WELCOME HOME TO THE BISHOP.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12405, 21 November 1908, Page 5 (Supplement)

WELCOME HOME TO THE BISHOP.

The Bishop of Nelson, Mrs Mules and JMiss Mules, were entertained by the members of the Church of Eogland at an "Afc Hohi9, " held in the grounds of Christ Church Vicarage, en Saturday afternoon, from 2.30 to 4.30. The Bishop and party only returned on Thursday, and toe arrangements made at short notice were in order)to give the members of! the Church an opportunity of meeting his Lordship and expressing their cordial welcome to him on his return. The Rev. J. P. Kempthorn9, en behalf of he clergy, and Mr A. T. Maginnity, Chancellor of the Dioceso, on behalf of the laity, expressed whai; a great pleasure it was once more to meet the Bishop and his family after their long absence from the Diocese, and how very heartily they were -welcomed home again. The Bishop, in replying, referred in. a mostl interesting way to incidents of the voyage, which had been a most delightful one in every way, and favoured with fair weather; in fact the roughest weather expenencd was between Wellington and Picton i on the return. He was enthusiastic over the beauty of the English fields, ! the number of noble trees to be seen everywhere, and tne lovely wild flowers to be seen by every roadside and hedge. The facilities for travelling, and the convenience and speed with which you could move from place to place, too, were^marvellous. He would have an opportunity soon of laying- before tbe Synod some of the results of the Lambeth Conference. But, altogether, it was pleasant to visit England again, nevertheless it was with fealings of sadness he visited the haunts of his boyhood, after 33 years' absense, to find all of whom he had known and loved had passed away. He thanked all for their kind welcome, and trusted that he might still be spared to work together with hi 3 brethren for the 'furtherance of God's kingdom. Ther was a large atcendance. The visitors were cordially received by the Vicar (the Rev. J. I. Kempthorne),and afterwards had an opportunity of shaking hands, with the Bishop and Mrs Mules, who expressed their pleasure at once again meeting friends. All were hospitably .entertained with ligut refrssumenta by the laches of the two town cburuaes, and during the afternoon the Garrison Band cams round Jand contributed some beautiful items, one especially was most beautiful, namely, "The Lost Chord." The commrttee desire to tender them and all who helped their sincere thanks.