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PATTESON THE MARTYR.

Fifty-eight years ago to-day the noble-minded 'Bishop of Melanesia, John Coleridge Patteson, r suffered martyrdom. He was treacherously ) clubbed to death at Nukapu, Santa Cruz, in the e Solomon Islands. If ever there was a saintly man 1 it was Patteson, and the sweet he left behind him is still a power for good. The son c of an English judge, he was born in 1527, and when a boy at Eton he listened to a sermon by f Bishop Selwyn, which turned his thoughts to the 3 mission field. He had a wonderful gift for languages, being able to leai'n with ease what would cause men not so gifted the greatest study and work. This gift stood him in good stead in his 1 1 chosen work. ; I Like Selwyn, lie was a man of the simplest tastes, and in the voyages among the islands took r his full share of the routine work and shared all the privations of his fellow workers. After solving six years as a missionary he was, in ISGI, , ! consecrated Bishop of Melanesia in tlie old St. r i Paul's that stood on what is now Emily Place. For nine years ho devoted all his energies to the r work of his scattered diocese and not only gave ' the best that was in him but spent his consider- > able private means upon it. A man without fear, he _ went among the natives quite unarmed, and his diocese included somo of the most savage tribes in the Pacific. In the end he fell a victim to his own trustful [ nature. On September 20, 1871, the Southern Cross was off Nukapu and the Bishop went ashore in a boat, accompanied by Mr. Atkin and four natives. They were met outside the reef by several canoes, and the Bishop consented to land in one of them, having always found that _by ' entering their craft he quickly disarmed suspicion. The boat's crew saw the Bishop land on the beach, and there lost sight of him.

The boat had been about half an hour drifting about outside the reef in company with several canoes, when suddenly the islanders made a sudden attack, throwing arrows at Mr. Atkin and his boys. The boat quickly pulled out, but not before'three of the crew were hit. One man had his cap nailed to his head by an arrow, Mr. Atkin got one in his left shoulder, and a native named Stephen Taroniara was lying in the bottom of the boat "trussed up" with six arrows in chest and shoulders. They pulled back to the Southern Cross to report what had happened and have Stephen attended to, and then the boat put off again to find the Bishop.

As the boat approached the shore two canoes were seen coming off, one being towed. One cast

oil the other and then went back. The canoe that was cast off had a pile of something laid in it. The "something" proved to be the dead body of the Bishop. There were five wounds in It. and across the chest was a palm leaf with five knots tied in the leaflets. The Bishop was buried at sea, the service being read by Mr. Atkin.

Mr. Atkin himself, and the native Stephen, suffered fearful agony from the wounds caused by the poisoned arrows before they passed away. Naturally a profound sensation was caused in Auckland when the Southern Cross returned; the Bishop was so loved, and Mr. Atkin and family were so well known. Miss Mary Atkin, sister of Mr. Atkin, is still living down at the old home at Kohiinarama. She has been a wonderful friend to tho Church and the mission, and is one of the few remaining links with the memory of the great Bishop.

The reason for Patteson's murder is somewhat obscure. It was afterwards said that it was in revengo for the murder or kidnapping of five natives by traders, and colour was lent to this story by the five mysterious kuots tied in the leaflets of the palm leaf which was laid on his body when it was placed in the canoe. There are a number of memorials to Patteson. The finest, of course, is the chapel at Norfolk Island. The outside is far from pleasing, as the English architect thought the island was visited by hurricanes and planned accordingly; but inside it is beautiful. There is a lovely pulpit erected to his memory in Exeter Cathedral. In New Zealand there are minor memorials in various churches. In the historic little chapel at Sc. John's College, Tamaki, there are two excellent stained-glass windows, and part of the college is called tho "Patteson Wing." There is also in Auckland a Patteson Street.

One of the most interesting memorials of j Patteson in Auckland is the collection of perI sonal relics to be found in the Melanesian Mission Museum, in the old mission buildings at Kohiinarama, where he spent a number of years before moving to Norfolk Island, included in the collection is the log of the Southern Cross for tho voyage on which the Bishop was murdered.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19290920.2.43

Bibliographic details

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 223, 20 September 1929, Page 6

Word Count
858

PATTESON THE MARTYR. Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 223, 20 September 1929, Page 6

PATTESON THE MARTYR. Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 223, 20 September 1929, Page 6