THE LATE ARCHDEACON WILLIAMS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3133, 1 August 1867, Page 3

THE LATE ARCHDEACON WILLIAMS.

(COMMUNICATED.) In recording the death of the late Archdeacon Henry Williams, the oldest missionary in Neyr Zealand, which' 1 took place at Pakaraka, Bay of Islands, on the 16th instant, we are painfully reminded that the generation of the first pioneers of Christianity and colonisation in these islands is fast passing away. But they leave behind them a name which will never be forgotten; for we have the highest authority for saying that " they rest from their labours, and their works do follow them," A brief sketch of his life, by one who has known him intimately for nearly half a century, may not be unacceptable to the public Archdeacon Henry Williams was born February 11, 1792. He entered the Royal Navy in 1806, at the age of fourteen ; and served without intermission until the war was terminated by the battle of Waterloo. During this period he served under Sir Joseph Yorke, first in the 'Barfleur,' and afterwards in the ' Christian VII. ;' in the ' Maida,' under Captain liinzee ; in the « Galatea,' under Captain Losac j in the * Racehorse,' under Captain De Repe ; in the ' Saturn,' under Captain Nash ; in the, 'Endymion,' under Captain, afterwards Admiral, Hope, C.B. He was one of the volunteers who joined Captain, afterwards Sir Charles 'Napier, to co-operate with the army under ,Lord Wellington ; and after that expedition had been countermanded when on the point of sailing, he joined the * Thames,' under Captain Walpole, and continued in her until the peace. During the course of his services he was in the affair of Copenhagen, both afloat and ashore, having been, one of the forlorn hope" which had been told off for storming, when the garrison capitulated ; in the Basque Beads, in the affair with the boats of the * Christian yil.,' including the one for which a medal was given ; in the ' Galatea,' in the affair off Tamatave, in Madagascar, in which he was wounded ; and in the * Endymion,' in the affair with the * President.' For the two latter engagements « medal was awarded by her Majesty in 1848, which medal is in the possession of the family. At the peace, lie retired a lieutenant on halfpay, and, some time after, married. H« was removed from the list of lieutenants by an i Admiralty order, 1827, "That all officers in holy orders be struck off half-pay list." Having a brother-in-law connected with the Colonial Mission' Society, his attention _ w,as [attracted, through him, to their proceedings, ' and the desire sprang up in his mind to enlist in the warfare which they had commenced , against the kingdom of Satan in the islands of New Zealand. He engaged himself to the Colonial Mission Society, June, 1820, in preparation for holy orders ; was ordained deacon, t June 2, 1822, by the Bishop of London, and priest, June 16, 1822, by the Bishop of Lincoln ; left England, September 17, 1822 ; arrived in New Zealand, August 3, 1823; appointed Archdeacon of Waimate, September 20, 1844, by the Bishop of New Zealand; was disconi nected from the Colonial Mission Society, May 25, 1850, owing to circumstances well known in the colony. The excitement occasioned by his abrupt dismissal was intense. The members of his congregations at Russell and Paihia forthwith assembled, and presented him with aa address accompanied by a testimonial of a handsome 'silver inkstand; he was afterwards honourably restored to his position, January 1, ■1 QtJC No one could have been better suited for the early mission to New Zealand than Archdeacon Henry Williams. With a heart given to God, and zealous for the salvation of the heathen, he combined an indomitable perseverance with a spirit of ardent enterprise, that carried him through difficulties and obstacles under which most men would have succumbed. Having spent the early part of his life m the navy, his nautical knowledge was soon turned to good account. The 'Herald/ a small schooner of about 60 tons burden, was built under his direction at Paihia; for the purposes of the mission, beiag . the first vessel ever built in New. Zealand. On her completion, in 1826, the first voyage was made to. New South Wales, navigated by -the Arohdeaeon. Archdeacon Williams made two visits in her to the Bay of Plenty, accompanied by Mr. Davis and Mr. Clarke. „ , The grand features of .his character were cool intrepidity, great firmness, indomitable perseverance, combined with the most tender and sympathising heart for the sufferings of others. These sterling qualifications soon commended themselves to the notice of the natives, who always felt the most unbounded confidence in him, and regard for the soundness of his judgment and his interest in their welfare ; and in all their quarrels, whenever it was possible, he was looked up to and recognised as general peacemaker. As an illustration of this, at the present time, two Ngapuhi tribes, engaged m war, no saoner heard of his death than they mutually agreed to suspend hostilities until after hjs funeral. Four of the chiefs immediately left the camp to attend as mourners on the occasion, and requested to be allowed to carry his remains to the grave. The universal esteem and reverence which the natives entertain for the Archdeacon was a problem to many ; but sterling worth, combined with unbounded charity which "seeketh not her own, "suffereth long and is kind," "yaunteth nbt itself, is not puffed up," is a virtue which the New Zealander is not slow to discover, and 1 esteems above all others. His services were not, however, confined to the native race, but were also most readily and cheerfully bestowed upon Europeans. He took the greatest interest in their welfare, and always exerted himself in endeavouring to advance hoth their spiritual and temporal interests. He was ever regarded by them as a firm and unflinching friend, and devoted minister ; and his memory will always be held by them in the greatest respect and esteem, as was shown by the large atttendanco' at his funeral, numbering about 130 Europeans besides natives, "notwithstanding the bad state of the rqads, and many other diffiealtieii ' > (