF FOUNDATION W STONE. IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY. ■ The foundation stone of the new St. Cathedral, which is being built cn site of the old one at the corner of street and the Octagon, adjacent to Municipal Buildings, was formally laid the Bth instant. Before the ceremony timed to commence a very large including visitors from other dishad assembled at the corner of street, and stretched up the hill. temporary platform had been erected, this was occupied by a large number K{ people, including many clergy. rho which was performed by the and by the members of the Hviasonic Order, was most impressive. _4t 2.30 the procession arrived at the of the laying of the stone. Ihe mustered at the Masonic Hall. Kho Right Worshipful District Grand MasHter, Bro. T. S. Graham, representing the ■English Constitution, was at the head of Htho members of the craft, and presided at Hthe Masonic ceremony. District Grand ■Master Bro. D. Cooke represented the ■Scotch Constitution, P.P.J.G.W. Bro. D. ■G Sharpe the Irish Constitution, and Hp.G.M. Bro. T. Ross and G.S.W. Bra J. ■Barton, the New Zealand Constitution, Hand a large number of other Freemasons ■ were also present in their insignia of office. H The other procession started from the Hy.M.C.A. Buildings. It was headed by Hthe choir, and following came the BuildHing Committee, the lay members of the H Synod, the Bishop of Christchurch (Dr H Julius), the Bishop of Auckland (Dr Avenll), H and the Bishoto of Dunedin and Primate of ■ New Zealand (Dr Ncvill). The Mayor (Mr ■ j. J. Clark), in his robes of office, attended B by several councillors, was present. The ■ Rev. J. C. Small acted as Master of CereB monies, and Mr E. Hey wood (St. Paul s) B acted as organist. B Headed by two trumpeters, the proccs- ■ sion mounted the platform, the choir singB ing the processional hymn 504, " Thy Hand, 1.0 God, Has Guided.” The Freemasons ■ formed three sides of a square surrounding B the stone and facing up the street, and the ■ choir and members of the clergy occupied I the centre of the square. Front scats on ■ the platform were occupied by the Bishops I of Auckland and Christchurch, the Mayor, the Very Rev. Dean. Fitchott, and the Rev. W. T. Nevill (vicar of St. Paul’s). _ The Primate, taking his stand beside the stone, said: : “ Dearly beloved in the Lord, we are gathered together here to lay the foundation stone of a building which we humbly trust may in due time be consecrated as a house of God and ns the Cathedral church of this diocese. And first, let us praise God’s Holy Name for. the mercy and goodness with which He has so far prospered our • work; and let us further devoutly pray that He will bless all who are engaged in this work, and who in any way contribute to its completion. Psalm 84 was chanted —“ Quam Dilecta ” —and the Dean read the lesson, which was I Corinthians, iii, 10 to 17. Resnonses were then chanted, and the Lord’s Prayer .said. The Primate offered np prayer. Placing his hand on the stone he said: “ O Lord Josu Christ, Son of the living God, who art the brightness of the Father’s glory, and the express image of His Person, the one Foundation and the Chief Corner Stone; bless what we now do in laying this stone in Thy Name, and be Thou, we beseech Thee," the beginning, the increase, and the consummation of this our work ■which is undertaken to the glory of Thy name, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit livest and reignest, one God, world without end. Amen.” The stone was then laid by the Primate with the following words:—“ln the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, we place this foundation stone, in the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. Amen.” The silver trowel, which was handed to the Primate by Mr B. B. Hooper, was inscribed as follows:—“St. Paul’s Cathedral, Dunedin. Presented to the Most Rev. S. T. Nevill, D.D., Bishop