THE MEMORY OF A GREAT NEW ZEALANDER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10531, 30 November 1895, Page 2

THE MEMORY OF A GREAT NEW ZEALANDER.

DEDICATION OF SELWYN COLLEGE

CHAPEL,

A SPLENDID CERRMONS",

LETTER FROM THE QUEEN.

(From Odb Speciai, Courespondeot.)

London, October 18.

Yesterday, October 17, 189b, was a red-letter day in the Cambridge calendar. The date will long be held in almo3t emotional momory as the occasion ofperbaps the most splendid ceremouy that has ever taken place even on that hallowed ground; of the assembling together of one of the most brilliant-gatherings from the point uf view of intellect and learning ever colleotwl -within those venerable walls ; and, abo-re all, the occasion of honour being dono by the English Church and Sovereign and people to tfie memory of ono of the noblest and most'remsrkable nieu even England has produced— the most notable personality yet awosiated with the youm: history of New Zealand. From far and wide, were assembled the dignitaries of tho ohurch and luminaries of learning to do reverence to tlie great name of George Augustus Selwyn, first Bishop of New Zealand, by the dedication of the magnificent chapel of the college founded in his honour. It wai in all .respects a memorable experience. Most of thq invited guests wenb down to Cambridge the evening before, tha traditional hospitality of the university don* b«ing most treely and pordially extended. Jmt bsfore I entered the 5 p.m. express at Kings Cross, I saw thn well-known fac* of the Archbishop of Canterbury—that unmistakable and besutiful countenance, no other, adjective is adequate—as the Frimtto passed hurriedly to the compartment reserved Jor hi, journey. 'The master of Selwyn College—Bishop Selwyn tho younger— was on the Cambridge platform to receive his guests. Still, alas! he is only able to walk with the aid of crutches, but in all other respects heisi the very embodiment of vigorous »Dd earnest lira. After assembling in Mrs Selwyn's charming drawing room ot the master's lodge, oil those of us who were of tho sterner sex proceeded to the hall of the college, where a. most tumptuoua banquet was provided, to which about ZOO sat down. The master (Bishop belnyn II) of course presided, the Archbishop of Canterbury being on his right, and the bishop of the diocese (Ely)— Lord Alwyne Comptan —on his. .left. Bishops were there ■ia strong numerical force, spjme trom such remote parts of the world as Zululahd and Trinidad. . Masters of colleges snd other university dUnitarifg all wearing their gorgeous robes of office—mostly scarlet were there in nnmbers, and tha sister university or Oxford was duly represented. -.. lv proposing the first toast, " Church and Qaeen," Bishop Selwyn mentioned a characteristic incident illustrative of her Majesty's gracious kindness. and remembrance of old friends. He raid he ventured to write to the Queen informing her of thatjday's purpose, and intimating that it would afford the loyal Selwynites deep gratification to possess a good portrait of their revered Sovereign. The Queen promptly responded with a charminply sympathetic letter, accompanying an admirable autograph portrait of herself, which was hung in the place of honour over the master's"chsir and immediately above the photo of the first Biqbop Selwyn. The announcement was received with-tremendous enthuiiasm, and the loyal cheers were loud and prolonged when tho toast was honoured. It may not be generally known that the Selwyn family are associated by three ties with her Majesty: In the fir?.t place, the uncle of the present bishop was tutor to the Prince Consort. Secondly, the first Bishop Selwyn relinquished the bishoprio of New Zealand and accepted that of Lichmu- ji Rt ,_the ®aeea'B personal' request. Thirdly, the present bishop is tho Queen's own chaplain. It was anolherinstanco of her kmdly thoughtfulness that tha letter .and present arrived ju«t in time for the occasion The Qaetn expresked the great pleasure which it gave her to comply with the bishop's request and to have any part in honouring the memory of bis great father. ■ Bishop Salwyn further remarked that her Majesty would bo specially represented at the following daj's ceremony by her Lord High Almoner, an office hold by the Bishop of Ely, who as diocesan would perform the rites of dedication and consecration. The Bishop of Ely would then represent both the Church and the Crown "and," added the Master, " the best aim* he could give aB High Almoner ia his presence here."—(Uproarious cheering.) Lord Alwyne Compton; who waa called on to respond,:observed that he could not, according to etiquette, represent tho Sovereign, even though he was her Almoner, the rule being that the toast of •> The Qaeen " was responded to only by tie Prince ot Wales. But for "the Church" he might reply, and he had the greatest possible satisfaction in being present on such an occasion and in officiating as diocesan. He expressed a hope that now Selwyn College had go splendid a chapel it would soon also posses* a suitable hall and library, and he did not doubt that the liberality of its members and friends, by which the college and cflapel had bean founded in honour of the first bishop of New Zealand, would soon provide all else that was yet needed. "My dear master," said the bishop in conclusion, turning to Bishop &elwyn, "no thanks are due tome for bei-ig hero to-day I have only done my duty iv coming, and I feel it a (treat pleasure and high honour to have the privilege o£ officiating on such an occasion." •

