A BISHOP’S IMPRESSIONS

Otago Witness, Issue 3197, 23 June 1915, Page 63

A BISHOP’S IMPRESSIONS

LONG WAR ANTICIPATED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) GREITMUUTiI, June 21. Speaking to a Siar reporter, Bishop Sadher, 01 JNexson, said : “ i'ne general impression in England seems to be that the war will last a long time —probably two years from now. Intelligent opinion realises that the gravity of the situation is quite clear—that the struggle will be tremendous; but it is equally clear that it will end in victory for the Allies. The German stories of panic in England are ludicrous.' The Eeppelm raids are, of course, dangerous; but it is well to remember that up to the present they have occurred only in places which are only partially defended and in some places which are not defended at all. They nave not attacked the stronger places because they dare not, but coniine their attention to the weaker ones. IMPRESSIONS OF CHURCH LIFE. “From what 1 could gather, all the churches in Great Britain have been spurred into increased activity by the war. Political issues have to a large extent been dropped, and the churches have given themselves to their spiritual work—to the relief of the poor—and they have lent their organisations for national purposes. About 1000 of the Church of England clergy have volunteered for the front. I have no means of estimating the number of non-Anglican clergymen wiio have dono likewise, but I gather that they have gone to Jiie front in equally large numbers. “l n England spiritual life is reviving and church attendances increasing. In the West Coast interest I worked for the Colonial and Continental Church Society, which has been assisting this diocese for many years past. I have been successful in obtaining additional assistance for the next five years, after which time it will probably cease. In benefits to the diocese I obtained something like £ISOO, and I have four clergymen sailing from England on Thursday next, the 24th inst., 20 more leaving in September, and three next year. These are young men, and will work in mission districts; hence I am anxious to have the home mission fund strongly supported on the coast, particularly as a great proportion of these benefits will ultimately be used for the furtherance of church work in the western portion of the diocese.

“In the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces are the Eev. T. F. Taylor (who has since been wounded) and the Eev. C. J. H. Dobson (who was at Runanga, at Port Said). He had been been laid up with dysentery, and I have heard since my return that he had to go back to the hospital. Mr Eager, one of our readers, was in Cairo; Mr Chamberlain was on his way to the front; and probably two more of our men will be called up. This means that our work here will present serious difficulties for some time to come; but the church must take her share in national self-sacrifice. “My strongest conviction,” his lordship concluded, “ is that at the end of the war we shall be proud of Great Britain and especially proud of the part New Zealand has played in this great international struggle.”