SAMUEL MARSDEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23511, 27 May 1938, Page 11

SAMUEL MARSDEN

CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS NEW ZEALAND BISHOP'S IMPRESSIONS (Special to Daily Times) WELLINGTON, May 26. The unofficial representative of the New Zealand Anglican Church at the recent Samuel Marsden Centenary celebrations at Sydney, the Rt. Rev. W, G. Hilliard, Bishop of Nelson, arrived back in Wellington by the Awatea. Himself an Australian by birth and the present president of the Church Misisonary Society and the Anglican Board of Missions in New Zealand, Bishop Hilliard said he felt it was very appropriate that he should be the New Zealand representative at the commemoration of the first missionary to New Zealand and one who had established a close link between New Zealand and Australia. Samuel Marsden, the Bishop recalled, came to New Zealand in 1814 and held the first Christian service to the Maoris on Christmas Day and not only brought the Church to New Zealand, but also the first anticipations of civilisation. He brought the first grains of wheat and the first farm animals, cattle and horses. In all he visited New Zealand seven times, the last visit being only a year before his death. He exerted a great and beneficial influence over the Maoris in keeping peace between themselves and in arousing their interest in civilisation. Marsden died on May 12, 1838, and, exactly 100 years after, his memory was honoured with services in Sydney Cathedral and other churches, and a pilgrimage was made to his tomb at Parramatta. The Archbishop of Sydney and Bishop Hilliard himself preached at various services. These took place at Marsden’s grave, at St. John’s Church, where he was rector for 45 vears, at Windsor, where he died, and at St. Mary’s, where he farmed and trained many of his Maori converts in agriculture. Marsden was a pioneer not only of the Church, but of the Australian sheep industry. Bishop Hilliard said that, as the celebrations had clashed with the Sydney 150th anniversary celebrations in date, it had been decided to hold only part of them at the actual anniversary of his death and the rest in July. He added that he had been most interested by meeting some of Marsden’s grandchildren, who, grown old now, were still living in the neighbourhood of Sydney.