CHURCH AND HISTORY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23284, 1 March 1939, Page 14

CHURCH AND HISTORY

Bf- NEW ZEALAND'S STORY f [ COMING OF CIVILISATION An address upon the l origin and development of the Anglican Church in New Zealand was delivered lasji evening by the Venerable Archdeacoij W. J. Simkin, during "the first meeting this year of the Auckland Diocesan Churchmen's Association, over which Archbishop Averill presided. Archdeacon Simkin said that in view of the coming Centennial celebrations, it was right that something should be known of the history and constitution of the Church which was the first to bring Christianity and civilisation to New Zealand. ' . The meeting of the association was \ held ,in . the; chapel and hall of the Missions' to Seamen Institute, and . mmy who were there had to ,6tand. The proceedings opened with a service in the chapel, which was taken by the archbishop, followed by the reading of the lesson by Mr. W. H. Manning. At the close the men went to the institute hall, where Archbishop Averill congratulated them upon the excellent ~. attendance, which, he said, augured well for 1939. .. Archdeacon Simkin gave a comprehensive account of the history of the Church in this country, from the art; rival of Samuel Marsden to the »ignN ing of the constitution at St. Stephen's Chapel. He said that the people of Auc&land did not really appreciate as much as they should that tho chapel was the scene of such a memorable! occasion. or that the altar in the chapel held the table on which the constitution was signed. Therfe were four copies, all signed on parchment. One had been lost, one, he had it on good authority, was in an American museum, and there were two in the Dominion—one at Christchnrch, the other in Auckland. Archbishop Averill expressed his gratitude for the address, which was received by the gathering with appreciative applause.