Next, proposing the health of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who holda the position of official "visitor" to tha Selwvn College, the master pleasantly expressed his gratification that this first occasion of their welcoming their "visitor" within their walls was one of so agreeable a character, and that this first visitation was not loc tho purpose of settling any difficulty or quarrel. He pointed oot tnat the new chapel stood there not as au exotic, bat as the outcome of the loyalty and love of all Selwyn men. He mentioned the splendid gift of £2000 by Mr Orpen, one of the college professors, with which the ch»pel fund was started. He hoped that each generation of Selwyn men would find something yet to do, and he felt sure they would. Only last Monday some of the fresh men come to him and a>ked what they should next do to carry on the work. After » touching reference to the many famous men who had worked with his father, .the Master said he had just received a letter from one of his father's oldest friends, the Right Hon. W. B. Gladstone, who expressed M armest svm Pat°y. *i«l regretted that he could not be present in person as the increasing loflrmity of his sight and hearing unfitted him for anything in the nature of a public gathering. He cordially recognised the good work doing and done by Helwyn Collet, and cona j Wlth tbe cz Pr«"W! word : Flariatl And now arone amid tumultuous cheering the offidal visitor of the college, the Primate of all fcogland. There was tbali in his charm of face, and voice, and manner which made one fancy Maxwell Gray must hava had him in her mind when Bho produced that wonderful creation of bet genius the gifted ami fascinating Dean Maitland, for tho great ecclesiastic poiMeises m a. remarkable degree those attractive personal and social qualities to which the imaginary dean of the romance owed so much of his power. He has a personality that is always most striking and- unique. No one who has once seen him can ever forget him. "My dear master," said the Archbishop, '.for all sou have bo eloauently uaid of me that

I really deserve I thnnk you—the rest I mnsfc leave to your con»cience! I hope, my deac master, you realise what you are in for. I never visred you before, but now I have once come I shsvll CiT:>&iuly come agiin. — (Cnee's ) The great Bi»hop Grosseteste once visited his cathedm.l chapter. They found that one visit quite enough, and plainly told him they did not desire its repetition. But he reminded them that he was not 'visitor' bus visitalor— which," he remarked, "was a 'frequentative substantive,' m ho should come again whenever he chose. Aud iv like mMiuer 1 nvan to vi^ifc you many tim'.-s in the future."— (Cheers.) Sultvyn College, said the archbishop, owed muoh to its first two masters, both of whom bore names which were among the honoured of all names in Eugknd Ljttelton aud Sslwyn.—(Cheers.) I -need hardly s&y that both those honoured names | are inextricably bound up with the history of Naw Zsalnnd, public and private, religious, social, and persoual. It is remarkable how the peculiar forca or magnetism of thoue two remarkable families Rtill influences the fortunes of the collage which i» New Zeal*nd's permanent representative in ona of the world's ch:ef csntrfis of Issrniug. To the famous Master «f Trinity, Dr Butler, the suocesfioc of the great Whewell, w*s allotted fee proposal of the to.st "iSelwyn College." He performed his task with singular felicity. He said he felt it a privilege to have the name of his own great college connected with that of this youug,-.r iotitutiou. Trinity College had not the high honour of reating the great mm to v?hose memory Selwyu Collage mn dedicated, but it did renr the Visitoc' of SeUyn,' the present Archbishop of Canterbury And the bishop of the diocsae—(loud ethers),—also the late Master of Sc-lsvyu (the Rev. the Hon. Arthur Ljtteltou) and almost all his oounbloss tamuy—(laughter)—and the present most diatragaished Ma.ster of Selwyn. Dr Butier said it was impossible for anyone who had known the great Bishop Salwyn to forget toe em.hu-' siastic outbursi; of hero-worship which took placa when he niturocd in 185* aftar 13 • years' absence from England, on his first visit to the tuolher country 'after leaving it for New Zeal Mid.' It was in 13 years that he returned after his heroic labours in New Zealand, and 13 years later he left tha1; colony to become Bishup of Lictafield. It was a curious coincidence that that day'a oeremouy, the culminating point of the movement in honour of hU memory, should have occurred jiftt 13 years after the formation of the college. Vulgar minds, said Dr Butlor, might ridicule the ide» that any sclf-saorilica was involved in the bishop relinquishing New Zealand for LichQeld, but those who knew the great bishop knew how entirely his he«t was in New Zeil»ud and how \ Roveie a sacrifice it was for him to abandon tils field of his most-loved labours at what ho felt to ba the imperative call of duty. He folt ! bound to go to Lichfield, but his heart was ever in New Zealand.

