PERSONAL NOTES.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 22, Issue 5, 1 May 1932, Page 5

PERSONAL NOTES.

A memorial window has lately been •^dedicated to the memory of the late Rev, G. A. Studdert-Kennedy m St. Paul's Church, "Worcester, of which parish "Woodbine Willie" was for seven years vicar. The window has three lights and it represents three phases of Mr Studdert-Kennedy's character: Prophet, priest and warrior. Mrs Sfuddert-Kennedy and her three sons, Patrick, Christopher and :Michael, attended the service.

On March 2nd the Rev. C. A. Fraer, vicar of Phillipstown, passed to his rest. The funeral service was taken by the Bishop of Christchurch, assisted by the Rev. C. Perry; the number of those present testifying to the esteem and affection m which Mr Fraer had been held. No one who listened to the last "Haere, Haere, Haere," of the Maoris at the graveside will ever forget it. In his 93rd year, the Rev. Jasper Smyth was called away only a few days later. His was a call for which he had been long waiting and which he joyfully answered. In his monthly letter, the Bishop of Christchurch says : "His was a radiantly happy death-bed, and when the news came that all here was over, the words of Bunyan came so naturally to mind, "so he passed over — and all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side." His supreme joy, even m extreme old age, was to serve His . Master. At the age of 76, the Rev. W. F. Knowles finished his course. He had been baptised by Bishop Selwyn m 1856 when he went south to welcome Bishop Harper. Of a meek and quiet spirit, he patiently endured the long trial of broken health. The fourth of the Christchurch clergy to die during March was the Rev. G. W. Christian, at the age of 71. He was a devoted worker for God, who by his personality won a widespread respect and affection. At Nelson there passed away Dr. W. J. Mackay, at the age of 83. Dr. Mackay came from an Irish Quaker family, but had for many years been associated with the Anglican Communion, and was an active member of Synod. He was particularly interested m the welfare of the Maoris m his own diocese, m the religious education of children, and m mission work". His was a gentle, courteous soul, with an old-world grace. News has come from England of the death of the Rev. G. F. Grace, who was born on the shores of Lake Taupo m 1862 at Pukawa, the mission station which had been established by his father m 1853. As a small child, he was carried most of the way from Taupo to Matata on the sea coast when Mrs Grace and her family were obliged to flee from the region at the time of the Hau Haus.

There has also died at Tokaanu his brother, Mr J. B. Grace, m his 78th year; nearly the whole of whose life was passed at Taupo. His loss will be much felt by the Maoris of Taupo, to whom he acted as adviser and friend during his life. The Rev. J. R. Young, vicar of Christ Church, Wanganui, has been appointed Archdeacon of Waitotara. The Rev. G. K. Moir, vicar of Otaki, has been appointed vicar of Brooklyn, Wellington. Mr Moir spent the early years of his ministry m Melanesia, and is a Fellow of the Royal Geopraphical Society. He will be succeeded by the Rev. P. S. Ramson, who has been for 10 years vicar of Petone. The Rev. C. Hyde has accepted the assistant curacy of All Saints', Palmerston North. He has been working on the staff of a notable church m London, St. Gabriel's, Pimlico. A solemn commemoration of the life and work of the late Archdeacon Wbodthorpe was held m. All Saints' Church, Dunedin, conducted by the Yen. Arch. Whitehead, Warden of Selwyn College. The stuidents , of Selwyn College attended m a body, also a large congregation, which tar eluded representatives of the University, Knox College and other bodies. The address was given by Canon Button, who had known the late Warden of Selwyn College for 20 years. After 10 years of office as Superior of the Community of the Sacred Name, Christchiurch, Mother Dora has resigned the guidance of the Community to Mother Eleanor, who, as headmistress of St. Mark's School, Opawa, has done a great work for Christ, and the children. The Rev. J. Pigott has accepted the living of Newtown-Linford, m the Diocese of Leicester, and six miles out of Leicester. The village is supposed to be the prettiest m Leicestershire and though the church is small, it is very beautiful and very old. We are extremely glad that Mr Pigott has received this well-earned recognition. By the time this appears, Mrs Birchall will have been ordained Deaconess by the Bishop of Christchurch. Although the Community of the Sacred Name began its career as a Deaconess Community, of late years the sisters have not been ordained, and it is many years since a deaconess

has been ordained m the Diocese. The last Lambeth Conference laid it down that the Order of Deaconess is "an Order which, both from the solemnity of its ordination and the importance of its functions, can satisfy the fullest desires of women to share m the official work of the Church." It is by no manner of means the "female equivalent of the existing Deacon"; it is an Order after its own kind.