SAMUEL MARSDEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23351, 17 November 1937, Page 14

SAMUEL MARSDEN

A COMMEMORATION CEREMONY HIS WORK AMONG THE MAORIS (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, Nov. 16. An invitation has been extended by Archbishop Mowl, of Sydney, to Bishop Bennett, of Aotearoa, to take part in the ceremonies commemorating the hundredth anniversary of the death of Samuel Marsden. Marsden paid his last visit to New Zealand in 1837, and he was so frail at the time, said Bishop Bennett, that the Maori people made a litter on which they carried him from place to place. He was thus able to see and bid farewell to the Natives whom he had learned to love so deeply. "Marsden commanded the affection and respect of the Maori people in those early days when cannibalism was still rife," Bishop Bennett said. "He went in and out among the opposing forces quite alone with no defensive weapons of any description, and yet he never once was molested. Native opinion of him was very high, and many called him ' Matua,' which means ' Father.' He returned to Australia towards the end of 1837 and died a few months afterwards." After referring to the state of the Maoris at the time of Marsden's arrival in New Zealand, Bishop Bennett expressed the opinion that the Maoris were showing deep interest in things spiritual, and he had been greatly impressed at the attendances at services during his recent tour of the north. A feature of the work of the chu?ch in the Auckland Diocese was the work of the Mothers' Union, which had 30 Maori branches with a total membership of over 300. There were at present five students from the diocese training for the ministry at Te Aute College, and five more were preparing for 'similiar training.