Bishop Selwyu having responded to the loist, the archbishop and the other guests retired to the Master's Lodge for coffee and chat. It appsßxs to be contrary to the college rules for ladies to ba present at State diunera; however, arrangements were made by which Mrs Selwyn sen., Mrs Solwyn Jan., the Misses Sel*yn, and some friends were able t!> listnn to tho speeches while supposed by a legal fiction to be invisible.

All this, however, was merely the pre3o<l« to the teal "function" of the occasion. EveryDDdy was up xnd aboot early yestenlsy morning, for tbo introductory eervico at the old temporary chapel began at 7.15 o'clock The day was tho festiv.\l of St. Etheldrodo, who founded the diocenau cathedral Ely and theological college 1203 joars ago. The weather wa» »up.-.rb, in fha highest autumn faMiion—sieir,- braoiag, and nanny. The Archbishop of Canterbury tried to make me admit that it would do credit even to New Zeahod. I did admit this, but added that it was a genuine New Zralaud winter d&y. The Primate observed fcbat if tb»t was our winter weather New Zealand must be a highly-favoured laud. Ot the new college chspol itiel! I gave.some account a few months ago. It is a very handsome building, designed by Sir Arthur Blonralleld, the eminent architect. Its style is perpeudicul»r. The material.is r.:d brick, with fiuely moulded dressings of white Aaejster ( »jne' sanctuary is lined with white stone. The handsome open roof and stalls are of richly-esrtred oak. The *ltsr was the gift of th« bishops of the Anglican Chnrrh. as"their contribution to the memorial of their late brother prelate. The largo bell waa tho present of Mr Gladstone It bears ai inscription the Latin Torsion of the text, " Their sound is gone oat into all lands," while the yerna is completed— and their words unto the ends of tbe world"—on the smaller bell given by the Rev. T.H. Orpen, ' whose generous donation of £3000 originated the chapel fund. Altogether the cost of tho building go far has been £10,780, more than a fourth of which was provided by graduates and undergraduates of tho college. Seeing that the college has only beeu in wtutence for 13 years, and that none of its students are in possession of wealth, this is justly regarded ai a very substantial proof of their zeU and devotion. The ebapd is 93ft 6in in length, 27ft iv breadth, and 68ft high. The»e proportions have proved very effeotire, *ad the acoustic propprt.Kj are extremely good. The reredos ib \o-iwtvry. Tbe east window is to be given by >i.- Church of New Ze»fand." " It was no longer ago than 1892 that the Rev. T. Orpen, one of the college tutors, offered his generous donation of £3000, which Mr R L 'looth followed up with £1000: Mr E W Bilme, with £750 ; Bishop J. R. rjelwyn £650 '• " The Lvtte'.ton Family" (it is so expre«ed), £523; Biahop Abraham <of Non Zeal.nd), £200; Lord Asbcombe, £200, &c. Toe collie gave £2700, and the council £500- Bi.hop Abraham laid the foundation etouo in 1893 The family of tho Utc Bishop Se.lwyn gave, at a co«t of £921, a be»utiful western sor-en, aud various friends o( the present bishop £600. What still remains to bo provided are the stained , windows, the stall canopies, a larger organ, the reredos, aud the sanctuary pavement. Bishop Solwyn a«ks mo to express.his hope that New Zealand churchmen will do all in their power to aid in completing this memorial of their first hichop. Y,sterday, by the way, wan the fifty-fourth iinnivcr«»ry of hi* consecration to the see of New Z.«tland, and was also, off I have said, tbe oar of St. E',heldreda of Ely, the foundress of the first ae«t of "piety and learning," in the vicinity of Cambridge. I may nhention in pasting tint the chapel is well lighted, with electric incandescent lamps. At 8 a.m. the Bishop of Ely, staging before the. altar of the old chapel, formally, asked the mister why ho had been brought thither. Bishop Sehvyn replied: " Father ia God,— forasmuch as God had pat it into oar hearts to build a house to tlie glory 6f His name, and in memory of His servant and bishop,: Gwrge Augustus Selwyn, we beseech you ro d«lic»te tbe same for evur to His service." The Biuhop of Ely responded, "Let us proceed to do this in the name of God."

