THE ANGLICAN MISSION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 12262, 27 September 1910, Page 2

THE ANGLICAN MISSION.

The Anglican mission, now nearing its close, was continued in Holy Trinity Church last night, when, despite the other fixtures, such as the Dominion Day military and civic celebrations and the rinking benefit for the Children's Home, there was a full attendance, many of those present having arrived early awl joined in the singing- of the hymns to be given out at a later stage. The proceedings opened with the singing of "L am Thine, O Lord.", This 'was followed by prayer for individuals, after which the missioner dealt with the subject, "Things that will help ur when the mission is over." He mentioned seven distinct ways which would help one to keep bound to Christ, namely, private prayer, public worship, Holy Communion, IJiblo reading, fasting, almsgiving, avoiding occasion of sin. He spoke briefly on each subject, in a manner that appealed strongly to all present. In the course of his remarks ho said that he Tuad not, in.tbo- whole of tho mission, used one word against any other religious bo<ly, nor would he do so, but he claimed that there, was one thing which marked the real churchman, Which was willingness and desire to be influenced by the experiences of martyrs of past ages. He stronglv impressed upon people to go to churvn regularly, and not simply to go just when they felt in the humor to go, for it was really when there was disinclination that the individual most needed to go. Regarding occasions of sin he said that it largely rested with the individual, as what might affect one would not be sin to another. One person, for instance, could go to a theatre without getting | any harm from it, whereas another per- j son might find it an occasion of sin. | The address was followed by the hymn "How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds." Then the missioner gave a stirring vser-j mon on St. Paul's words, "I live, and, yet no longer I, but Christ liveth in me." The speaker went on to show that Christ lived in every human being, and he illustrated this with*a story de- 1 picting noble deeds done by colliers, j some of the roughest men acting with great bravery ; yet it was not . really them, but Christ within them. • The missioner pleaded eloquently for people to gr'a-sp what Christ had done for them by giving up His life, and stating that Christ now dwelt in us by faith. Grace, the missioner pointed out, was Christ himself in the heart. On this pitase of the subject he recited thef lines — ."And every virtue we possess, 1 And every conquest won, And every thought of holiness Are his. alone." While the congregation were .singing "O happy day that fixed my choice," a. number of those present renewed their baptismal vows. i There 'was a Communion service this •morning, and to-night there will be a thanksgiving service. The missioner requested that' those attending will .bring their prayer books. There is certain to bo a large attendance at this gathering- The mission concludes to-morrow morning with ' Communion services at 6 am. and 7 a.m. v k • . I

(Per Press Association.) _ - ; • ; NAPIER, last night. The Anglican general mission concludes its labors in the diocese of Waiapu to-morrow, having commenced in: the various ■ churches throughout the district on the 16th inst. The attendances at the services have been daily increasing .at all the churches, and a notable feature has been the large congregations at the meetings of men, and the fact that many renewed their vows after yjsara of neglect and indifference to the claims of the church. Open-air meetings have been successfully held, and short services have been held almost daily In the railway workshops, and special addresses have been given, to children. Speaking to a reporter to-day, Canon H. V. Stuart said' that the general reapemse. had been very good, and the mission had been hc-nrtily welcomed. One thing that had impressed him dnr- | ing his stay in New Zealand had been I the keen interest taken in the t church and its welfare by the , lay memberx. This interest was shown, not bnly in looking after the business connected with the church, financial matters, etc., but also in the desire and effort to extend ; its spiritual influence.

WELLINGTON", tins <lay. Tlie flrat of a series of midday discourses was given yesterday in connection "with the Church of England mission by Bishop Julius, of- Christchnrch. There was an attendance of about 100, chiefly young men. Canon Stuart spoke at tho next luncheon interval at . 1.30. fco an audience of abput.,2oo men. Both service* were accompanied with T-:ayers and hymns. Tho twenty minutes' meeting for women in the Seamfen'a iMifute was very well atteflded, the large hall being ftbou^ three^partß full.. Canon Stuart took the first meeting, rnd after a hymn and prayer, ,<;avo an 'lnuiwt'ing address. Bishop Julius conducted the second meeting. . ! . "

INTjaiVXKW WITH CANON STUART.

