The Taranaki Pilgrimage.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XIV, Issue 6, 1 December 1923, Page 330

The Taranaki Pilgrimage.

One of the pilgrims from New Plymouth to Palmerston. North for the healing mission describes the pilgrimage m the Auckland "Church Gazette." Following* is a short extract : — That night we attended the Intercession service m All Saints ' Church, which was packed to. the doors. The Rev. G. H. Gavin, Vicar of Waitara, gave the address. There is no need to describe the Mission service itself next day, as it followed the lines vow so familiar to all of our people. But we must be allowed to say that although we had come away from our diocese we were never allowed to feel m the least strangers. The Bishop of Wellington was kindness itself, and the vicar of All Saints seemed ever anxious to associate us with him and his colleagues m all the varied activities of the mission. Our grateful thanks to all of them. Loud too are the expressions of gratitude from all our patients at the wonderful outpouring of kindness and sympathy from the people of Palmerston North. As may be imagined the return journey was like a triumphal progress. It is impossible to describe the feelings of all our company, nearly 270 all told. The greatest happiness was everywhere evident and every one had received some blessings from the great experience. Here was one who had made the outward juonrey m the most awful pain and with stiff limbs, now able to walk and without the slightest trace of pain. Another who had been deaf for years could hear her father's greeting' at Stratford. A third who had with the greatest difficulty been taken on the train but three days since, insisted on walking down the entire length of the platform at Inglewood with but two sticks to help her. Time and space would- fail to tell of all the blessings received. Everywhere again the crowds gathered and at Hawera more refreshments from our kind friends. At New Plymouth ■•■•; an enormous number of people had assembled. They., tilled the., sta-tion and overflowed into the street. "'