Methodists Celebrate Founding Of Mission

Northern Advocate, 23 January 1947, Page 4

Methodists Celebrate Founding Of Mission

The 125th anniversary of the landing of the pioneer Wesleyan missionary, the Rev. Samuel Leigh, at Paihia, was celebrated yesterday at Russell, Paihia. and Kerikeri. There was a special pilgrimage led by the Rev. G. T. Laurenson, of the Methodist Maori Mission, of Auckland, and the Rev. E. W. Hames, of Trinity College, Auckland. A large party including the Rev. G. Brown, of Whangarei, the Rev. H. K. Brown, of Kaeo, and a Maori choir from Waitangi, led by Sisters D. Pointon and R. Hilder also attended. The Rev. E. T. Olds, of the Pitt Street Methodist Church, conducted the service at Russell. Mr .Laurenson, who gave the address, said that Mr Leigh arrived at Russell in 1822, and after a year with the Anglican Mission founded the Methodist Mission at Kaeo. FINANCE RAISED

Several years earlier, in 1819, Mr -•> *-Leigh had visited New Zealand at the invitation of the Rev. Samuel Marsden.

At the time Mr Leigh was in a poor state of health and it was hoped his visit here would materially benefit him.

What he saw here, and the suggestions of his friend Mr Marsden led him when he returned on furlough to England, to urge the Wesleyan Methodist Church to send a missionary to New Zealand.

Circumstances prevented the church from immediately acceeding to the request, but so urgent were Mr Leigh's claims that eventually he was given permission, if the necessary finance for the proposed mission could be raised, to carry out his great desire. He travelled up and down England, lecturing and preaching, until he had raised sufficient money to establish a mission in New Zealand. PERMANENT RECORD

At last, little more than seven years after the arrival of the first Anglican missionaries, the first Wesleyan representative stepped ashore to work harmoniously with other missionaries in the Christianisation of New Zealand. | The pilgrimage party went to Paihia first, then to Russell where they lunched after the service, and then in the afternoon to Kerikeri.

The party also visited the Treaty House at Waitangi. Following the service at Kerikeri the party visited the museum in the old stone store and members signed their names in the visitors’ book. A permanent moving film record of the proceedings was made by the Rev. B. Riseley.

Later Methodists of the Dominion will see the story of yesterday in pictures.

The organisation of the proceedings for the day were in the hands of the Rev. H. K. Brown, of Kaeo, assisted by the Rev. L. M. Gilmore, of Kaitaia, secretary of the sub-district executive.