ST. PETER'S ANGLICAN CHURCH, TEMUKA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 5920, 8 October 1910, Page 3

ST. PETER'S ANGLICAN CHURCH, TEMUKA.

OE THE ai.W \ I«AR. The inveetituro of the Kcv. Arthur _ Hugh Xorris, ALA., as vicar of M.' Peter's Anglican Parish, TenniKa, was performed by His Lordship the. lUshop of ( hristehurch, Bishop .Julius, hist evening, at a special service held tor the purpose. There was a largo attendance of parishioners and iricuds present, the church being full. 'The churchwardens and vestrymen, seven iu number, met tho Bishop at Iho northewn door of the church, and followed by the choir and vicar-elect, led them in procession to the chancel, preceded by the verger bearing tho i.eys of the church amd its buildings, symbols of tho people's authority. The processional hymn "Thy hand, 0 God, has otiarded," was sung as the 'procession moved to the chancel. Ihe institution prayers w<'rc then offered by the Bishop, the vicar then kneclVg at the foot of the chancel steps, tho churchwardens and vestrymen lining each side of the chauecl. Tho \icar then made the formal declarations, and was handed the Letter of Institution, delivered into his hands by (ha Hi shop with the words "He thou n fai'thfiTl minister of God's, Holy Word, and Sacraments, and a faithful pastor under the great Shepherd of Souls. The Lord preserve 'thy u-oing out mid thy coming_ in from this time evermore." Silent prayer was then indulged in by the' ron-rcjation, after which the hymn "Conic, Holy Ghost, our souls _in8' ire" was sung, the congregation kneeling. The keys of tho church and build-iiio-R were then handed to the vicar hv >'r V I'- Evans, parishioners' riuMclnvnrden, who said. "Tn the mr -f vhe churchwardens, vestry unci parishioners of St. Peter's Church 'lVmiika, end in token of our recognition of you as appointed ATinvster T give unto your hands the hoys of (he church and school." The eveninc prayers were then rend hv the newlv-instituted vicar, and the Psalms of the day were read by him. tt- t i The lessons were read by His l.ordshii) the TVishoo from 17tli verse of the mth chapter of the Acts of the •Vpastles. after which the hymn I) Thou who muVest souls" was sung. The sermon preached by the Bishop was from Acts xx., 27-" T did not ,!,«„ from declaring unto you the whole of the counsel of God Ino P,i,hoi. said that it was very difficult to realise that there was a Line when what is called the Ministry ot Grace was a new thing in the world. The fi-rure with which we arc so hamiliar, of the parish , 1 r.est pray.nfor his people, their Shepherd, nuin, and Steward, was not lmown l-eforc the. days of desus Christ. There were priests, teachers, and rulers among the Jews and _ Gentile*, Hit the parish priest (the minister of Christ) was not there. H was to evcrcise that same ministry that a new vicar had been called to the.

parish. Henceforth for a while he is o serve anion..' the people of the ,mri-li n« Cod served, as shenherd and friend. It was siran-e how io<l worked, but it would bear ...vest ga (ion He had seen where „,„ C onore. T ation chose their minister nnT l he thou,ditthat_ was the worst way of obtaining a minister. He had known (hem where ministers v e,e a pointed by nomination and when !,,ev were _ appointed by the

patronage of a man wi.o n, h|l ~u re ■in his hands, and he thought these latter ways wo k-,.-1 ~s well as any. It did not . w ,n to matter to him by what piece ;,f. I „acj,incry the priesM lon „. „, Cod was behind it all. liid.op .1 alius «.W that now thennviest had come among them, he wa» not now to the diocese, and was not Ull tri«|. He had known l«m *u.ct J« «-ys a verv voimg man, and Mi ISoiHs' had trained himself by ways unusual. He had come from one of W» m„st 'arduous cures in the colony, and he i Hl ,| never his simpbcit v an< endeavour to do good. Mr Morris Came with the Bishop's confidence, and

U„. ~f in. .re.ratioa could have his assuramc that he would he a faithful servant among them. Turning to an„Uve.r portion of his subject, the IHshoi. said the parish whs depcnclrnt l, 1; , p ,ople. They would help tho vicar if thev realised that he was exercb«iin' his powers of assisting, tlio church "as ~ body. They must help by their prayers and worship, and support, encourage and help him. lie was useless as a whole. He might be a man of might if he had the prayers o the people behind him. Ho exported then nfft to gad about the parish tvnd talk. The less they talked the more (hev would help their vicar, and it was bettor for them and everybody else. He believed nine-tenths of the mischief that wias done to the church

was done by the gad-abouts who could never keep their tongues silent for five minutes. There was a class of visitin.r not worth speaking about, but the priest must visit the people in thenown homes, as by that ho could look after the people, lie needed courage to face his people and to talk to the ordinary man about his soul. We u»nallv wvnt round and round, and talked about the weather, fishing, and ■ anvthing else, and then came away saviiv to ourselves that he was not in' a fit state to be spoken to to-day. There was more courage in the pansh ni-iest than thev were inclined to thinki.

There were three, things he bade tlrom loolc to—the foundation of faith and repentance—counure- in the. discipline of the church and the work of the parish, and the proclamation of the. immortial- ■ itv of Our Lord -Jesus Christ. Turnin'i- to the vicar, the bishop him. savin- the people of St. Peters had been ••■iven into his charge, Be

tender and gentle to your people,_' said His Lordship, "and consider their m-oiudices and cheer them as the shadows lengthen and the day declines. Take great care of the old folk and strive to bring them to the Saviour. Take care of the business men of tile parish, and strive to assist (hem in season. Take care of th«

.yoiin.-- children, keep them, encourage 'lhi-n>r and draw them near to the love | of ('heist and His Church, and make I ili-.m strong. I also give into your "hands the sick, the poor,'and the little | children--watch over them." In conclusion the Bishop mentioned the mission which was now in the colony. The. mission could not come to Temukii. H might have come here had (hey had n resident minister at the time. My l.irothcr preacher who has been nfti'ii"-here could ""' prepare the parish with the short time at his disposal, and we have had to postpone the mission, bub we hope later on to pay n visit hern. Later on they may [have a mission, not necessarily com-

pose! of Homo ministers, but oT their own clergy, who \vould_ endeavour to c-o into evo.rv parish in the colons'. He asked for'the prayers of the congregation to assist the mission and

help them in the hard work they had before them. Tho hymn "Abiile with mc" was Bung, and the benediction by Bishop closed a very iiitereKting scrviie.