CHURCH JUBILEE

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXI, Issue 2782, 1 December 1931, Page 5

CHURCH JUBILEE

PARISH OP S. ANDREW. ANNIVERSARY OF CONSECRATION Th# Octavo of tlio celebrations of the Jubilee Festival of the Parish Church of Cambridge opened on Sunday evening last with Festal Evensong sung by the Vicar, Archdeacon Bell, with the assistance of an augmented choir. For this service tho church was filled to capacity and it was generally agreed that it was one of the most inspiring ever held there. Tho Day of the Jubilco was ushered in by the ringing of a peal of bells at 5.30 a.in., and holy communion was celebrated at 6 and 7 a.m., a good numbex of communions being made at each service! Before tho service at 11 a.m., the Lord Bishop of the Diocese consecrated the new altar, the chief act of consecration being in tho words: “In tho faith of Jesus Christ we bless hallow and consecrate this Altar a thanksgiving offering of the peoplo of this parish for mercies received during the past fifty years: In tho name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.” Tho Rev. Father Ralph Bell, C. 8., delivered tho address at this service and stressed the fact that in all ways and every way the Jesus had made open for us parishioners must go on “bringing others to Jesus.” The visiting clergy were entertained to lunch, after this service, by the Archdeacon in the Parish Hall. In the afternoon the Vicar baptised several children in the presence of a largo congregation of parents,' godparents and friends. Those who received Holy Baptism were: Colleen Zano Cray, daughter of Mr and Mrs T. S. Cray, of Cambridge; Isobel Jean Thorpe and Patricia Florence Thorpe, children of Mr and Mrs F. C. Thorpe, of Pukeroro; Joy Merle Worms, daughter of Mr and Mrs G. H. Worms, of Cambridge; Patricia Rosemary Perry, daughter of Mr and Mrs W. N. Perry, of Bruntwood; and Shirley Ada Minnie Edwards, daughter of Mr and Mrs W. It. Edwards, of Cambridge. The Bishop’s Address. At the evening service the Bishop took as his text from Romans 13 part of verse 8: “Owe no man anything, but to love one another.” His Lordship made mention of the occasion, that of the jubilee of the consecration of the Parish Church, and said that the parishioners had much to be thankful for in the way of blessings and ual help that those who had worshipped in the church during those years, had received. In these days of rush and hurry one too often failed to consider the 'happenings of past years. The preacher read a quotation from an article written by the Lord Bishop of York and laid stress on the words, “God is our FaHtCr~*UiiL_»:o are one family.” He then pointed out thiee ways in which could iu everyday life make this more real, the first of which was in one’s own parish, and how each and everyone connected with the church should carry out the lesson of one family in their own community or parish. The second way the Bishop introduced with the ivonls, “Unto whom much is given, much will be required.” The Bishop characti vised Cambridge as a premier parish of the diocese and it was from S. Andrew’s that help and leadership was looked for. Cambridge had had 50 years of blessings in countless ways and it was only right that she should prove her love. An appeal was made for tho assistance of other parishes that were the possessors of fewer blessings than was the case in Cambridge. But there was a wider circle yet in which the words of tho text applied. The world needed help to-day, said the Bishop, in greater measure than it had ever done, and it was up to the people of the church to stem the tide that w r as sweeping the world to disaster. Iu pointing out the way in which every individual connected with the church could help, His Lordship decried the indulgence in amusements that cost money. While stating that lie was not “straight-laced” in the matter of amusements the Bishop said that this was a time when economy had to be faced. Mentioning racing and the cinema lie said that these wero too costly at the present time. “Christian people should cut out racing for tlio time being and it would not hurt if they cut it out for ever” said the speaker. He could only touch on the fringe of how the Christian person could help find a panacea for the world’s troubles, but he stressed prayers, study and selfdenial, as being the main ways of righting the wrong methods at present practised in the industrial world, There was no use talking of what to do, what was wanted was actions, the chief of which was the action of making brotherhood and sisterhood seen in the world bv the example of each and every parishioner. “Owe no man anything, but love one another,” was the key to the life that was needed of the people to-day, concluded the Bishop.

