MARSDEN CENTENARY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 17 November 1937, Page 7

MARSDEN CENTENARY

CEREMONIES IN SYDNEY BISHOP BENNETT INVITED TO ATTEND (By Telegraph Preps Assnclutlonl AUCKLAND, 16th November. An invitation has been extended by the Archbishop ot Sydney, Most Rev. H. W. K. Mowll, to the Bishop -of Aotea-Roa, Rt. Rev. F. A. Bennett, to take part in ceremonies commemorating the 100th anniversary of the death of the Rev. Samuel Marsden. Marsden paid his last visit to New Zealand in 1837. and he was so frail at the time, said Bishop Bennett, that the Maori people made a litter on which they carried him from place to place. I-Ie was thus able to sec and say farewell to tiic Natives whom he had learned t.o love so deeply. "Marsden commanded the affection and respect of the Maori people in those early days when cannibalism was still rife,” said Bishop Bennett. “He went

In and out among the opposing forces quite alone, with no defensive weapons of any description, yet he never once was molested. Native opinion of him was very high, and many called him ‘matua,’ which means father. He returned to Australia toward the end of 1837 and died a l'cw months afterward.” After referring to the state of the Maoris at the time of Marsden s arrival in New Zealand, Bishop Bennett expressed the opinion that the Maoris were showing a deep interest in things spiritual, and lie had been greatly impressed at the attendances at services during iris recent tour of the north. A feature of the work of the Church in the Auckland diocese was the work of the Mothers’ Union, which had 30 Maori branches with a total membership of over 300. There were at present five students from the diocese training for the ministry at Te Auto College and live mom were preparing for similar training.