BISHOP TEMPLE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16359, 23 February 1921, Page 2

BISHOP TEMPLE.

VICOROUS CHURCH LEADER.

With eotißidera'bU prescience public opinion nominated a Canon A\ ilham Temple to the bishopric ot ilauehcstev, vacant at the end of 1920 by tuo rek.gnation of Dr Knox (ea.ys the Westminster Goaette As a young in. of thirty-nine years no lias gone farther than his colleagues m that gift ot constructive statesmanship which tin Anglican Church is demanding; at tne present day. With overflown,* enthusiasm, a capacity for hard work i breo2v personality, and a joyous kiugii; lie \\fis long ago destined for the ecclesiastical bench. Beyond these personal qualities the fact that he rs the >.Ol of that much loved and outspoken Archbishop. Frederick Totnple, c'ive him further advantage-:. "William Temple's influence on the Anglican Church lias proved remarkable. Reform of ecclesiastical government has been in the air for rears, hut made little headway. A lot of tinkering was suggested, but nothing comprehensive and far-reaclnng. Then came the National Mission, vim its opening of Churchmen s eyes to the inadequacy ot present conditions. Here tho initiative of the Bov H. Tt. Sheppard, of St Martin V-in-the-F 10 ds Charing Cross, was exhibited. He had a vision of a new era m the Church and enlisted the help of Canon TempleFrom that time the Canon set hnnscU out to capture the imagination oi the Church. . ~ , Later events are fairly welt known. The Lite and Liberty Movement sprang into being with Canon Temple as leader in order to educate Churchmen upon necessary reforms. The Fumbling Bill ■was in due course submitted as the basij of reconstruction, and in a remarkably c|jort period won its way over innumerable obstacles to the Statute Book. Todnv the National Assembly of the Church of England is an assured fact, sind is settling down as a represent:! live body with enormous possibilities tor reor<ranisinfr and co-ordinating the personnel and" activities of the Church. How much credit belongs to Canon Temple and those associated with him for attaining this large measure of reform the loaders of the Church*. from tho Archbishop of Canterbury downwards arc well aware. Many critics of the I.ifc and Libertv Movement have existed They still exist to-day. 1 he retiring Bishop ol Manchester was one. but by a svift change tho see will in the future have as its head the leader of -he movement Those associated with Canon Temple in. the. organisation, do not expect to lose his services. A new object is now set before it in the promotion of the X.amheth appeal, - and as far us Ills diocesan duties permit the new Lishop hopes to direct its activities. After Rugby and Oxford—where he took two Firsts-—Can&i Tempi© became Head Master of Raptor., then rector of St James's, Piccadilly, and later a Residentiary Cation of Westminster. Fie edited the “ Challenge ” for a few years, and in various directions promoted i liter-denominational efforts. From knowledge of Manchester it is believed that lie will bring to tho arduous and difficult northern diocese, with its many problems, those qualities and

experience necessary for its satisfactory administration.