Then a most striking and pictarasqae procession was formed, and msrohed round the college quadriugle singiog the Psalm hviii ("iibt GoO. arise") to the eighth Gregorian tone, with the accompaniment of a band of trombones which preceded it. The efiecfc was highly impressive, and foe spectacle presented by the multitude of aurpliced figures —some 200-aad by the large mixture of gorgeom and varied robes was one long to bo remembered. The archbishop wa» accompanied by his chaplain carrying the magnificent gold and jewelled crozier of Canterbury—a verily superb work of art. Before the Bishop of Ely his handsome pastoral staff was borne. And no fewer than 12 bishops, besides the P/iaiafce, were present—viz., the Bishops of Ely, Peterborough, LicbfMd, St. Albans, Salinburj-, Colchester, ijhrewnbury, Zuluiaud, Trinidad, Bishops Abraham, Hornby, and Selwyn. The Dean of Licboeld and most of the. churoh and university dignitaries also took psrt in the service. It whs hoped that both archbishops would be present, but at the last moment tho Archbishop of York was prevented, and h»d to send an-apology. The Duke, of Devocshire (chancellor of tbe university) also wa,i unable to attend.. Bishop Jenner, too, the flret biehop of Duoedin, New Zealand, could uot come, and other apologies were received with regret. After the procession had entered the chapel snd all its members had defiled to their nllottsd seats—all being carried out without the slightest hitch—the Ely Diocesan service of the combocration was solemnly and most impressively performed, and waa followed by a celebratiou of tbe holy communion. The Bishop of Ely was celebrant, and eight bishops performed the tank of administration to the 300 communicants. The arebbuhop pronounced th«. final alwolation. Xhcre was.one touching incident When tbe masters m<,tbor, the venerabls Mrs G A. fcjelwyn, went to the altar to communicate her Ron came forward and administered to her tte elements.in both kinds. It was easy to imagine what deep feelings must have filled the heartß of the venerable moth r aod apostolic eon on an occasion so fraught with moment and memor? to both.

This dedicatory service, whioh began at 7 15 a.m., was virtunlly not over until much after 10 o clock, when there was an adjournment for breakfast at the Blaster's lodge. 'I happened to be placed next to the Bishop of Ely, who manifested warm interest in Now Zetland and the New Zealand Cbuich. Bishop Macrorie, formerly of Natal, id now one of his tamnas canons at Ely, and, Lord Alwyae told me, has lately ■been found to po.-B.ss » very beautiful voioe, as some may remember had hi« brother, who was formerly active in church matters in southern New Zealand.