Canon K. A. Stuart, ; of Canterbury England, leader, of the Anglican Mission, ; was interviewed in Wellington. "We aro all very thankful* for the* Auckland mission," he remarked. "It came quite ;up to our expectations. We had a conference "with; 'the i clergy on the Tuesday, «md the testimonies given there were very,- very striking. The attendances •at all th© churches were large, and the people showed the '-greatest' interest in. the services. " Near-ly ■' ever-yon^ sf ayed to the after meetings, ana a large number ronewed their baptismal vows. I need only mention one testimony given to me on the railway station as I left, by "a business lnan-r-T don't know who he mis,. He said it was a very remarkable, thing that although the missioners might differ as to mental capabilities,' they seemed to make no difference in. ( th.e results of the meetings in the churches. Wherever the rriissioners were, there was the same activity. •■'< ''■•■' ; CO-OPERATION OF THE LAITY. "Speaking generally, I was grently impressed' by the desire on the part of the laity to do something more wifch the fpiritual : work of the church; also with the cteflire for mprp help jn the way of Bible ntudy, and that the meetings for prayer ana intercession which have been held in preparation for the mission should be continued After the mission n$ an integral part 6f the church's work! Another notable feature of the Auckland mission was the readiness of the ' other churches to show sympathy and help in the, mJßsion. 1 noticed in the Cathedral Whang J was tftkjng the services ;that nearly n]l the minister* ofythe various churobea .came at one time or another, and many of them expressed their sympathy with the work, and that ihey jiuid asked for the prayerß of their congregations? for the mission. From Napier come similar* reports of successful re- «*.'-.. „- . ■. ' ■„. , * ■- Quest jonod "as. to any .impressions he hao farmed pf the work of the local fll e »'gy, Canon Stuart jwl.tlV ''A great danger to the church, so fat* as I liave seen at present; is that so much should have to be concentrated on church organ: isation, or 'running' the churchy to use an American phrase; and that there is not enough time &iven to the personal relation and devotion and study for the minister and with the people. Of course, you con understand the reason, of it in a ypurjg Qounl-ry -whiqh I s algous to get things into going order, arid M'here the church has not the endowment* they have jn. ihe Old. Country. The danger,, however, is in being satisfied with raising the assessment and having a nice church. Thero is no us© •in running a inJK-hiiio unle* 1 *" you Imve got some work to do in it. It is perhaps difficult to suggest a remedy in a newly settled country, but .1 think the eler-gy have far too much to *1o In the way of 'running' the church The laity might probably help tfterii more in the-finan-cial obligations of the church, and so on. "A clergyman's work is not so much to run a ■"church as the spiritual edification of his people. The 'church should be got j in ordev fls the iftatrurnßTyt My 'which that h done, but •it 'iill>the clergyman's time is taken up in polishing the instrument he can't; get to - work. Certainly ; one admires (the wonderful work ' which the clergy are doing, and th,o sac-

rifles which many of them are making, some working for poor stipends and haviiijr to supply four or five different centres of worship. When a man has to travel eight, ten, or twenty miles to serve the different centres in his parish, then it is impossible for him to give time for personal dealing and work. I wonder they are able to do as much as they are doing."

An interchange- of clergy between the Mother Countries and tho colonies was suggested by Canon Stuart. "I think a man coming out here and getting, a little colonial experience, nnd a colonial clergyman going Home and serving there for three or four years and getting an insight into English woi-k, -would <lo a. vast amount of good. Another thing, of course, in a young country there is always the- 'danger of materialism. Men have to make their way, and all their thoughts aro bent on that object. '. One sees, however, in a young country like New Zealand that the great hold materialism has necessarily had on the people is making them . wish f for the move spiritual side of life which materialism doesn't satisfy. I think this is already beginning to become more manifest. The people are very much more than I expected ready for spiritual things."