News from other Dioceses.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume I, Issue 1, 1 July 1910, Page 11

News from other Dioceses.

DUNEDIN.

The Late Dr. Hocken. — The New Zealand Church has sustained a great loss m the death of the deeply-revered and much-loved Dr. Hocken. His name has been a household word m the Provincial District of Otago almost from the beginning of settlement. As a physician, he was deeply beloved and trusted by his old patients and numerous friends. As a man of letters, he has placed the whole Dominion under obligation by his painstaking energy and self-denying efforts to collect the memorials of the early history of New Zealand. As a Churchman, he will be long remembered for his earnest devotion and untiring labour m assisting the cause of religion m Otago and elsewhere; and as

a public-spirited citizen and generous benefactor, he will be sorely missed by the philanthropic societies which he has assisted so nobly with his wise counsel and liberal gifts. His life and work are a splendid appeal to our wealthy Church men and an effective rebuke to the prosperous citizens of this Dominion, so many of whom seem callous to the noblest ideals of our higher life. For over forty years Dr. Hocken was associated with S. Paul's, Dunedin, as a church wai'den, and m later years as a member of the Cathedral Chapter. He has been a member of ihe Standing Committee of the Synod from its inception. At the Otago University he did good service as its first Lecturer m Surgerj', and as a member of its Council ; and during his illness he was elected to succeed Mr James Allen as Vice-Chancellor. The gift of the Hocken library to the people of the Dominion, with its priceless treasures to the future historians of New Zealand, is still fresh m the public memory. Among other benefactions, he has left £2000 for the country clergy of this diocese, and £10,000 to the University of Otago. Eecent Changes. — The Diocese has lost one of its senior clergy m the removal of the Eev. G. W. Christian, Vicar of Port Chalmers, to the Vicarage of Governor's Bay, m the Diocese of Christchurch. Mr Christian has done excellent work m Otago, and his removal from Port Chalmers will be deeply felt by the parishioners. The farewell meeting was one of the largest gatherings that Port Chalmers has ever seen. In his successor, the Eev. George Blathwaite, Vicar of Balclutha, Port Chalmers gains a devoted parish priest and an indefatigable worker. — The vacant cure of Wairnea Plains has been filled by the appointment of the Eev. W. Uphill, from the Diocese of Eockhampton. Selwyn College. — The academic year has begun with an increase m the number of students. During the last four years the number of students has risen from three to forty. An effort is being made to provide accommodation for sixty students. The Warden has already built a new dining hall to accommodate seventy persons; and has been fortunate enough to collect the funds by a personal canvass. On his own initiative he has acquired land adjoining the College, with two houses, which he has transformed for College purposes, and has begun to erect a portion of a new hostel, to be called " Chester Hall." The buildings now consist of the orginai Selwyn College, the recently-erected Collegiate

School, and the Pattison, Lister, and Chester Halls. The students have recently obtained and furnished a commodious common-room, and are very anxious to erect a gymnasium. The expansion of Selwyn College, and the recent erection and endowment of Knox College by the Presbyterian Church, are a remarkable testimony to the value and necessity of Colleges as a necessary part of our University system. The affiliation of Selwyn College m its Theological Department to the University of Durham, and the proposed affiliation of Knox College to a Scottish or an American University, point to the advisability of establishing a Faculty of Theology either m the University of New Zealand or m connection with the Anglican and the Presbyterian Churches. The mere fact that the Presbyterian Church has been able to found and endow three Professorships, each of the value of £600 per annum, m the Theological Hall of Knox College, ought to stimulate some of our wealthy Churchmen to found and endow Professorships or Lectureships m the Anglican Colleges of New Zealand. The New Cathedkal. — The Diocesan Synod met on 13th June. In the course of his presidential address, the Primate announced three gifts to the "New Cathedral Fund" which the Evening Star justly described as "princely gifts." To meet the recent gift of £1000 by a well-known Dunedin Churchman (Mr G. Grey Eussell), three donations of £1000 apiece have been given by Mr W. Dawson, Mr C. V. Greenslade, and Mrs Nichols and family. It is expected that these generous gifts will give such an impetus to the fund as will enable the foundation stone of the new Cathedral to be laid during the present year, m which the Primate has completed the thirty-ninth year of his episcopate. CHRISTCHURCH. O.E.M.S. — We have great hopes here that this movement is going to spread and be a source of real strength, making for the upbuilding of the Church. Already thirteen branches have affiliated to the Diocesan Council for provisional registration, the average membership being fifteen. Our plan with regard to registration is as follows : — A branch having been provisionally formed, applies to the Diocesan Council for provisional registration, accompanying the application with 2/6, fee for Diocesan Council, and also 2/6 capitation fee for headquarters, which must be paid by all branches that have a membership of

ten or more. At the end of three months a farther application is made, this time for confirmation of registration, and if the branch is accepted, it is duly registered, and its name, together with the capitation fee, forwarded to head- quarters, Westminster. — Several difficulties have received the .attention of the Council, and have been legislated upon. For instance, the question was asked, what is meant by "doing something for the Church?" The answer given wa«, that neither attendance at Church, nor payment of a subscription, was of itself sufficient to justify membership, but that every member and associate should, on their joining, be asked to state what precise bit of Church work they were willing to undertake. — We had a splendid conference a week or two ago of all branches m and around Christchurch and of other men interested m the C.E.M.S. About 150 men were present, the Bishop occupying the chair. The discussion was focussed upon : (1) Registration ; (2) how to start a branch ; (3) membership qualifications ; and (4) conduct of meetings ; the leaders being the Bishop, the Revs. VI. W. Sedgwick, H. Purchas. and P. B. Haggitt, and Mr George. The conference proved to bo very helpful to those who wanted light thrown on various matters. Holy Trinity Church, Lyttelton. — On Trinity Sunday, the Parish Church of Lyttelton celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of its consecration. In preparation for the festival, the fabric had been restored at the cost of present and former parishioners. The ohurch is as sound now as it was fifty years ago. An unique interest attaches to this church, it being the first stone church built m Canterbury, the oldest church m the diocese, and the church of the mother parish. The General Mission. — The Vicars of those parishes to whom missioners are coming are busy making preparations, whilst others, who expected a mission and were indulging m all sorts of hopes for their parishes, are striving hard to strenghten their power of resignation. Some, however, are doing more than this — they are taking such steps as they can to ensure the extension of the mission so as to reach all the parishes and parochial districts of the diocese.— To those that are expecting a mission, one of our country vicars has set a good example, so far at least as energy is concerned. All over his district, and it is not a small one, house to house visitation has already begun, all the roads having

been assigned to different workers. Fortnightly visits are paid, mission literature being left at each visit. The intercession services are kept m mind by the visitors, who invite their people to attend them. Moreover, every organisation m the district seems to have been inspired with the duty of doing something or providing something for the coming mission. A number ef houses have boxes into which pennies are being put to help to defray expenses.