ordination vows.  A fellow with a healthy, active tone of mind, plenty of enterprise and some enthusiasm, who makes the best of everything, and above all does not think himself better than other people because he is engaged in Mission work—­that is the fellow we want.  I assume, of course, the existence of sound religious principle as the greatest qualification of all.  Now, if there be any young persons whom you could wish to see engaged in this Mission now at St. Mark’s, or if you know of any such and feel justified in speaking to them, you will be doing a great kindness to me, and, I believe, aiding materially in this work.

’I should not wish at all any young man to be pledged to anything; as on my part I will not pledge myself to accept, much less ordain, any man of whom I have no personal knowledge.  But let anyone really in earnest, with a desire and intention (as far as he is concerned) to join the Mission, come to me about December or January in any year.  Then he will live at the Mission College till the end of April, and can see for himself the mode of life at the Central Summer School in New Zealand.  Then let him take a voyage with me, see Melanesians in their own homes, stop for a while at Mota—­e.g. make trial of the climate, &c., &c., and then let me have my decisive talk with him.

’If he will not do for the work, I must try and find other employment for him in some New Zealand diocese, or help to pay his passage home.  I don’t think such a person as you would recommend would fail to make himself useful; but I must say plainly that I would rather not have a man from England at all, than be bound to accept a man who might not thoroughly and cordially work into the general system that we have adopted.  We live together entirely, all meals in common, same cabin, same hut, and the general life and energy of us all would be damaged by the introduction of any one discordant element.  You will probably say, “Men won’t go out on these terms,” and this is indeed probable, yet if they are the right fellows for this work—­a work wholly anomalous, unlike all other work that they have thought of in many respects—­they will think that what I say is reasonable, and like the prospect all the better (I think) because they see that it means downright work in a cheery, happy, hopeful, friendly spirit.

’A man who takes the sentimental view of coral islands and cocoa-nuts, of course, is worse than useless; a man possessed with the idea that he is making a sacrifice will never do; and a man who thinks any kind of work “beneath a gentleman” will simply be in the way, and be rather uncomfortable at seeing the Bishop do what he thinks degrading to do himself.  I write all this quite freely, wishing to convey, if possible, some idea to you of the kind of men we need.  And if the right fellow is moved by God’s grace to come out, what a welcome we will give him, and how happy he will soon be in a work the abundant blessings of which none can know as we know them.  There are three clergymen with me.  Mr. Pritt, who came out with the Bishop of Nelson as his chaplain, but who, I am thankful to say, is regularly part and parcel of the Mission staff; Mr. Dudley, ordained last year, who for six years has been in the Mission, and has had the special advantage of being trained under the Primate’s eye; and Mr. Kerr who was also ordained about ten months ago.