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December 1926 THE DIOCESAN MAGAZINE
The Bishop’s Visitation (Bishop White) October
16, 17
Parish
of Grand Falls – Rector Rev. T. E. Loder
The Lord Bishop left
We arrived at Millertown Junction after
an uneventful trip, 10 minutes ahead of schedule, at 5:30 a.m. and were met by
Mr. Kirby, who was to act as our host and by Mr. Carter, the energetic teacher,
who escorted us to Mr. Kirby’s house where we were heartily welcomed. After having had breakfast we went to the
school-chapel for Confirmation service.
This is a new building and had been most tastefully decorated for the
occasion and the road approaching was spanned with a very handsome arch. The church members here, though few in
number, are ably led by Mrs. Kirby, and the value of their work is ably shown
in the interior of the building. Here
the Bishop first dedicated and hallowed the new Altar Lights, Vases, Credence,
Bible and Organ as gifts for the service of the Sanctuary. This was followed by Confirmation in which
some 15 candidates renewed their promises and received the gift of the Holy
Spirit. After this service was over we
boarded the spur line coach for Millertown where we were met at the station and
piloted to the Staff house, which was kindly placed by the A.N.D. Co. at his
Lordship’s disposal. A hearty lunch was
served here by an old parishioner of the Bishop’s, and then we repaired to the
Church. This building is a union or
undenominational one, a serious handicap, but Mr. Loder with his helpers has
happily succeeded in being able to disguise this fact during the times it is
used for Church services. The Chancel
and portable Altar were very nicely decorated with many beautiful flowers and
foliage, and amid those surroundings some of the candidates received the rite
of Confirmation. Millertown’s career has
been a chequered one and the process of moving houses from one level to a
higher one has become almost a habit and the whole town, railway track and all,
is now on the upward move, the third time within 12 yrs., to allow for the
raising of the level of Red Indian Lake another 10 or 12 ft., which, by the
way, will almost double its area. After
a light meal we entrained once more for Millertown Junction to catch the
Express going East for Badger Brook.
Here we were met by Mr. Cole and Mr. King, the teacher, who brought us
to the Staff house where we were again the guests of the A.N.D. Co. As the Church building here, another union
one, is rather small and inconveniently arranged fro such a service as a
Confirmation it had been decided to hold it in the Community Hall, which for
the occasion was beautifully decorated with a profusion of gorgeous flowers
with a background of autumnal leaves.
Here some sixteen candidates knelt to receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit at the ands of their Father in God.
After this service we waited to connect with a freight train, and while
waiting Mr. Cole took the Bishop and his party over his garden which is indeed
a gem in the wilderness: asparagus,
celery and above all strawberries grow here – so well that on October 14 we
picked ripe strawberries of good size and quality, and with fine weather saw
promise of a large second crop. This
surely is a refutation of our much maligned climate. From here we went by freight train to
Immediately
after lunch, accompanied again by Mr. Loder, who, of course, had been with us
from the start, we motored to Bishop’s Falls, being met on the confines of
Grand Falls parish by Rev. W. R. Pitcher, who, with a party of friends, led the
way in another motor to Bishop’s Falls. Here we were most hospitably
entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Fred Chaffey, the Bishop staying there and the
Chaplain at the Staff House. After tea
we proceeded to the new church after having robed at Mrs. Colbourne’s. The consecration of this, St. Andrew’s
Church, was the Episcopal work here and an inspiring service with a crowded
congregation ensued. The church is a
fine building lit with electricity and finished inside with natural finish
cypress, which is most effective, and it was beautifully decorated with
flowers, pine branches, and the gay berries of the “joint-wood” tree. A large arch was erected here and lit with
electric lights. The community spirit
here seems to be much alive, as the Church is flanked on its western end by a
large recreation ground in process of making.
A large amount of the hard work of clearing is being, and has been done
by gangs of men, who, after hours, work a week at a time. The surface is now leveled off and only
awaits turfing. The juxtaposition of
these two, the playground and the Church, is an exemplification of the truth
that a sound mind requires a sound body.
