Melanesian Mission Notes.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume I, Issue 11, 1 May 1911, Page 173

Melanesian Mission Notes.

A cable message has been received m England from Archdeacon Cull wick, announcing that the Mission Staff wished, to delegate the choice of a successor to Bishop Wilson to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of St. Albans, and Canon Still. Those three have accepted the trust, and will begin forthwith to endeavour to find a new Bishop. When they have made their choice and the. call has been accepted, the name of the proposed Bishop will have to be submitted to the General Synod of New Zealand, by whom the appointment must be

made. Letters received from members of the staff tend to make it clear that while there is a general agreement that the time has come when the Bishop must necessarily make his headquarters m the Islands, there is a strong body of opinion, including that of all the older and more experienced men, against the immediate abandonment of Norfolk Island, which is felt to be practically impossible m present circumstances. On the ship question, very diverse opinions seem to exist, and it will require to be thought out most carefully before any irrevocable- step is taken. The meeting of the English Committee, on February 21st, was very well attended, and the following resolutions were unanimously passed: — • Proposed by the Bishop of St. Albans, seconded by the Bishop of Rochester :— I. "The committee have received with mingled feelings the news of the resignation of his office, with effect from July, 1911, of the Bishop of Melanesia, but they recognise that it has been dictated by the same unselfish devotion to the cause of the Melanesian Mission that has characterised his whole career as Bishop since his consecration m 1894." Proposed by the Bishop of St. Albans, seconded by Canon Still, 2. 'The Committee gladly note (a) that the staff of the Melanesian Mission have requested the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of St. Albans, and Canon Still, to act on their behalf m the selection of a successor to Bishop Wilson; and (b) that the three delegates have, intimated their intention of choosing an unmarried man, who shall carry out what is now stated to be the conviction of the entire Mission, that the headquarters of the Mission should be changed from Norfolk Island to the Solomon Islands." Proposed : by . the Bishop of St. Albans, seconded by Prebendary Selwyn, — 3. 'The Committee feel sure that m view of the great traditions of the Mission, the perplexity of the problem, the great natural interest of the New Zealand Synod, and of Australian Churchmen m all that concerns the Mission, the Bishop of Melanesia, and the authorities of the Mission will come to a final decision with respect to work m Norfolk Island, and the question of retaining* the

"Southern Cross," until ample time has been given for the careful consideration of these subjects, and until the Bishop's successor has had time, after taking charge of the Mission, to form a deliberate judgment." It must be remembered, of course, that the English Committee has no authority to share m the government of the Mission ; its functions are to promote the interests of the Mission m England, and any suggestion made to the Bishop or Staff is made solely from that point of view. ■