ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 7, 23 August 1842, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

—o— To the Editor of the Neto Zealand Colonist

Sir, —Though, generally speaking, I am averse to religious discussion, especially through the medium of the public press, still, as you have remarked in your leading article of Tuesday, there are appropriate occasions when it is fitting that peculiar opinions should be expressed. Such an occasion, I think, has now occurred. Dr. Selwyn has arrived as the organ of the Episcopalian Church in New Zealand; and addresses have been presented to him, as was due to his well-known worth. No one can more cordially welcome Dr. Selwyn and his coadjutors than I do ; though there were no other reason than that, in reference to Episcopalians, it will relieve me of many duties of an onerous and delicate nature.

In some of the sentiments, however, contained in these addresses, I cannot concur, as I feel that they reflect (though, I believe, not intentionally) upon the National

Established Church of Scotland, and upon myself, as her only clerical representative here; and I am happy to think that, in regard to one of them, the Bishop himself avowed, “ temperately but decidedly,” his dissent from the latitudinarian principles which it embodied. In the address moved by Mr. St. Hill, it is said to be that of the members of the Established Church in the New Zealand Company’s first and principal settlement, (meaning thereby, I presume, the Church of England). This, however, is a mistake; for, thanks to the Bishop of Exeter, it has been decided by all the Judges of England, that the Church of Scotland is equally established with that of England; and in all the Colonies of the British Crown, possessing the same rights, privileges, and immunities. In the second paragraph of this address, I find the following sentence: —“ Having, for so protracted a period, been deprived of the spiritual guidance of a resident minister.” That this is an error, whether intentionally or not, is very evident, as, with the exception of a necessary visit to Nelson, I have been permanently resident at Port Nicholson, preaching, 1 trust, faithfully, the same doctrines which Dr. Selwynwill now do. As a proof that, as far as principle permitted, I have not limited my ministrations to any class or denomination of people, I may mention (and it may perhaps form a useful item in the future statistics of a new Colony like this), that in looking over the Registry of the Scotch Church, I have married 74 couples, of whom no fewer than 48 were English, only 13 Scotch, 2 Irish, 6 Native, 1 African, 1 German, 1 Yan Dieman’s Land, 1 American, and 1 French. I have also baptized 114 children, of whom 53 were the infants of English parents, 50 Scotch, 4 Irish, 5 Native, 1 German, and 1 American; all the parents conforming to the practice of the Church of Scotland, in the absence of any minister of their own denomination; while, at the same time, they professed her doctrines. I think, with such facts as these—and many more might be adduced—Dr. Evans, in his address, might have spared the complaint of “ the painful circumstances of religious destitution,” under which the Colonists have so long laboured; as wsl as the paragraph which immediately follows :—“ 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.” If these statements be correct, one thing, at least, is certain, that the Church of England—not the Church of Scotland—is to be blamed; the latter of winch, so soon as a body of her people resolved upon emigrating to New Zealand, immediately provided them with a clergyman, at her own expense, without one single farthing’s aid from either the Government, the New Zealand Company, or the Colonists. Perhaps, however, Dr. Evans, imitating the example of some Oxonians, means that a clergyman of the Church of Scotland is not authorised to administer the services and sacraments of the Church. In another paragraph, I find the following passage:—“ It is with pride we advert to having been the foremost in the van of colonisation, combined with Christianisation, in these Islands.” This is surely a strange blunder on the part of the members of the Church of England in this settlement. They surely cannot have forgot the devoted exertions of the Wesleyan and Church of England Missionaries, for many years past; and, at the same time, that until within the last few days, with the exception of Mr. Churton’s services during some months, the Christianisation of this part of these Islands has been left entirely to the exertions of the Wesleyan Missionary and the Scotch Minister. As to the expressions, “ authorised head,” and “ ajsfetolical authority,” I need scarcely advert, for the Church of Scotland admits of no head but Christ, and attaches but very little importance to the expression “ apostolical authority,” in the exclusive sense in which it is generally used, considering the polluted channel through which it has been demised. I am glad, however, there are other sentiments in which I most heartily concur. First, I feel a most earnest desire for the usefulness and happiness of the Bishop. Again, I most heartily concur in the admission, that “ the spontaneous influences of voluntary zeal,” are ineffectual in this Colony. And, last of all, I rejoice in the assurance given to Dr. Selwyn, that it will afford the settlers unfeigned pleasure, to aid in the building and endowment of churches and schools, though I must say that, in my own experience, 1 have found no small reluctance and tardiness to promote such objects. As I have no wish for controversy, but merely to prevent any misapprehension that might arise by such statements being brought before the Church of Scotland, I will feci obliged to you to insert these few remarks.—l am, Sir, your obedient servant, JOHN MACFARLANE, First Minister of the Scotch Church, New Zealand. Wellington, August 19, 1542.

To the Editor of the New Zealand Colonist,

Relying upon your willingness in giving publication to the communications of your fellow colonists, even differing, as they may, from your own sentiments, I take the liberty of requesting your inserting the few following remarks:— TO THE READERS OF THE NEW ZEALAND COLONIST. Our colony being now in the spring of its advancement consequently requires the constant and solid nourishment from its supporters. It is, (if I may be allowed the comparison), a child in existence a giant in perspective ; It cannot, therefore, bear a yoke of iron ; in such case, its growth would be checked, its decay would be rapid and irremediable. With respect to the operations which will effect you under a Corporation Bill. I perceive that many of you are on the point of subscribing to its establishment, thereby judging that great advantages will shortly be derived from it. Others conclude very differently, and their impression is, that it is a measure far too premature, and instead of affording us provisions of a cheering character, it will be our incubus, it will stifle if not crush the infant energies of our as yet independent inhabitants, whose spirit of enterprise has not been surpassed or even equalled by that of any of our sister colonies, and that the mayoralty under the bill, as it now stands, will be, not one of dignity, but of ridicule and degradation. When contrary opinions are advanced on a subject of such great importance, and particularly when there appears a decided majority on the one side, which will decide its fate ; it behoves all parties to be cautious in their determination —and in order to ameliorate a supposed evil, to sift the qualifications of each individual proposed to become then.’ representative—and especially to guard against the designs of any party whose interests may be confined, and whose attention may be directed to their own and not the general good of the community. The evils which will accrue from an inconsiderate election may be subverted by using your vigilance, scrutiny, and judgment. Such is the resolution of one who a** present is a looker on, and subscribes himself in haste, A COLONIST.