of Dunedin and Primate of New Zealand, by Seddinsr and "Wheatley, F. and A.R.1.8.A., architects, and Basil B. Hooper, A.R.1.8.A., superintending architect. June 8, 1915.” lire foundation stone bore the following inscription: “ The foundation stone of this cathedral was laid by the Most Rev. S. T. Nevill, D.D., Bishop of Dunedin, and j Primate of New Zealand, on the Bth day of June, 1915; A. R. Fitohett being Dean; E. R. Nevill, vicar; J. J. Clark, Mayor of Dunedin; G. Simpson and Co. (Ltd.), builders; Sodding and Wheatley, F. and A.R.1.8.A., architects; Basil B. Hooper, A.R.1.8.A., supervising architect." The stone, a fine block of Coromandel granite, was presented by Messrs H. S. Bingham and Co,, of Dunedin. In the box laid under the stone there were copies of the Otago Daily Times, Otago Witness, Evening Star, Church Envoy, the Diocesan Statutes, Proceedings of last Synod, and a sealed bottle containing two documents. The Masonic ceremony was then proceeded with, and was performed with all duo ritual. The choir, under the direction of the organist, sang hymn 298, “ Hail, Eternal; by Whose Aid.” The D.G.M. offered up prayer, the D.G. Superintendent of Works submitted the plans of the etruc- . ture, and the D.G. Treasurer placed the scroll in the cavity. The stone was lowered with three pauses, under the charge of the D.G. Director of Ceremonies, and tho brethren gave the public grand honours between each pause The ecclesiastical service was then proceeded with. The Primate said:—“Here let tho true faith and fear of God, with brotherly love, ever abide; and may this place now set apart with, prayers, and with ■ the invocation and praise of the Most Holy ii Name, bo evermore the Temple of the Most High God, through Jesus Christ our S' Lord. Amen.” Offerings from parishes were placed on the stone, and a general collection was | taken up. Tho Prima ■ then spoke briefly. | Bishop Nevill said it had been laid down | that no speeches were to be given that p afternoon, but he could not allow the occa- % (ion to pass without tendering bis thanks I to those who had com© from a very great ,r distance to show their sympathy and in;iereat in that day’s work. Ho specially

thanked the Bishop of Christchurch and the Bishop of Auckland. He esteemed very highly indeed the brotherly affection they had shown to him in coming to the starting of a work which they know he had taken an interest in for a great many years He also thanked the Mayor of Dunedin and the councillors who had accompanied him for tho'manifcstation they made by their presence of the fact that the event of laying the foundation stone had more than merely a denominational significance. He thanked them for their presence, and he further thanked his Worship for his kindness in offering the use of the municipal buildings in so far as they might be required. He also thanked the brethren of the Masonic Order for the manner in which they had conducted the ceremony. He. thought the symbolic rites they had performed were quite consistent with the sacred character of the undertaking. He had only further to say that alms would now bo collected. A great deal had yet to be done. It had gone abroad that they had all the money they required, and that, in a technical sense, was right. They had raised sufficient money to meet the benefaction whica a former citizen of Dunedin had left to them, but they wanted not only a building but that that building should be rendered suitable in every way, so that when the building was complete it might be suitably furnished for the purposes for which it was intended. The hymn 394-, “Oh, Lord of Hosts, Whoso Glory Fills,”, was sung, followed by a prayer by the Primate, and the general singing of the National Anthem, after which the procession was rc-formcd and returned by the way it had come, the choir singing the Recessional Hymn, “To Thee, Our God, We Fly.”