The weather the next morning
looked ominous and fully justified its gloomy promise just as we ere due to
leave Bishop’s Falls for Norris’ Arm.
Our conveyance this time was the motor track-cat of Mr. Cobb, the Superintendent
of the Western Division who most kindly not only put his car at our disposal,
but himself drove us to Norris Arm. Mrs.
Cobbs forethought in providing us with a large fur rug, and Mr. and Mrs.
Chaffey’s goodness in the matter of oil coats saved us from a heavy wetting and
much discomfort. We arrived at Norris’
Arm about 10:30 where we were met by Mr. Freeman and many of the church people
there, the largest church settlement in Mr. Pitcher’s mission. After a warm welcome by Mr. and Mrs. Freeman,
in which a good fire played no inconsiderable part, we went towards the school,
down a tree lined path from the house and up another under a massive arch to
the school. These decorations must have
cost a great deal of labour and no little love in their erection and are silent
witnesses to all and sundry of the high regard Church people have for their
Bishop and his office. The graveyard was
now consecrated and immediately afterwards a return made to the school for the Confirmation
service, where some 15 candidates were presented by Mr. Pitcher. We then returned to Mrs. Freeman’s for lunch
after which to the accompaniment of powder guns, we boarded a motor boat,
kindly placed at our disposal by Mr. Beaton, for Botwood. The weather had now cleared and the trip was
most enjoyable, no wind and warm air and simply gorgeous scenery, nature garbed
in the most wonderful colouring in all the glory of the fall tints. On the way across our boat, decorated with
flags, was saluted from Indian Point with powder guns.
We were met on arrival at
Botwood by Mr. Aitken, who escorted us to the Parsonage where we were to spend
the night. After tea we repaired to the
Church for a Confirmation Service at which his Lordship gave two most inspiring
addresses and 16 candidates were confirmed.
The weather continued to improve and Saturday morning ushered in a real
Indian summer day. The Director’s car
and special train having, by the courtesy of the A.N.D. Col, been placed at the
disposal of the Bishop, we left Botwood for Grand Falls, where again we were
met by Mr. Cooper who motored the Bishop to Grand Falls’ House where we were to
be guests during our stay in the Paper Town.
The appearance of the town has much improved in recent years, owing to
the rapid growth of young birch trees, which are now clothing with graceful
greenery what was once a rather barren setting.
After tea at the Rectory we went to the Church for the Confirmation
service, which was held on the Saturday night.
The approach to the Church was made to look very pretty by a splendid
display of bunting, a large arch, and a myriad of electric lights. Inside the building no pains had been spared
to make the house of God beautiful. High
over the Altar and lit with special lights was placed a beautifully executed
motto: “Come Holy Ghost our souls
inspire,” the work of Mr. Bishop. The
whole chancel was decorated with a gorgeous display of beautiful house flowers
and the furniture decorated with evergreen and snowberries, a most tasteful
combination. The service was a most
inspiring one and over ninety candidates were presented for Confirmation by Mr.
Loder. A crowded church, inspiring
addresses, and good music, a combination which marked an event not easily
forgotten by those privileged to take part in such a service. We now returned to Grand Falls house for the
night and the next morning the Lord Bishop assisted by the Rector and the
Chaplain celebrated the Holy Eucharist, at which 160 communicants participated
which included most of the newly confirmed who make their first communion. Matins followed at 11, at which the Bishop preached and at
which service the C.L.B. paraded under their Captain, Mr. Cooper to the number
of 48 out of a possible 51. The Bishop
after this service proceeded to the Drill Hall where he spoke a few words of
encouragement to the boys before they were dismissed. After lunch we were conveyed by motor to the
new cemetery which awaited consecration and here a very inspiring service was
held.
Short Biography
on Bishop William Charles White
Newfoundland biographies - Q-Z - Newfoundland History
White, William
Charles (1865-1943), Anglican
bishop of