RELIGION IN LIFE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17953, 3 December 1932, Page 13

RELIGION IN LIFE

NEW BISHOP’S SERMON “ALL ARE MISSIONARIES” “All of us are missionaries; not merely those who are going overseas. Religion is not a. matter of form, it is of life. That wo may represent man before God must be our prayer.” Tho scene was St. Mary’s, Parnell, Auckland, towards the close of the Evening Office, and tho preacher was the Right Rev. Bishop Baddeley, newly 1 consecrated to the See of Melanesia. There was a largo congregation, and the. service, which was fully choral, was singularly beauti'ul and impressive. It was conducted by the vicar of St. . Mary’s, Canon Faneonrt, assisted, by ! Archdeacon Simkin and Archdeacon MncMurray. Archbishop Averill and his chaplain were also present. 1 The 97th Psalm was sung, there, were four hymns and a. brief form of the. Litany, in which were offered special prayers for tho new bishop in his remote and far-flung diocese. One supplication was for those in authority—“ That they may grant liberty and justice to all Thy •subjects.” 1 Bishop Baddeley said the essence of

the consecration ceremony was contained in the words “Be soldiers and servants of Jesus Christ.” He had always rather distrusted the doctrine that divides tile work of the Church into two parts, namely, at home and abroad. The great missionary power of the Church in the. early days was not preaching in tho market place, but in ordinary, everyday life. They were all ambassadors for Jesus Christ.