THE SOCIAL FUNCTION. LARGE ATTENDANCE IN THE GARRISON HALL. In the evening there was a very large attendance at the Garrison Hall, when a social function was hold to celebrate the laying of the foundation stone, and a number of speeches were delivered. The Primate (Dr Ncvill) presided, and on the platform were Drs Julius and Averill (Bishops of Christchurch and Auckland respectively), Dean Fitchett, Ai'chdeacon Woodthorpe,- the Mayor of Dunedin (Mr J. J. Clark), Dr P. Marshall, and a number of others. The Primate announced that the contributions at the ceremony that afternoon totalled £37o.—(Applause.) They would sympathise with him when he said that the day was cue of rejoicing and of satisfaction.—(Applause.) They were favoured with suitable weather, which contributed no little to the success of the ceremony. _ Ho was sure all the kind and dear friends who had worked with him for so many years in the attainment of this much of their enterprise would rejoice with him in the satisfactory termination of their efforts so far.—(Applause.) He spoke particularly of the work of the several bodies connected with the erection of the Cathedral —the Cathedral Board, the Building Committee, and other subordinate committees, who had helped by the kindly surrender of much of their time and a groat deal of ability, and an ungrudging disposition to aid him all through this long effort. The Primate went on to refer to those who had assisted _ the movement. One gentleman who had given considerable help was Mr George Gray Russell—(applause),—who not only gave_£1000 before ho left this country, but intimated that if four other persons would each give £IOOO he would give another £IOOO. He wrote to Mr Russell some time ago saying he was in a position to claim that extra £looo.—(Applause.) He also informed Mr Russell that he hoped at some time a magnificent tower would be built in connection with the Cathedral, and ho would like Mr Russell to allow him to call it the Russell tower. (Applause.) Mr Russell was honoured with the idea, but said he had no notion of being placed so high i.p. — (Laughter.) Well, a tower might yet be built and receive that honoured name. — (Applause.) The Primate went on to speak about the value of a cathedral church as distinguished/ froim a parish church, and said it seemed to him they had done right in what they had done so far. —(Applause.) He could not expect to see that building completed, but he would bo content to see that portion of it completed which they had that day begun.—(Applause.) He had faith enough to believe that successive generations would follow on to the completion of that which they had now begun and gladly contribute all that was necessary to its final confirmation. —(Applause.) The Mayor said that he voiced not only the sentiments of the people of Dunedin, but of the province of Otago, for all joined with him in congratulating, first, the Primate on that day having seen the commencement of what had been his ideal. Doan Fitchett said that the church was introduced into the province of Otago some 60-odd years ago, as an exotic —a plant alien to the soil. Otago had been settled by Presbyterians—now, and for many years, the very good friends of the Church of England. —(Applause.) But 60 years ago the Anglicans were thought to bo rather intruders. The first Anglican service w'as held in the gaol, and afterwards Anglicans were advanced to the courthouse.—(Laughter.) On June 3. 1862, Bishop Harper, of Christchurch, laid the corner stono of St. Paul’s Church. The 53 years that had passed since then had scon many changes. There were now 12 congregations _ in the city and suburbs, and in the diocese over 150. At the Synod meeting opened that week there was a roll number of SO or more, half of whom were diocesan clergy. The diocese had bad the good fortune of being administered for 44 years by the same bishop. When Bishop Ncvill arrived ho found a diocese unorganised, and groat in extent—as large as Ireland, he often said, and as poor. For years the bishop’s income was loss than the stipend of some of the clergy. Matters had changed considerably since then. That day they had laid the foundation stone of a great cathedral, and this was the culminating point of Bishop Ncvill’s long career. They had been entrusted with large sums of money for the cathedral—between £50,000 and £60,C0O —the larger part from the legacy of an Otago churchman. Mr Harrop.—(Applause.) This now amounted to over £30.000, and was in the Public Trust. Tire other £20,000 was given by the people, and help had been received from many benefactors not members of the Anglican community.—(Applause.) They were .laying the stone at a solemn moment in the country’s history, not unmindful that the thoughts of the people should be on the great Imperial crisis. But it was fitting that an enterprise such as they were engaged in celebrating that night should