The only New. Zealander present besides Biabop Selwyn, Bluhop Abraham—who looked wonderfully hale and well,*—and myself was the Rev. Joha Still. No; I am wrong. There was one other New Zealauder—dear old Mrs C. A. Selwyn, the widow of the great bishop. She seems wonderfully well and strong, with every faculty unimpaired. • I had a very enjoyable chat with her about New Zealand, jfc» church aud people. " I hope they h»ve not quite forgotten my hußonnd in New Zealand," ehe said. I do not think she was unpreDared for the vigorous neEufcive reujonse.

f After a comparatively brief interval we all J repaired onco m >re to the uew chapel, where a solemn thanksgiving service was held at noon. . The special feature of the midday «t-rvice w»s a magnificent setmon by the Archbishop of Canterbury Taking a? his text the words (from Psalm lxxviii, verse 72, icvised edition) " So He fed them according to the integrity of His heart, and guided them by the ekihulness lof His h»nd." The archbishop said they offered of their beet to Gad, and for tho offering they breathed a name and presented a memory. I Tiles' commemorated a person and the personal qualities of au Apost!e. Thry commemorated I tham becausa they firmly believed them to bo pcecious, and to be of the utmost value to the church and to the world. They desired not to comm-morate them only, but to perpetuate them, and they know no better vehicle fur such an-fivtriaßtingTemembrancß than teschvr* and disciples—a college and a chapel. The figure of him who was st.iil in the osei of some and in the hearts of all was one which would be living wheu many who had won famuus names, and mnd« i"a»nge3 in the world, would have parsed aw»y. HU self-denying character, his noble aims and labours—this combination of characteristics was prized, everyone of them, in the highest drgcee by Englishmen as well as churchmen. They worthily commemorated in their college one whes-j rulo of life combined simplicity of living with the highest education, The™ principles wero representative of th« spirit and policy of the English Church. It was by struggling against the greit te-npUtion. to do evil that good might t«te, it wa« by the sincere ai.d universal reading of the Bible, it was by the candid examination of the philosophies which they did not like, it was by teaching purity and justice and the duty to one's neighbour that, with all her shortcoming, the Church of England, if judged by history, had prevailed and was prevailing. That dedication to God ia Bishop Seiwyn'a name was the creation of & di-tiuct conviction thai their church was tha truth, and that it would prevail. The Primate dwdfc much on the marvellouts combination of apparently contradictory characteristics that m»do up the remarkable naturn of the great biahop. " Before Selwyn lived./ said his Grace, "it was not easy to picture to oneself the combination of a Norseman and a prophet. Unpretentious as the schoolboy who steps down to the river with bis oar over shoulder : a senfarer nud an apo«t\e ; a high gentleman and a labourer, a way.ide preacher, and an inspired teacher—when we think of hi* power which Hot merely stirred us but shook m with it* force, his memory brings the deepest feeling of reverence into our mindt. We are reminded of the first Christianiser of Europe, and «f St. Paul him«eif." In Archbishop Bem.ra's opioinn the main principle* of the fir»t Bishop »elwy)i's life wero thow which h»ve nude England's Bucces« in colonisation tho wonder of the world \Her colonists have not aimf d at tho eitermin!ition of the native races, but have recognised the virtues of other races, hiva settled down to live besids them, have learned to lika them, and h»ve won liking in their turn. It wa< in this power of recognising good in otters and iv the excellence of many gentle qaalitics that the late Bishop Selwyn was preeminent. Th*6 which ia the genius of the truo Bfitinh colonist was the genius also of that great evangeliser Salwyn. He understood the Maoris, he fraterni«ad with thtm, ho gave himself to them. The English method, said the arcbbißhop, na% not to deal with r people collectively, or in the miss, but to move upi ward from the individual to the community We do not conscribe our wldierß, we enlist them. It is by house to houfe visitation that our ole^gy achieve most success. It would be a very uuwiso step were tba chnrch to allow congregations to mechanise her clergy. Better leave them to the risk of an occasional failore, but preserve their individuality of action. Seiwyn'a ii3(H was to presorvo, not to destroy, the native tnh'in. and there ase nwij pathetic stories still rf mi'tnbsred as to his affectionate relations with thco. His secret was that he loved not tha Slacri bat the Sfaor'is : not the community, but si! its individual members.

