BISHOP OF CHRISTCHURCH

Otago Witness, Issue 3757, 16 March 1926, Page 56

BISHOP OF CHRISTCHURCH

DEPARTURE FOR DOMINION CITIZENS’ DEEP REGRET. •From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, January 21. Much local interest centred round the reception organised by the Mayor and Mayoress of Bartow in honour of the Bishop of Barrow-in-Furness and Mrs West-Watson prior to their departure for New Zealand. Those on the platform included Alderman Fairbairn (ex-mayor). Canon Symes, Father Delany, Rev. D. Hinchcliff (mayor's chaplain), and Mr Thomas Jackson. The Mayor said they were gathered together with mixed feelings of regret jnd Pleasure. They ail regretted very much indeed that the Bishop of Barrow was about to leave them, but they found pi .sure in the fact that he was leaving them for preferment in the Church. He had been amongst them since 1919, and he had gained for himself the title of "Our Bishop."—(Ap plause.) He had proved himself to be a n.an of great breadth of mind and, unliks many people who talked a great deal about the unity of the churches—and remembering that an ounce of practice was worth a ton of theory—the Bishop had shown on every possible occasion that lie was sincerely and anxiously desirous to see complete unity amongst all the Christian organisations of the town.— (Applause.) There had not teen a call for assistance for any worthy cause but what the Bishop had been 0..1y too willing to support. Because of the ex ceeding charm of the Bishop’s personality, they had very often forgotten the fact that he was a very accomplished scholar and that he left his university with he highest pos sibie honours, but beneath the modest demeanour which he exhibited there had been the man of great scholarly attainments. He had never paraded that before them, but had always been willing to do his best to render assistance even to the most humble cause. Now the Bishop was leaving old England for the new England beyond the seas, and he was quite certain in that country of sunny skies and clear atmosphere that the people of New Zealand vould not be long before they realised the wonderful personality of the Bishop.— (Applause.) In a very short time he would endear himself to the people with whom he came into contact in that far away country in the same way as he had done during his presence among the people of Barrow and district. “Dr West-Watson,” said the Mayor, in ctnclusion. “ you leave Barrow with the be3t wishes of every one of the inhabitants, we wish you well in the larger sphere of labour upon the great field of the Church's endeavour to which you have been called, we v/i3h you every prosperity, good health, and success in th*- great work to which God has been pleased to call you; and we hope that you will continue to have the great support and assistance of Mrs Wcst-Wat-son, the joy and esteem of your family, growing up around you and following the footsteps of their farther and mother.” — (Applause.) Alderman Fairbairn welcomed the opportunity to pay tribute to the Bishop of Barrow, and mentioned that he had the honour of being thi. first Free Church Mayor of the borough, and he had received, not merely from the ministers, but from the members of the Established Church, led by Dr WestWatson, the very greatest kindness and support, which he would never forget. He paid the warmest tribute to Dr YVest-AYatson for what ue had done during the time he had been with them. It was the speaker’s good fortune to get into contact with him straight away after his election as Mayor, and all the time he had known the bishop bis appreciation of the man and his work had increased. They all regretted the severance that was about to take place. They all joined m their congratulations on his preferment to New Zealand and some of them perhaps felt rather envious that they were not going with him. Tnev all hoped that the Bishop and Mrs West-Watson would be spared to have a very happy and useful life, and their best wishes were extended to them for the future.—-(Applause.) Canon Symes was sure that everyone united in saying that the bishop had done most excellent work —a work that would last and be remembered by everyone gratefully. The bishop had become more and more liked every year since he came to the diocese. A celebrated bishop once said “A curate is adored, a vicai is tolerated, a bishop is criticised ” The speaker thought there was a gre.it deal of truth in that, but he '•ould say with authority so far as the Bishop of Barrow was concer.ied that the clergy of the diocese had the greatest affection and respect and admiration for him.—(Applause.) They felt his going was almost an irreparable loss, and he was quite confident that the people of New Zealand would soon discover that Barrow had sent them an excellent piece of goods He hoped lie bishop and his wife and family would have great happiness in directing the fortunes of the Church across the seas.