Opening of Hall. Following the service the choir headed by the Bishop proceeded to the front? door of the new hall where Ai'chdeacon. Bell called on Mr XI. D. Dallimore to ask the Bishop to officially open the building. Mr T. S. Cray then presented His Lordship with a gold inscribed key and the hall was declared open. A verse of a hymn was sung by the choirafter which entry was made to the hall. The large audience fully taxed the seating accommodation of the hall and again extra scats were necessary. For the social the stago had been draped artistically with blue curtains that Tent? - a very pleasing effect in contrast to the white plastering of the outer parts- of tho proccnium. Archdeacon Bell in his openings speech referred to Mrs McCullagh and the Rev. Canon Mortimer- Jones as being the first conspirators in connection with the idea of a new Parish Hall and: stated that the first record that could be found of contributions, to settingup of a fund, was in a ledger with, an entry in Canon Mortimer- Jones* writing dated 1923. The Vicar was sure the parishioners had made the right decision at the last annual meeting when they decided togo ahead with the building of the halL He paid a tribute to the architect, contractors and all who had been connected with tho erection and referred to the fine spirit in. which they had worked in order to have the hall ready for the official opening. He also tendered thanks to all who had in any way been connected with the idea of the halt, and who had worked in the attempt to raise the necessary funds. "If the necessary funds are in hand for this hall I congratulate you/* raid tho Bishop when called on to say a few words, "if not, I am sorry for you.**' He said that many parish halls that■ had been erected in other parishes, and for which the funds were not available were little less than a burden when: ted the parish on the hail that had been provided and spoke of the fine opportunity that it offered for the practise they were not paid for. He complimenof the social side of the church life and tho carrying out of the brotherliness that he had referred to in his address in the church. There was a great need for the church people to keep this side of tho church life before them. Mr H. D. Dallimore was the next speaker. After explaining the state of the hall building fund ho said that at31st March, 1923, the monies in hand amounted to £45 6/S and to-day that total had grown to £2017. For the gathering of the money the Ladies-' Guild was in no small measure responsible and to this body and all others who had helped, Mr Dallimore moved ahearty vote of thanks. It was seconded by Mr A. D. Sayers and carried by acclamation. Former Vicar Cheered. A round of applause and cheers greeted the Ecv. Canon' MortimerJones when lie \>,sc to speak. He said that ho had eagerly looked forward to the occasion of the opening of the new hall and congratulated the parishioners on the fine structure that had been erected. With regard to the Vicar's mention of "conspirators* * th’a. Canon said that when the idea of a new building was put forward it was intended to replace the Vicarage. However, he was sure tho new hall would make a. fine vicarago if the occasion demanded. (Laughter). Long ago, said the speaker, it was ■ realised that the old hall was not au adequate building for the parish and he congratulated the Vicar and those- 1 associated with him for. the courage shown in going ahead with the building' in such a time as this. He hoped that the same happy spirit that had been, manifested in the old building during tho many years of its service would continue in the new hall, and that it would bo the centre of the social lifeof the parish. On behalf of Mrs Mccullagh, “his co-conspirator," Mi® Bell, the president of the Ladies* Guild,, and tho other Indies concerned, theRev. Mortimer-Jones returned thanks: for the motion that had just previously been carried and said that he deemed it a great privilege to be present on such an occasion. Mr T. S. Cray, the architect, and Mr Davys, on behalf of tlie contractors, f - Messrs S.P.N.D., Ltd., also returned thanks. The Rev. C. W. Clark, as secretary of* the Roso Show, much of the proceeds from which went to the hall fund,, said that his efforts had been few but he had done what he could to help along: the cause. He was glad to see tkafcthero were so many of those‘ parishioners who were directly responsible for the raising of tho funds, present to see the fine result of their labours. During the evening a programme of musical and elocutionary items wasrendered by Cambridge talent and a sumptuous supper was served to the whole audience. On the whole the function was highly successful and will go down in the annals of the church as a most memorable occasion; Other aspects of tho opening jubilee celebrations will bo reported more fully in our next issue.