But time and space run short, and I must not continue my quotation from this noble discourse. Somehow I had grown to fancy tfce archbishop perhaps a little too much of a courtier, too little of a teacher. That sitiuoq of ye>t-rday was, however, a most eloqu-nt »ud powerful utterance of the highest and grrAtcst taoughts in the most beamifal language of which my rough notes giv« but a very p.t>r .nd time idci. He spoko as an upo-tle of au upostlo. Such, at least, was the effect m.oa ■tne, and upou nnry others, too, who were privileged to hoar that great or»tiou over one of the world's departed great men. ' Service over, we re-entered the everyday world once more, and rcjm>emblea at another eenerout feast—the public luncheon in th* college hall. Among the guests were Wit* Helen Gadstone, Lady Frederick Cavendish, the Mayor of Cambridge and m«ny other people of note. The archbishop was obliged to make a hasty departare before loncheon wan over to ■catch his train to town, where he had another important function to preside over. His Grace was to have responded to the toast, ''Church and Queen.!' In his absence the Bishop of Salisbury wai called on at the lagt moment. - la proposing the toast" the master went over some .of tbe same ground that Je. traversed oa the previous night, which, though not exactly private, was not officially public. But ho appealed to every heart when ho proceeded to ny that it was tb.9 proudeit moment of his life to welcome, in his capacity as Master of Selwyn College her in whose husband's mnmory it was founded, and jn whote name it wai deilicatsd—his mother. And to her he said the ceremony of thnt day was a. the coping otone of a noble life. Nothing could have been more simple or «ffe»ting than the w»y in which the bishop referred to the venerable lady who sat at his side, and whose joy and pride on th» great occasion were msuifeatly no smaller th»n his own The Bishop of Salisbury said it wan a very great nnd happy thiug th*t in setting forth the epini; of the Church of England they land not to go back into past - :< e-i, bat could point to such men as Keble aud Selwvn »i illustrating the spirit of the church, and as exemplars of the ideal which it was desirable that coming generation* riionld aim at attaining. Kyble College at Oxford and Selwyn College at C»mbrldt'e were tokens thot the Church of England s a living church.

After excellent speeches froraDr Ince, Reeiuu Professor of Divinity at Oxford, and from tha Vi«.-.hancellor of Cambridge University with reference to the next ;oa«t " The University," came what was really the speech of both days To Professor Jobb, 51 P., had been entrusted the toast, "The College." He is a quiet, reserve-looking man whom one would imagine toba fur mrro retiring than obtrusive, but he ponred forth a stream of eloquenoe and betnhrul Eagltth »uoh as oue too neldora has the privilege of listening to. His speech was a masterpieca of tho noblest oratory. Nothing could bo happier than Professor J«bb« phrases. He said the late Bishop belwyn eiempliQed the educational chivalry of CJinatian manhood. He i-ecalled the striking and almost unique effect produe-d when the late biahop addressed the msmbora of the university at Gce*t 8t Mary's Church on his return from New Zealand. " The gift of feeling and imparting enthusiasm is." laid Profei»»br Jebh, " a Selwvn characteriitic." Referring to ths Orst master of Selwyn College (the Rev the Hon Arthur Lytfelton), he said that the Lytteltoti family afforded a remarkable illustration of the value of " good stock " in sport as well rq in other r-sptcts.—(Loud cheers). Mr Lyttelton had to wait some minutes betoro he could reply to tho toast owing to the storm of cheer* with which ho was greeted on <!m D, g- He< too> m(Mle a "Pl "Peech, and J?be Guests" having been felicitously proVOsod and acknowledged respectively by the R"*O P of Peterborough and the warden of Keble College the Latin grace was said, and the memorable assemblage di-peraed raultivioun. I have dealt with this interesting affair at; more length than usuil partly became of it« rare aud almost unique character, partly becaosa I had the advantage of special privilege* of BBBing and heariDg on the occasion, but mainly because I feel ture my acoount. will be resd with deep interest by every No- Zealand colonial who knowo anything of the history of the colony or of the deep dsbt of gratitude it owes to its first bishop, the noble and sainted George Augustus Selwyn.