TO CARRY ON FOR MONTH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 44, 22 February 1940, Page 3

TO CARRY ON FOR MONTH

RETIRING PRIMATE GENERAL SYNOD’S REQUEST [ Per Press AissoriiiLiun. 1 NELSON, 1-eb. 21. The Anglican General Synod to-ttay passed a motion requesting Inal Archbishop A. W. Averill, retiring Primate, continue in otlice as Arch-bishop-Primate until Maren 31 next, on which date his resignation from the see of Auckland will take effect. At the same time the synod took the opportunity o£ .farewelling the Archbishop from his official oilices. Bishop West-Watson, Primate-elect, expressed thankfulness to God that i the Church had at its head one who i was a real leader. He had solved the 1 problem of exercising his influence as ; a leader without any pontilicn.l powers or light to dictate to other bishops. The Archbishop had a qual- ; ity ot decision and was always willing I to take responsibility for his

i which were based on wide experience, I a human outlook and sound judgment, i Bishop West-Watson expressed the I nope that the Archbishop and Mrs. ! Averill, who had no nobly worked with him, would have many happy I years of health and happiness in eI tirement. I The Rt. Rev. F. A. Bennett, Bishop ■ of Aotearoa, expressed the feelings of i affection of the Maori people for Archbishop Averill ever since he was Bishop of Waiaptl. He bad never met anyone who could speak with gre iter ; fluency, or with greater point in a I manner which appealed to the Maori mind. Speakers Thanked j Archbishop Averill thanked ail speakers. It was not easy when one j came to the end of a long ministry. of 46 years, 30 as a bishop and 1.5 as i an archbishop, to lay down the reins j of office but he thought in doing so he was doing his duty. The reason ! when he announced his decision was I that he wished his successor to go to the Lambeth Conference as Archbishop. That conference would not i be held this year but he felt that his decision to resign should not be I changed. He enjoyed good health I but thought it wiser to resign on the i early side rather than leave it until the time when full duties of office could not be carried out. Archbishop i Averill said he was satisfied that i there was nothing to fear for the future of the Church of England in New Zealand. He had admiration . for the work of thousands of laymen throughout the province. "Although retiring from official offices my syn>i pathy, love and prayers will always be with the Church with which I have ; been so closely associated during the past 46 years.” he concluded.