BISHOP NEVILL.

Western Star, 30 April 1920, Page 4

BISHOP NEVILL.

Bishop Nevill, who has had charge of the diocese for the past 49 years, was last week presented with a purse of sovereigns on his retirement as Primate of the Provincial Church of Now Zealand. The function took place at Dunedin on Thursday last, there being a large attendance cf Anglicans and members of other denominations.

Six’ George Fenwick, who was entrusted with the honour of making the presentation, said that- the event they had met to celebrate that night was an episode in the life of the community. There were those present, still members of St. Paul’s congregation, who remembered the arrival in Dunedin of Bishop Nevill, in 1871. Many of the names of preeminent members of St. Paul’s congregation of those early days had beexx recalled to him by a persual of Dr Fulton’s interesting article on Dr Robert Williams, which appeared in the Otago Witness of April 13. Continuing, the speaker said that Bishop Nevill had arrived in Dunedin, as he had said, in 1871. Prior to his election for the new See of Dunedin, he, as the Rev'. S. T. Nevill, occupied the position of incumbent of a parish in the Staffordshire potteries district. He preached his first sermon in St. Paul’s Church as Bishop of the! Diocese very soon after his consecration, and, from the very outset of his episcopate, displayed that activity of body and alertness of mind which had, characterised his long career in this community. The communities were widely scattered, and in parts but scantily peopled, and the erection of churches and settling of ministers in the parishes, with the securing of the necessary financial support, was a taxing work. It was undertaken, however with purposeful energy and in a spirit of confidence and faith in the future that was plentifully justified by results.—(Applause). In 1872 there were only 11 churches in the diocese; in 1919 there were 79. Of clergy (here were then 10, now there were 37, many of them travelling long distances to the several churches in their parishes. Early in Bishop Ncvill’s episcopate he saw the necessity for training students for the increased number of clergy the diocese would inevitably require as the years passed on, and with steady, persistence he set to work to gather funds for the erection of a building for the purpose of a training college and for the carrying on of this essential work. Those praiseworthy efforts resulted in the building; of Selwyn College, where many students had been trained for the church’s work, and were now rendering good service in this diocese and other parts of the dominion. Then it was only necessary for him to mention the setting up by the late Mrs Nevill, with the Bishop’s help, of St. Mary’s Orphanage.—(Applause.) It had been commenced in a modest way, and from small beginnings, watched over bv Mrs Nevill with deep

sympathy and growing interest, it had developed until the time came when it had become necessary to provide increased accommodation for the growing number of applicants for admission. And so in due time came tiie purchase of the commodious and suitable building at present in use. Like many other philanthropies it owed much to the kindness of heart of its founders. Another example of the Bishop’s foresight related to the building of the See House in Woodhaugh Valley. The funds required for the erection of the building had been raised entirely by him, and now, after long years, this commodious and comfortable residence was ready for the occupation of Bishop Nevill’s successor on his appointment to the See, The gratitude of the Anglican people in Otago and Southland had also 1 to he accorded in no measured degree to him for the successful establishment of St. Hilda’s College. To the Bishop they were entirely indebted for the introduction to Dunedin of the Sisters of the Church, and for the raising of funds for the purchase of the buildings which were converted into St. Hilda’s College. And now he came to what it was fitting should be termed the crowning effort of Bishop Nevill’s life—the erection of the beautiful cathedral which was one of the features of the many fine buildings that graced their city. Bishop Nevill said he found it almost impossible to find words iu which to express sufficiently and adequately his feelings on this occasion. Thenkind words had gone straight to his heart, but he must confess that he felt that he did not deserve all the kind things that had been said of him. He thanked them for their kind gifts. He had come to New Zealand actuated by high ideals, because be had come fresh from the influence of Bishop Selwyu himself —a man who was inspired —a man with a divine fervour for the promotion of the Kingdom of Christ on earth. He had later on gone back to 1 England to endeavour to raise funds for their diocese. There were no endowments here for anything or anybody".—(Laughter.) He raised £2OOO iu England, but found on his arrival here that Selwyu College was not an object in which the people were much disposed; to assist. The speaker related how a committee had been set up, called the Selwyu Theological Committee, ami humourously told how he soon discovered that the majority of the members of the committee did not care a straw about the whole thing. What the Committee wanted, according, to one member, was a theological college which could be used for a residence tor the new bishop when the present bishop died.—(Laughter.) In conclusion, he said his life had been, so dedicated to his church that he had been unable to follow other pursuits. Ha had a great taste for natural science, but he bad had to cut down everything in his way aucll chive cnward for the main thing. He had always felt the keenest joy and the strongest hope in the sacred rite ot confirmation of young people. He exhorted the young people not to allow the frivolities of life to occupy all their thoughts. He was not against a reasonable amount of pleasure tor their young men and women, but he asked them not to be swallowed up in it. His last word to them was to be men and women of vision—to elevate their objects and their aims—so that they would not only elevate the tone of society all round them, and he an example to the generation in which they lived, but also leave the human race with a. greater and truer realisation of the glory of God.—(Prolonged applause.)