CHRISTIAN PIONEERS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12355, 27 January 1926, Page 7

CHRISTIAN PIONEERS

CONSECRATION OF MEMORIAL CHURCH TO-DAY THE WILLIAMS BROTHERS “TE WIREMU” LANDED AT PAIHIA MORE THAN A CENTURY AGO Deicendants of the pioneer jmiiiionariee, Archdeacon Henry Williams (“Ta Wiremu 1 ’) and Bishop William Williams, are gathered at Paihia to-day for the consecration of a memorial church* The two brothers arrived in New Zealand more than a century ago, and preached the Gospel to the Maoris for close on 50 years.

(Written for the “Times” by . “Pencarrow.”) “Te Wiremu. is dead.” The Wailifig cry went up on that May morning in the year 1867, and because they had loved this great man, their “father and peacemaker,” two fierce tribes, then at war with one another, laid down their arms, and returned unto their homes. To-day, January 27th, at Paihia, in the Bay of Islands, a church is being consecrated. It lias been built by members of the Williams family in memory of those famous missionary brothers, Archdeacon Henry Williams and Bishop William Williams, who preached the gospel to the Maori people for close on half a century, and who arrived in this country more than 100 years ago, Henry Williams, with his brave wife ’ and three little children, disembarked. at Paihia on August 3rd, 1823. He was followed three years later by his younger brother, whose wife was yet a bride. There, in the wilderness, the missionaries lived and laboured, far from home and friends, cut off from intercourse with people of their own world,

voluntarily exiled from the comforts of those cultured homes in which they had been born and bred, and Paihia became the centre of that Christian movement which led the natives to renounce, and soon abhor, their ’ cruel practices and live together in brotherly love. This church commemorates the centenary of the brother missionaries’ arrival in New Zealand. It should also remind their descendants of the deeds’ their fathers did in the brave days of old. Theirs is an inheritance of which they may he justly proud. By their deeds, Henry and William Williams are known, and they are great and honoured figures in the history of God’s Own Country. The foundation-stone of this memorial church was laid last March by Mr T. Sydney Williams, of Tuparoa, East Coast, eldest living grandson of Archdeacon Henry Williams. BRAVE TO MAKE PEACE Within the tiny churchyard, immediately in front of the church, is the stone erected by the Maori people after the death of Henry—“Te Wiremu, s man brave to make peace in the Maori wars.” The church is built of a bluestone quarried at Opua ; the place at which passengers for Paihia alight from the train in these most modern days. The stout walls should endure for oenturie*. The kauri beams in the roof are strong. Under the copper spire hangs the old bell, which belonged to the original wooden church, and which for many years was hung in a tree. The first organ ever seen in New Zealand was used in the raupo chapel which the missionaries built soon after

they arrived, and which was replaced by a more suitable building later. After many years of constant use, and many ups and downs, that historic instrument finally found a resting-place in the Wanganui Museum, where it now is to he seen. This organ was a gift, sent out from England by an English relative, a clergyman whose interest in missions had made a deep impression on his young cousin’s mind years previously. The organ which will he used in the memorial church is quite a respectable age, and has seen service for many years on the same site. The altar linen his been hemmed by the great granddaughters of both missionaries. The sermon to-day will he preached by the Venerable Archdeacon Herbert Williams, a grandson of Te Wiremu. Other clergy members of the family will take part in the service. The old church gates are used, and the old trees remain—also memories. Mqny of the younger generation, men and women, served in the Great War. Some returned no more to their native land. For them there is a memorial window.

FAMOUS PLEASURE RESORT Fart of the memorial fund has been set as an endowment for the church, which in future years will become ever more interesting, for young New Zealanders are now devoting a good deal of attention to history, and the beautiful Bay of Islands has long since grown into a famous pleasure resort. The life history of the younger brother, the missionary bishop, is that of a scholar whose talents in e.arly life were dedicated to the mission work of the church. He was intended for the medical profession, but his heart was set on the church, and after finishing the medical and surgical training, he entered Oxford and read for Holy Orders. He lied a remarkable gift for languages, and so quickly learnt the Maori tongue'that he conversed easily with the native people soon after his arrival here. His was the work of translating the Scriptures, compiling the first grammar, dictionary, and text-hooks, a work completed by his son, the third Bisbop of Wainpu, arid his grandson, Archdeacon Herbert Williams. All this work was done in

the intervals between teaching, for the doctrine of Christianity was spread by means of schools which were gradually established all over, the North Island as the years went by. About 1840, William Williams moved with his family to Poverty Bay, there to spread the gospel in ground as yet hardly touched. There he remained till the Hau Hau w.ar caused great tribulation, when, for a time, he and part of his household returned to Paihia. Later, he—by now Bishop of Wai-' apu—made his headquarters in Napier, where nis daughters. superintended Hukarere, that mission school for Maori girls which has become famous, and which only a few years ago was moved from its original site opposite the old Hukarere home, to another on the opposite hill. There, at Hukarere, in the home of their father still live three unmarried daughters, and there the bishop’s widow spent the long evening of her life; The early life of Henry Williams differed from that of his brother. He had inherited a love of the sea from his mother’s side of the family, and from her, too, came that faith which sustained him through the many severe trials of his later life.

He joined the British Navy at the age of fourteen, and as midshipman and lieutenant served in the Napoleonic war in many ships on many seas. When peace was declared he retired to prepare himself for the mission field. This idea had been gradually developing. He first offered himself as a layman, but readily submitted to the order that he should study for the Church. While reading for

Holy Orders he devoted a good deal of attention “to tho study of those arts which might be useful in an uncivilised country." SKILLED IN MEDICINE During these years of waiting he became skilled in surgery and medicine, improved' his natural talent for drawing, increased his knowledge of ship construction, and developed into a very practieal and useful man, with more than a smattering of agricultural knowledge. Very soon after his ordination ho sailed for New Zealand, Mkrsden accompanying him from Sydney. Tho personality of Te Wiremu was strong. His early training had taught him the value of discipline. His love of order helped to make that Bay of Islands home a place of simple beauty; his physical and moral courage quickly earned for him the respect of the brave Maori race, and his amazing health and vigour enabled him to travel hundreds of miles on foot through country no European had previously seen. On the long voyage lie had made

friends with the ship’s carpenter, and among the lay missionaries who were already at Paihia were several skilled carpenters. With their help the mission ship he’ had planned during the outward voyage was built and launched at Paihia before three years had gone by. They called her "The Herald,” and on her maiden voyage he crossed to Sydney, and there, by happy chance, he arrived in time to meet his brother William, who was on his way from England to New Zealand with his wife. SPREADING THE GOSPEL Spreading the gospel and making peace among the Maoris was the work of Te Wiremu during four-and-forty years. How faithfully that work was done the Maori people know, for to themVthe tale has been handed down from generation to generation. Because of his great influence among these people he was drawn into the political life of later days, when settlers arrived, and land became the burning question of the hour. This is the man in whose memory the Paihia church is built, this, and that other, the scholar, teacher, author, and divine who was his brother. When men remember those two Christian pioneers, they needs must think of the brave wives who accompanied them into exile and shared the dangers of isolation in the midst of a fierce and cannibalistic people. They laboured cheerfully through the long years, training and educating their own children, instructing the Maoris, whom they received into their homes, teaching in the native schools, and ever giving loyal support to the loved husbands, whose work often took them away during weeks and months at a time. Theirs was the harder part, but they came through, and lived to see their children’s children grow to man’s estate.