EARLY MISSIONARIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16339, 23 March 1915, Page 2

EARLY MISSIONARIES

MEMORIAL WINDOWS AT AUCKLAND. An impressive service, during which four windows erected to the memory of the early New Zealand missionariße were unveiled, was held in St. Mary's Cathedral, Parnell, on Wednesday afternoon, (says the New Zealand Heraldj, a largo congregation being present. The hew windows, which have been placed two on either side of the central east window, represent the four Apostlss, St. Matthew, St. Mark, St: Luke, and St. John. Their subdued but rich' colouring is in harmony with the central window, representing Christ as prophet, priest, and king. The pair on the left are in memory of Samuel Marsden and Bishop Selwyn, the other two being in memory of Bishop Patteeon end other missionaries. The new windows were designed by the late Archdeacon Walsh. After, a short service, Canon G. MacMurray unveiled the first pair of windows, " to the glory of God, and in loving and grateful memory of Samuel Marsden, the Apostle of New Zealand; and of George Augustus Selwyn, a great master builder in God's Church." , The second pair was similarly unveiled by tho Rev. John King Davis, a grandson of William King, one of the missionaries who came to New Zealand with Sampel Marsden, "in memory of John Coleridge Patteson, the martyr bishop of Melanesia, and of those faithful missionaries who evangelised the Maori people." Immediately after the windows had been unveiled they -ware dedicated by the Anglican Bishop of Auckland, Dr A. W. Averiil. In his subsequent sermon Dr Averill said that the unveiling and dedication of the windows would have been more fitting had it taken place at the time of the Marsden centenary celebrations. But tho exigencies of war had necessitated an alteration in tho date of the ceremony. The greatest credit was due to Canon Mac Murray, in carrying through the memorial scheme", to the late Archdeacon Walsh, for his design and to the subscribers for their liberality: It would bo a good thing for tho New Zealand Church, to celebrate a " founders' day," Dγ Averi'.l said. It would help to create and foster an appreciation of the Church's noble heritage amongst the prosent and future generation. It was a fitting thing, to have worthy memor.als in the oathedral _ church, commemorating the evangelisation of the noble Maori race and the establishment of a Church free from bias, and free from the obvious drawbacks of official connection with the State. The bishop, drew a parallel between Marsden and St. Augustine-, tho former being- to Now Zealand what the latter was to England. Bishop Sehvjn, he said, corresponded to Archbishop Theodore, the Church in Now Zealand owing its present constitution to Bishop Selwyn's work of consolidation. Bishop Patteson might well be compared with St. Patrick, whose day they were celebrating, both having responded to the call of duty, and having spread the Gospel in sister islands, B : shop Patteson going from New Zealand to Melanesia and St. Patrick from England to Ireland. The service concluded with all present singing the National Anthem.