A Memoir of Old Age by Bishop Montgomery, 4th Bishop of Tasmania (courtesy of John & Susan Pilbrow):

Memoir booklet: Old Age by Bishop Montgomery

“One last word, with bowed head. The thoughts, the anticipations of Christ’s people are manifold. So many have passed on that we long to meet again, for love’s sake, out of gratitude. Many of our own generation, and our best loved; a greater number probably of those whose written words have been beacon lights for us; a great company. It fills that future beyond the door with bright hopes. But all that pales before the deepest of all longings. ‘One there is beyond all others.’ It is not unreal language on the part of the aged to long for the vision of Him, to ask when they may hope to see Him to Whom they owe everything upon earth, Whose names are revealed in Scripture, they repeat with growing intensity – their best, dearest, truest, life-long Friend, Support, Comforter; the revealer of the Father, the sender of the Spirit. To see Him face to face, to bow down before Him – If the messenger’s advent means that, and it surely ought, then he is an angel. Then the departure from this earth of ours is but to enter the home for which we have been being prepared all through the years…”

I remain deeply moved by Bishop Montgomery’s faith and devotion to Christ as seen in these beautiful words of trust as death approaches.

In fact, Bishop Montgomery died shortly after writing these words. His missionary discipleship is an example for all Christians and Tasmanian Anglicans in particular, to be proud of and to emulate. May it be so.

Feel free to email bishop@anglicantas.org.au if you wish to receive this document in your email as attachment.

See also, Bishop Montgomery: 4th Bishop of Tasmania.