SAMUEL MARSDEN

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 45, 21 August 1913, Page 3

SAMUEL MARSDEN

APOSTLE TO THE MAORIS THE COMING CENTENARY. Nearly 100 years ago Samuel Marsdftn, the bluff, 6turdy missionary of the Eng* lish Church (theD stationed in Sydney) was moved by what he had heard of the fine characteristics of the Maoris as a race to bring to them the Gospel of Christianity. New Zealand was then a far-off and but little known country, even in New South Wales. It was known, however, that whatever noble characteristics the Maoris possessed they were certainly cannibals and a fierce race when provoked — and they wer« then often given good cause for their hostility to white men generally. It was to do his memory honour that a great gathering of Churchmen assembled in the Town Hall last evening. The Primate (Dr. Nevill) was present, as also were Bishops Sprott, Averill, and Julius, Archdeacons Fancourt and Harper, and Messrs. E. H. H&dfield and G. Shirtcliffe on the platform. Bishop Sprott presided, and explained the object of that gathering of Church-men-—via., the fitting celebration, in. 1914 of the centenary of Marsden's beginning of Christian work in New Zea> land. The results of that work that they saw to-day, it must be confessed, were not commensurate with the zeal and labour of Marsden, for unfortunately human infirmity, ignorance, and sin had marred that work to some extent. Nevertheless there was actually a Maori Church in which thousands of Maori Christians had lived and died these hundred years. Bishop Sprott gratefully acknowledged the noble labours among the Maoris of Christians who were not in the Anglican communion. Bishop Averill of Waiapu pointed out that the year 1913 was the 1600 th anniversary of Constantine's legal recognition of the Christian religion, and yet he thought the day was perhaps past when they would be thankful for that; but, he stressed the important part played by men of great personality in the Christian Church, instancing Augustine, Boniface, Patrick, Columba, Luther, Wesley, and others, and he particularly referred to Selwyn and Marsden. He hoped that in the coming celebrations the great personality of Marsden would not be lost sight of. In spite of the great trials he underwent in New South Wales in its then licentious atmosphere, Marsden lost none of his love for souls nor his missionary seal. Bishop Averill drew a graphic picture of Marsden at his home in Parramatta interrogating the five poor Maoris who he had picked up in Sydney, caring for them, helping them, and seeing through them the need for hpjping their noble race. | GREGORY AND THE ANGLES. Such a picture suggested to Bishop Averill the meeting of Gregory with the fair-skinned Angles in Rome. Marsden saw how necessary it was to appeal to the Alaoris by teaching them first the arts. This might be thought to be a wrong policy ; but if it was a mistake then it was better to have/ made a mistake than to . have attempted nothing. The speaker out* imed the 6tory of Marsden 's venture in the beginnings and the check to his initial efforts by the Massacre of the Boyd. This incident, however, did not deter him, with his wonderful patience, optimism and determination, notwithstanding all the obstacles placed in his way in New South Wales by interested people. It was in 1807 that he went io England, and in 1814, seven years afterwards, he carried out his unwavering determination to bear light to the Maoris. Undeterred by the Boyd Massacre, Marsden went almost alono into the midst of the cannibals who had perpetrated it at Whangaroa. He knew, too, beforehand, that a fight was going on; and yet he landed in the midst of these hostilities, coming, he said, to make peace. THE FIRST SERVICE. The first Christian service in New Zealand was held by Marsden on Christmas Day, 1814. '''his was the planting of the Church in New Zealand. His text was "Behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy." The first celebration of the Holy Communion in New Zealand was held on Marsden's second visit in 1819. Bishop Averill then rapidly reviewed the later years of Marsd^n's work in New Zealand, referring also to the labours of the two Williamses. It was in 1837 when Marsden had come to New Zealand' for the seventh time, so old and practically crippled that he had to b© cairied by his Maoris for miles and miles. Christianity had then taken root and Marsden saw thafa it was going to prosper. Three months later he went to his rest, the beloved Maori mission being ever on his heart' and on his lips to the very last. He was a true man, a true saint, a true hero; one who upheld the honour of his country and its Church at a time when the statesmen 6f that country had but very little vision outside their own little seagirt isle. To Marsden was due the possibility of. the people* of New Zealand today living in peace in one of the grandest little countries in the world. L\loreover ; they owed to Marsden the introduction of the arts to New Zealand, which to-day sent its products all over the world. THE DEBT TO MARSDEN. They all owed it to Marsden that they should do something themselves to carry on the work which he had begun »o well. He did hope that they would not let the celebration pass by without doing something. "Lest we forget, Jest we torgei !" Mr. Ernest Hadfield pointed to >the debt of gratitude due to Marsden for his successful achievement in introducing Christian civilisation to a' barbarous people. He acknowledged the work of those men from other demdninations, who had nobly followed Marsden's example in New Zealand. Mr. Hadfield also incidentally referred to the Bible-in-Schools movement, to which reference is made in another column. PROPOSED CELEBRATION. Bishop Julius described Marsden as one of the men who were the most precious heritage New Zealand had. He was a real man, a true man, a true churchman, and it was well for them never to lose the memory of such a man. It had been proposed to hold a celebration on the spot where Marsden first celebrated Holy Communion, it had been proposed to hold a great church congress in Auckland ; and also to assist the movement for the introduction of tho Bible in schools. The Bishops had, however, recently met in Wellington and had decided, subject to the approval of the standing committee— and it had to approve— to hold a smaller conference in Wellincton and also a missionary pageant. He regretted that the church of New Zealand was rather too parochial, and was wanting in discipline. He had never ceased to marvel how it was that Selwyn managed to weld tbe Church into one province. In this Marsden commemoration they must work all as oue. As for discipline, if they had that in the Church there •was not a Government in New Zealand who would deny them the referendum for one moment. The Church was no power in the land, because it did n6t work shoulder to shoulder, and with a lons< pull, and* a strong pull, pull altopother. Well there must be a fund for the Bible-in-Schooli League, tome £600

% year for a year or so, and then there was to be a memorial church far away in the wilderness — np in Auckland— (laughter)— which would tell of the greatness of the man who first preached the gospel in New Zealand. But there was yet a greater memorial of Marsden still, and that was to put the Bible back into schools, the Bible that Marsden brought to New Zealand. The Primate expressed himself as most hopeful of the successful issue of the Marsden memorial proposal, taking that large and enthusiastic meeting as a happy augury. He thought much could De done to celebrate throughout New Zealand, and especially in Wellington, to worthily commemorate the introduction of Christianity by Samuel Marsden. Mr. Robert Parker, assisted by a large choir, directed the musical portion of the proceedings.