SELWYN CENTENARY.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 103, 1 May 1909, Page 9

SELWYN CENTENARY.

OLD COLONISTS* KB-TINIO-..

__ re-union of the honoured, but fastdisappearing, band of old colonists of New Zealand took place on Thursday afternoon in St. Paul's schoolroom, in connection with the Selwyn Centenary Celebrations. A large number of the old people, with their friends and relatives, were present. The gathering was of an informal nature, and, to quote the words of Bishop Neligan, was for "the renewal of past memories and the recrudescence of old friendships." The Hon. E. Mitchelson and' a number of visiting clergy were amongst those present.

Bishop Neligan, in the course of a short address, referred to the suitability of St.. Paul's for such a gathering. The old building had been the scene of many historic gatherings, and the new edifice had gathered round itself certain associations which tended to make the church a place round which national sentiment might grow. Of all the events associated with New Zealand history, none would stand out more prominently in years to come than the work of the great George Augustus Selwyn. (Applause.) It would be almost impertinence on his (the speaker's) part to speak of his greatness of character, but he had had a certain opportunity for estimating the valuec of Bishop Selwyn's work since he had occupied his present position. The longer he savp the working out of his plans and schemes and the wonderful foresight he had adopted, he was lost in admiration of the greatness and wisdom of the man whom God sent to rule over the Church in New Zealand in 1841. In

1902, when he accepted the Bishopric or New Zealand, one of his first calls was to see old Mrs Selwyn, and, following out the ideals of Eer departed husband, the first question she asked was: "What are you going to do for the Maoris?"

The Rev. C. A. B. Watson, vicar of St. Paul's, delivered an appropriate address, and paid a high tribute to Bishop Selwyn's wisdom in securing the site for St. John's College. There the student, Inspired by the most beautiful surroundings, most feel that he was indeed on holy ground when he entered the tlitle chapel an dtook part in the services.

Several of the old colonists present recounted anecdotes and experieces which they had met with in the old times when Bishop Selwyn was in their midst.

Among those present at the gathering may be mentioned: Mrs. Stewart ('Parnell), Mrs. Hargreaves (Wanganui), Mrs. Bediington (Mt. Eden), Mrs. Bailey ((Mt. Eden), -.Irs. Carter (Ponsonby), Major Howard (Alten-road), Mrs. H. Wilson, Mrs. Allies (Devonport), Mr. Samuel Vaile, Mrs. Fitzpatric-k, Captain Clayton, Hon. E. (Mitch-lson, Mrs. ©lair (Mt. Roskill), Mrs. Bewicke (Victoria-street), Miss Eames (Mt. Eden), Mrs. F. Kissling (Mt. Eden), Miss Powell (Ponsonby), Mrs. Speight (Parnell), Mr. Peek (Epsom), Mr. and Mrs. Robert Mair (Whangarei), Mrs. A. Brodie (Graftonroad), Mrs. B. J. Esam (Epsom), Mr. G. Vidal. Mr. A. G. Pullcng (Mt. Eden), Captain Jones, Mr. Paul, Mrs. Nelson, Mrs. Allan Taylor, Mr. J. F. Leighton, and Mr. W. Cooper. Refreshments were served, and an agreeable musical programme, contributed by Mrs. Parkes, Miss Lusher, and Mr. B. H. Richards, added to the enjoyment at the gather ing. DR. NELIGAN'S SERMON.

St. Paul's <was attended by a large congregation in the evening, the service being taken by the Rev. C. A. B. Watson, the Rev. (Mark Sutton acting as chaplain, and the lesson 'being read by the R.v. Canon Nelson. Members from several of the other city choir 3 assisted St. Paul's choir in the choral portion, which included the anthem "Blest Are the Departed" (Spohr) and the "Hallelujah Chorus," and the hymns "Faith of Our Fathers," "God is Working His Purpose Out," and "Onward, Christian Soldiers," the National Authem also being sung. Mr. Kiwi Wilkinson acted as crucifer. £18 7/11 was taken at the two services in collections, to be devoted to the building fund of the Patteson wing at St. John's College. In preaching from the text, "Let us now praise famous men, and our Father that begat us. The Lord hath -wrought great glory by them through His power from the ibeginning," Bishop Nleligan drew attention to the national interest attaching to the Selwyn centenanry. It was a memorial recognition of the life work of one of the greatest men of the 19th century. Augustus George Selwyn stood for the emblem of continuity to the present members of the Church of England in New Zealand. What St. Aidan did for the British Church in Northumbria in the 7fch century, Selwyn did for the Church in New Zealand in the 19th century. Independence of character individualised each man, and they stamped it deep and strong in the foundations of the British Church. What Aidan and Selwyn did in their comparatively short years of labour wonld have •taken generations in weaker or less devoted hands. Both men stood for freedom and liberty, moreover. Selwyn refused to narrow the Church to the dimensions cf a sect, and to him were due the gratitude of all churchmen for the unfaltering assertion of the liberty of a churchman, ecclesiastical and political. In his day, as was inevitable, h. had many enemies; many dubbed him Romanist, and by some he was the best hated man of his time in New Zealand. But let them praise God to-day for such a man as "one of the fathers that begat us." Coming to the present, the bishop sounded a warning note lest private or party interests, prejudices, or passions frustrate them in handing on to those who should come after that which had been won for them since the days ol Columbia and the Celtic mission, heritage in what was so well described by the late Biihop of London "the Church of free mm educating them into a. knowledge of the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free."