Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

CLERGYMAN FOR ROMSEY
ARRIVAL FROM CANADA

By the Makura, which reached Sydney a week ago, the Rev. F. H. and Mrs King arrived from Canada, and came straight on to Melbourne.

Mr King, who is an Anglican, is typical of many American and Canadian ministers. He is full of energy and optimism, and spoke in an interesting fashion of church methods in Canada. He was located in the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, and ministered to the people of the prairies. In Canada the Anglicans,- in their pioneering-, work from a central clergy house. The clergy go out sometimes for a month at a time into the newly opened and sparsely settled districts, returning when their clothes give out, for it is wise not to attempt to carrY superfluous luggage where travelling is rough.

"In Canada," Mr King said, "we don't wait for a township to grow up and then think about a church. The railway goes first, and we go with it, perhaps to a few scattered people. 'Soon the district- grows, and the people find us established.'

Asked how they managed to get the churches up,"Mr King stated that Canadians were always willing to help the clergymen. Working bees to build churches were common. He displayed a photograph showing a church in course of erection in Watrous. a small township in Saskatchewan. Here, the local mayor, the doctor, the lawyer, Mr King, and a host of others are to be seen working against time, for churche sare built in a day there, as in Australia.

"Church services are held in some queer places in Canada," Mr King went on. "We conduct them in saloons, pool rooms, box cars, or what you would call big railway trucks, and such-like places. This, of course, is only until the people build a church for themselves. In two years on the prairies I built seven churches—sometimes where no township is ever likely to be."

Those who are concerned in the movement for church union in Victoria will be interested to hear that Mr King Is enthusiastic on this subject, though he is not unmindful of the difficulties in the way of union between the Church of England and the dissenting" bodies.

"The Presbyterians and Methodists in Canada are very keen about church union' he remarked. "So sure are they that it is coming speedily that in many new towns the Presbyterians and Methodists are building only one church between them. They have one minister, and worship together."

As an example of how Canadian clergymen "round up" people' for their services, Mr King produced a card, containing an invitation to his church, and intimating that, after evening service, there would be an "at home" in the church club-room, "where you are most heartily welcome for a chat, a smoke, and a cup of coffee." This card was distributed at hotels and other places among visitors.

Mr King went through the South African war, and wears the King's and Queen's medals. He was in the 9th Battalion of Imperial Yeomanry, and was wounded at Lindly. Mrs King was formerly a nurse at the Austin Hospital for Incurables, and is a sister in-law of Mr Fred Chapman, paleontologist at the National Museum.

​Mr.King is to have charge of the Romsey Church of England.

Weekly Times Saturday 23 May 1914 page 7