BISHOP HILLIARD'S SERMON AT ENTHRONEMENT.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 24, Issue 12, 1 December 1934, Page 6

BISHOP HILLIARD'S SERMON AT ENTHRONEMENT.

Bishop Hilliard said he wished to convey to his congregation a meaning of the deep sense of privilege and responsibility with which he stood before them that evening; and also express his very deep appreciation of all the consecrated effort and graceful friendliness that had made that day such a memorable occasion and the services so beautiful and inspiring. He thought that all the people of the diocese and himself owed a great debt of gratitude to the members of the episcopate aand their chaplains who had travelled so far to be present on a day so important m Nelson's dio-

cesan life. They had come from all parts of New Zealand and from Australia, spelling out m ecclesiastical terms the old word Anzac which had great significance m our imperial and inter-3atior<al life. Biqhjop. Hilliaird expressed his gratitude to them, and he would warmly treasure their kindness m his memory. Not only had he been blessed with expressions of goodwill and friendliness from his contemporaries m New Zealand, but he had received, a cable from his widely revered and greatly beloved predecessor, Bishop Sadlier: "Remember all Sunday Psalm 121." All would know, went on Bishop Hilliard, that that was the great travellers' psalm. "I will life up mine eyes to the hills." In this it was related how the pilgrims came up to Jerusalem, to the visible signs of the invisible presence of the great King; and as they went away they carried with them the sacred and inspiring recollection of His Word, and also a reminder that the God whose Presence they had been enabled to realise was going with them, as they turned their back upon that time of inspiration, along the dusty road among all the tasks, and all the warfare of their journey. "And so, at the close of this day of inspiration, that note is still with us." They had been privileged to have come to the mountain top of the vision of inspiration, and paused before once more going down. The speaker thought thus when he bore m mind the catholic character of their faith to-day, and he felt that that inspiration was aptly summed up m the Second Lesson read by the Primate that evening. St. Paul was proud of his Roman citizenship, and his heart had thrilled when a boy, he had heard tales of the daring of that great empire;, and at last he had come to Rome. The speaker could well imagine St. Paul's feelings, for they must have been similar to those which he would experience should be, born m Australia, stand m the centre of the Empire m Westminster Abbey or under the dome of St. Paul. Albeit as a prisoner, St. Paul had come to the heart of the Roman Empire, and thought how that city had started from small beginnings; and his mind had turned to the thought of another empire prepared through many centuries from small beginnings, fostered

by love of God, destined to gather m the people of all nations. This great thought of the holy catholic church, was m the chapter of the epistle read that evening, St. Paul spoke of the varied gifts bestowed by the Lord. All those varied gifts, said St. Paul, were given for one purpose: That they might be consecrated for the work of the ministry, for the building of a catholjjc church where all would proceed to the perfect humanity. "What a wonderful vision he has set before us ! Grant that it may never depart." It was a great challenge to international relationships to think that God was calling for goodwill all over the world torealise His purpose of building up a perfect humanity, each particular people bringing into it its special contribution to the total sum of human effort. We were bidden to become unselfish. Instead of selfish competition for . personal gain there should be loving co-operation for the common good. "I am convinced that we have m the world sufficient economic knowledge, scientific resource and material good to restore this sad, sorry world and solve all its problems and stress if all were but consecrated to the common good." God had given some wealth, some knowledge, some other knowledge, and these gifts were given that they might be consecrated to secure unity by faith m Him. Studdert Kennedy's' jlines wa|re qu!ojted|: ''The day will come when through the night" . . . "When all the world looks up because of Him." The speaker said he did not see any need for conflict between conviction and co-operation, and while he stood uncompromisingly behind certain principles, he was willing, anxious and eager to co-operate as an evangelical churchman m the most truthful and friendly manner with all his brethren m the great common task of realising the vision of the catholic church. Our great responsibility was to cpnsfecrate our talents m brotherhood. "Let us look above the roof of the Roman prison where the Apostle sits m bondage, to the Heaven above where the Lord dwells. Let us pledge ourselves afresh with all our gifts and talents for the great task to which He calls us, and for which He has endowed us, to a perfect measure of the completeness of Christ."