occupy their . attention. Tho better the churchman, the better tho citizen would be, the better tho patriot, and the better the Soldier of tho Empire.— (Applause.) Bishop Julius, who was warmly welcomed, said, if a bishop was ever to accomplish good work, ho must have the gift of vision, or he would accomplish nothing.-—(Ap-plause.) Bishop No rill came t o this district when the diocese was great in area and small in organisation, and yet began to say, “We must have a cathedral.” —(Applause.) It might take him some time to attain his object, but ho was content to proceed slowly. Many obstacles had been overcome. But they were the old troubles —tho troubles that Zachariah had to face in his day. Ho hoped Dunedin would now go to work and build and finish this cathedral, and in 50 years let them pull it down and build a bigger one. —(Applause.) In his diocese tho fathers had looked out, and said: ‘‘Wo don’t believe in a diocese without a cathedral,” and they laid out a site for it in tho middle of Christchurch.—(Applause.) Coming from that diocese, and remembering all the founders had done for tho church in his province, ho was glad, on liis visit here, to witness the success tho bishop had achieved in his object, and to eco tho support the people were giving to him. —(Applause.) The bishop had had plenty of difficulties; but he had won the regard of his'people, and had lived, in the providence of God, when he might, in his old age, lay the foundation stone of tho cathedral that was to ho. —(Applause.) He hoped the people would realise that tho biggest visions God could ever put into their souls were the things to strive for, and that the higher the aim, the greater one’s hopes, tho more would God bless and prosper them. —(Applause.) Bishop Averill was greeted with cordial applause. The reason he and his wife had corno to Dunedin was, first of all, to express their deep sympathy with tho event of that day, and on behalf of the North Island and tho northern dioceses he offered their sincere congratulations to the Primate on the laying of the foundation stone.—(Applause.) The present was a very suitable time to start the Cathedral. If they honoured God by giving to him their very best they would help the rising generation to have a real reverence for holy things. Ho was sure, therefore, that at the present time they were doing what was right in starting tho erection of a Cathedral for tho honour and glory of God. —(Applause.) He was thankful the work had been started at this time in our history, because wo said we were actuated by spiritual ideals in the war now raging, and he believed they were perfectly right.—(Applause.) But they must make these spiritual ideals spiritual realities, and every such work as that was a work in tho right direction—a step in the inculcation of those truths whch alone would bring blessings out of this war and make the world a better place than it was to-day.—(Applause ) Wo could not' be content with little buildings put up “because they would do.” We must use tho best God bad given to us, and put into our Cathedrals our highest efforts. He congratulated tho -Church and tho people of Dunedin on what they had done, and what they were about to do. Ho congratulated the Mayor, whoso speech was very much' enjoyed by them all that night.—(Applause.) He also congratulated tho city of Dunedin on what was going to bo a most valuable asset to it. —(Applause.) Dr Marshall, on behalf of the laity, offered the Primate his hearty congratulations on being able that day to lay the foundation stone of this centre of worship of the diocese.

During- the evening musical items were rendered by Mrs . Gibson, Misses Lucy James, and Helen Gard’ner, and Messrs S. Lawson and T. W. Oaten. Refreshments were provided in the hall at tho end of the meeting by tho united ladies’ guilds of the City Cathedral, All Saints’, St. Matthew’s, Roslyn. Mornington, St. Peter’s, Caversham, St. Martin’s, Anderson Bay,.and Holy Cross parishes. The following amounts were placed in envelopes on tho foundation stone from churches:—Waimea, £ls 6s 7d; Wanaka, £3 14s; St. Leonards, 15s 6d; Wakatipu, £2 ss; Gladstone, £3 6s lOd; Miller’s Flat, ss; Taieri and Green Island, £7 Os 6d; Maniototo, £25 12s 6d; Holy Innocents, £1 ss: St. Barnabas (Warrington), £2 8s 6d; Solwyn College, £2 16s 8d; Oamarn, £7 3s 6d; iSt. Matthew’s, £25: Waikouaiti, £7 7s; Port Chalmers £2 17s 6d; Kaitangata, 15s; , Warrington £1 4s 7d; (Stirling, £2 6s 3d: Riverton, £lO 16s 6d; North-East Valiev. £7 7s; .Winton, £3 10s: All Saints, £3O 10s; Mornington, £8 8s; Gore, £5 ss; Palmerston, £3; unknown, 7s 9d; Roslyn, £7 2s 6d; Holy Trinity (Port Chalmers), 10s; Roxburgh. £2 2s; —total, £l9O 14s sd. Amounts contributed from other sources brought the total to £372 2s.