Methodism Of Yesterday In Northland

Northern Advocate, 7 June 1940, Page 7

Methodism Of Yesterday In Northland

New Zealand Methodism began in the North, to which the story of the first 17 years was wholly confined, said the Rev. J. H. Haslam, of Russell, delivering a paper on, the “Methodism of Yesterday in the North,” at the Northland Synod yesterday.. • While at Russell, the Rev. Haslam. who is regarded as the church’s historian and who had taken a leading part in the preparation of Centennial records, will undertake further research work concerning the early days of Methodism in this country. What Samuel Leigh saw on a health trip, in 1819, taken on the persuasion of Samuel Marsden, induced him to plead with the British conference for the establishment of a New Zealand mission, said the Rev. Haslam yesterday. The First Missionary Appointing himself (to be the first missionary, he arrived at the Bay of Islands on January 22, 1822, but it was not until June 5, 1823, that he began the work of the Methodist mission. Notwithstanding a previous unpropitious experience, Wesleydale, near Kaeo, was chosen as the mission headquarters. A complete breakdown in health, owing to exposure, led to the withdrawal of Samuel Leigh a few months after he began his work, just as Nathaniel Turner and John Hobbs had arrived to assist him. The mission at Wesleydale was wrecked by the hostility of the natives, in 1827, and the mission party owed their lives to the protection of Patuone, a Hokianga chief. On Hokianga River It was on the invitation of this chief that the mission was resumed at Panguru on the Hokianga River, seven months later. Nathaniel Turner returned in 1835 -:o lead the mission, and under his wise and experienced guidance good progress was made. By this time the staff was much augmented and stations as far south as Kawhia occupied. The Rev. J. H. Bunsby succeeded Nathaniel lurner, as superintendent of the mission in 1829, and in June of that year, in company with John Hobbs, he journeyed as far south as Wellington, leaving native agents in charge of the newly established stations, pending the appointment of European directors. To Wellington By Boat

In the following January, the Rev. James Ruller reached Wellington Harbour after his famous journey on foot from Northland, and conducted the first service for the first band of European settlers, who had just arrived. With the coming of these settlers, both in Wellington and Auckland, tire work of the mission entered upon a new phase. Unfortunately, the two races soon came into conflict, with disastrous results so far as the mission to the natives was concerned. For long years the only conference representatives among the natives were the late William Gittos and Thomas G. Hammond. Under the guidance of A. J. Seamer, by whose time a better understanding began to exist between the two races, great progress was made along modern iines, the work of the deaconesses being particularly effective. The Albertlanders On the European side, the great move forward by Methodism in the North began with the arrival of the Albertlanders, the brave pioneers of the ’sixties in 1862. Mr Haslam traced the history of the settlement, referred to the predominating Christian convictions and character of the settlers, and mentioned several outstanding men and women whose contribution as citizens and members of the Methodist Church was beyond praise. It was on their contribution that all subsequent enterprise was made possible: and subsequent success is to be largely ascribed to their earnest devotion and shining Christian examples.