Father Delany, of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, speaking as a citizen of Barrow, said the little he had seen of the bishop had won his admiration, and he was there to express that admiration and to wish him God-speed, health, and happiness, and if in his old age he should return to th« Motherland, he hoped he would have the privilege of welcoming him back.

The Rev. D. Hinchcliff, Mayor's chaplain (speaking for the Free Churches), stated that on a historical occasion these wolds were used: “I come to bury Cresar.not to praise him.” Thank God they had not come to bury Ctesar —he meant the bishop. He did not think on the other hand that they had come to praise him. They had come to speak a few plain matter-of-fact words and to express their feelings in regard to a de voted servant of God and a gracious leader of the Church of God. He referred to the gracious Bpint of brotherhood manifested to all sections of the Church by the bishop, and also to all parties in the community. The Mayor had used the term “Our Bishop," but the first time the speaker heard that expres sion was at a gathering of Free Church ministers in Barrow, and he thought that was significant of much. They trusted that that influence that had endeared him to the people of Barrow, that had made his life noble and Ins work successful, would be still mightier and still more blessed and still more extensive in that land to which he was going. They trusted that there he would win mightier influence and power, and that he would enrich and ennoble many hvos by his influence and message and by his own gracious personality He concluded: “G«d bless you and yours always in all things. On behalf of the laity, Mr T. Jackson was sure that the people of all denominations would cordially endorse all that had been said about the Bishop of Barrow, who, on appointment to an isolated position of tho diocese, quickly showed himself a people’s bishop. He was ready at all times to join in all movements for the spiritual and general welfare of the community irrespective of sect or creed. Hia broad-mindedness, his genial and urbane manner, had been ao con-

spicuous as to appeal to all classes, and when his appointment to New Zealand was announced there was a feeling of personal loss, Barrow's loss was New Zealand’s gain. They sometimes thought, or, perhaps, only dreamed of the union of all denominations into one common church. It might be only a dream, but he felt sure something had already been done by Bishop West-Watson m that direction in this district, and the character of that meeting was, he thought, evidence of the fact. The last Bishop of Chrjstchurch was also Primate and Archbishop of New Zealand, and although it did not necessarily follow that the further preferment would be Dr WesvWatson's, they felt sure if such should be the case, he would do full justice to the higher position. He would carry with him the best wishes of the laity in the district for tho future welfare of himself and family. Dr West-Watson said that the very cordial reception given hinr. and his wife was a very great encouragement and a source of strength to them on starting out for the new life in a, new land. The good wishes expressed would help them to go on, knowing that after all the net result of humanity did not change, and that there were as noble and generous hearts out there as there were at home. He felt that when they got to know the people of New Zealand they would love, admire, and respect them as they had grown to love, admire, and respect the people of Barrow. The five years he had been a Barrow had been a time of real joy. Ho had been able to learn and feel something of the strength and nobility of the life there. When he arrived first everything was boom ing, but until the more difficult times came one couli not realise what a reserve of strength there was in the place, both in tho loaders of its life, municipal and clerical, and in the people themselves. They saw a fueling manifested of hope and courage yea.* after year. The people refused to despair with a courage and faith which they felt must in the end be rewarded. People outside did not realise what an immense reserve of strength had been discovered in Barrow to carry on through its difficult times. There was displayed a brotherly spirit and i good feeling which was to be commended The Bishop proceeded to remark upon L he enthusiasm of Barrowians for the rising generation in regard to education He spoke wuh giatitude of the way the town had helri out to him the right hand of fellowship wlen he came among them. He and his family would have liked to stay longer and t. know them better, and still more to enter into the life of Barrow, but when the call came from the Archbishop he felt that it was impossible to refuse to accept. They hoped to try and become good New Zealanders as they had tried to be good Barrowians. He was not at all sure that the solving of many of the difficulties of old England might not be worked out in the i ew England beyond the seas. He honed their going would not only bind closer the Churcii of England to the colonies, but that it would form lust another link binding more closely the far-flung parts of the Empire with tho old country at Home.