ADDRESS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE ESTABLISHED CHURCH TO THE BISHOP OF NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 5, 16 August 1842, Page 2

ADDRESS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE ESTABLISHED CHURCH TO THE BISHOP OF NEW ZEALAND.

A meeting of the members of the Established Church took place at the Exchange on Saturday, at 12 o'clock, to prepare an address of congratulation to the Bishop of New Zealand on his arrival at Wellington.

Mr Halswcll having been called to the chair, briefly explained the object of the meeting, suggesting, however, whether the best course to be

adopted would not he the appointment, at once, of a committee, to prepare an address for presentation to the Bishop —only a few hours transpiring between the appearance of the advertisement inviting the meeting, and their assembling in that room.

After a pause of a few moments, Mr. St. Hill observed, that if no other gentleman present was prepared with any suggestions for their adoption, he would, with the permission of the chairman and the meeting, read the few observations lie had that morning hastily drafted, and leave it for the meeting to adopt such course as they might deem most expedient. He begged to remind them, however, that the Bishop would take his departure probably on the Monday, and that no time should be lost in assuring his Lordship that the members of the Established Church resident at Wellington, were not insensible to the benefits which must immediately follow his visit to the settlement. He then read the following address:— To the Right Reverend George Augustus Lord Bishop op New Zealand. May it please your Lordship,—The members of the Established Church in the New Zealand Company’s first and principal settlement, avail themselves of the earliest opportunity of respectfully tendering their, services and heartfelt congratulations on your Lordship’s safe arrival in this place. Having, for so protracted a period, been deprived of the spiritual guidance of a resident minister, it cannot be a matter of surprise that we hail your appearance among us with extreme satisfaction and delight. We are indebted to your promptitude in the discharge of those important duties which you have with so much devotion entered upon, in having thus, immediately after the termination of a long voyage, made this settlement the object of your early attention. Your piety, moral excellence, and high attainments, have preceded you to the shores of New Zealand ; and it is to us a matter of no trilling import, that these endowments have been duly appreciated and acknowledged by our fellow Colonists of all religious denominations in this district; and wc congratulate your Lordship upon the sincere expression of those sentiments, on the part of our Christian brethren, in the address, unanimously and heartily agreed to, and which has already been presented you. Deeply impressed with the importance of the high, onerous, and responsible duties committed to your charge, we feel assured you will exert your every energy to carry out the benevolent objects of your sacred mission ; and wc humbly and fervently pray to Almighty God, that he will vouchsafe you such a measure of his grace, as will enable you successfully and satisfactorily to fulfil those mighty ends—the realisation of all that is hoped for by the wise and good, who are devotedly attached to the cause of true religion, and who are earnestly and anxiously eyeing us with the most affectionate solicitude.

It is with pride we advert to having been the foremost in the van of systematic colonisation, combined with Clmstianisation, in these islands; and that the scheme, as developed by the members of the first Colony of New Zealand, previous to the departure of the expedition from Britain, of a gradual amalgation of the aboriginal with the European race, has never been lost sight of by us, although, from circumstances over which we have had no control, we have been rendered powerless in putting it into execution. We rejoice that the church being now, in your person, with an authorised head, its members will yield honour in its zeal, to aid and assist your benevolent intentions, in the establishment and maintenance of those sacred institutions, which have been, in all ages, dear to them —not merely for the benefit of the European, but for the native population also. That the Almighty lluler of all hearts may so guide, govern, and direct you in the fulfilment of these great and important objects, and that he will abundantly bless and prosper your labours, we, with one accord, do most humbly, earnestly, and devoutly pray. And are Your Lordship’s, &c.

Dr. Evans rose and observed, lie should second the adoption thereof, without further comment, were it not that he was desirous of shewing the coincidence existing between what they had just heard read, and the few observations he had prepared. He assured the meeting he would not have troubled or detained them, were it not to exhibit the close approximation of- the ideas that had suggested themselves to Mr. St. Hill’s mind, and to his own, on the subject before them.

Dr. Evans then read the following address: — To the Right Reverend tiie Lord Bishop of New Zealand.

May it please your Lordship,—The undersigned members of the Church of England resident in the Borough of Wellington and the adjoining district, avail themselves of the opportunity presented, by your Lordship’s arrival

among them, to address to you their sfriceue and hearty congratulations, and their firm and unshaken determination to adhere to the faith and practice of the church of which, by Divine Providence, you are constituted head in these islands. We beg to assure your Lordship that our distant removal from the mother country, and the painful circumstances of religious destitution under which we have so long suffered, have only served to endear to us the remembrance of those privileges which wc formerly enjoyed, and to confirm us in our desire to be replaced under that spiritual discipline of the church, with which are associated not only most pleasing charities, and the most solemn duties of this life, but the hopes and the consolations of the life to come. We need scarcely assure your Lordship, that having been left so long without regular and authorised administration of the services and sacraments of the church, we have been enabled to judge of the vanity of ruling upon the spontaneous impulses of voluntary zeal for a distribution of the bread of life; and wc rejoice, therefore, in the prospect of an efficient and permanent establishment of religion in these islands. Especially we return thanks to Divine Providence that this Colony has been favoured, so early in its formation, with the appointment of a bishop, whose function, derived from apostolical authority, completes the administration, and upholds the dignity, of the church, whilst it secures the union and co-operation of the inferior members. Wc trust, ere long, that vigorous efforts will be called forth for the building and endowment of churches and schools, and assure your Lordship that it will afford us unfeigned pleasure to be permitted to aid in those undertakings, which wc regal’d as of infinitely greater moment than any provision for our personal gratification, or secular advantage. We pray that the Divine Founder of our holy church may watch over your Lordship,' and protect you by land and by sea, and that yon may he instrumental with your clergy in extending the blessings of religion to our fellowsubjects of the native race, who now enjoy, in common with ourselves, the civil benefits of her Majesty’s dominion.

Dr. Evans having concluded the address he had prepared, it was proposed that a committee, consisting of Dr. Fcatherstone, Dr. Stokes, and Mr. Brees, should retire, for the purpose of blending the two documents. These gentlemen having accomplished the task assigned them, Dr. Featherston read to the meeting the address, inserting from Dr. Evans the 2d paragraph, and the last but one, in lieu of those contained in Mr. St. Hill’s. The Chairman having submitted it to the meeting, it was unanimously carried. A deputation, consisting of Mr. Halswell, Mr. Spain, and Mr. St. Hill, was then appointed to present the address to his Lordship in behalf of the meeting. Thanks having been voted to the Chairman, the meeting separated.

We understand that the Address .was presented by the Committee to the Bishop in the course of the day, and that he was pleased to express the high gratification lie felt in its tenor, and to assure them that he should always attend to the spiritual welfare of the inhabitants of the town of Wellington.