News Items.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume IX, Issue 22, 1 April 1919, Page 179

News Items.

The Rev. T. B. Hardy, an English chaplain^ gained the V.C., M.G., and D.S.O. last year.

The fire at Te Aute College on Monday morning, March 17th ; destroyed a large schoolroom containing about 30 new desks and other furniture, and 90 clothes lockers. Nearly all the boys lost their clothes. The fire spread to the C.E.M.S marquee that was being used for sleeping purposes, and only the beds m it were saved. The work of the school is being carried on under great difficulties.

Lieut.-Colonel Bernard Vaun, M.C., who was killed m action on October 3rd, 1918, was a fine specimen of the priests of the English Church who, at the outbreak of war, whether rightly or wrongly, joined' the combatant forces. Ordained m 1911 he was a master at Wellingborough m 1914 and immediately joined up. He quickly won promotion and finally commanded a battalion. Always he carried m his baggage a portable altar and the Eucharistic vestments, and his greatest joy was to be able to say Mass for the men he loved so well and to give them. Communion. The war lias been fruitful of many strange stories, but this one of a young priest commanding and ministering, wounded many times, and dying at the head of his men, winning by his valour the Military Cross and a bar, the D.5.0., the Croix Militaire, and finally the Victoria Cross, stands alone amid the fine records of English clergy, and indeed of the Army.

We have been asked to make an appeal for a small sum of money to wipe off the debit balance of' the Military Affairs Committee of this} diocese. Some years ago the Council of the C.E.M.S. undertook to find the men to run a Church tent at the annual Territorial camps if the Diocese would pay the necessary expenses. A marquee was obtained and later on a chaplain's tent. These were erected m the various camps, games and stationery were provided and a splendid work was done among the men m the camps, which earned the gratitude and high. appreciation of all ranks m the Territorial service. There were no long columns m the newspapers advertising the work but visitors to the camps have many times commented most favourably on the. good influence of these institutions. > The balancesheet now shows a- debit balance' of about £30. -It should be a simple matter, to wipe this , off., The Diocesan -Secretary" will be pleased to re 1 * ceive subscriptions for this ptirposk

A! severe yoke is laid on our popular patriotism. We are required to humiliate its: .arrogance, and to banish its selfishness. We are required to vaiue our nation as an instrument for ends that are wider -than; our nation. We are required, practically, to remember that m the sight of &od, m the judgment of Christianity no nation has any prerogative right, that He cares equally for every race of every colour or capacity, and that He lays it upon each nation alike to make the most of itself, and its resources m order that it may better minister to the needs of all mankind , and maintain the universal and impartial interests of justice and freedom and peace. — Bishop Gore.

It gives us great pleasure to wel■come back to the Diocese the Rev. J. A. Lush who has been on active service as chaplain for nearly three years. Mr Lush spent some six months m England m the camps and hospitals before being sent to' France. He has returned m splendid health and has gone for a short holiday before settling down to the work of his parish. During his absence Mr Lush was appointed a Canon of the Waiapu Diocese, and he will be duly admitted to his Canonry at an early date. The special work assigned -to Canon Lush is the study and organisation of Sunday School work.

"In the chapel belonging to this Church Army hut the Holy Communion is celebrated daily. The Blessed Sacrament is always reserved, so that at any hour of the. day or night, when the hut is open, men may receive their Communion before going up to the trenches. They will come to- the chaiplain m their heavy marching- kit m little groups of. four or five; 1 Sir, we are going up to, the line m ari hour's time. May we take Communion before we goT And so, m the little chapel, the Bread of Life is administered to the kneeling group. And they go forth all the stronger to meet the unknown dangers and sufferings that lie before them m the line. — From "Whizzbangs and Carbines" by the Rev; J. C. V, Durell.

To-day the ramparts of heaven are alive, with our brave soldiers and the soldiers of our Allies, aye, and soldiers . against whom they fought, cheering because the victory is won — victory which is of God. And we can catch something of the echo of that cheer, which is a command as well as a cheer, bidding us live for those great ends for which they died. They thought dying was gain to make the world safe for democracy. They challenge us to live that democracy may be made safe for the typrld!— Extract fipni. serjnon preached- m Paris by Bishop Brent.

.. In a tract written 600 years ago'By a King's Advocate of Aquitaine and' addressed to $dward I. ■ of England* we read some remarkable forecasts of the present Peace Conference ideas. The author insists strongly on the need of reforms m the Church, the provision of better education, the education of girls as well as boys arid the impprtance of teaching girls medical science and surgery that they may become efficient helpers m the medical missions of the Church to the heathen. His chief demand, however, is for a League of Nations the decrees of which are to be enforced not by arms but by an economic blockade, by refusing food, arms and other goods as r:ell as national and commefcial credit to nations who stir up war. The League of N^tipns was to have a standing army to enforce its* decisions if necessary. Strange that there is no mention of" President Wilson!