FIRST CHRISTMAS IN N.Z.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17450, 24 December 1930, Page 6

FIRST CHRISTMAS IN N.Z.

THE GREAT ADVENTURE SAMUEL MARSDEN’S ACCOUNT The first church service held in New Zealand took place at Oilii, Bay of Islands, on Christmas Day, 1814. Samuel Marsden’s account is thus given in “Historical Records of New Zealand": — “About 10 a.m. we prepared to go on shore to publish the glad tidings of the gospel of Christ for the first time on this island. I was under no apprehension for the safety of the vessel, and therefore ordered all fin board to attend Divine service on shore .... Koro Koro marched his men on, and stationed them on my right, and in rear of the Europeans, while Duaterra placed his men on the left of the inhabitants of the village, including women and children, and the other chiefs formed a circle round the whole. A very solemn silence prevailed. The sight was truly impressive. ’ ’ “I got up and began the service bv singing the old hundredth psalm, and '' felt my very soul melting within me when I viewed my congregation and the state they were in. After reading the service, during, which the natives stood up and sat down at the signal J given by the motion of Koro Koro’a switch, which was regulated by tho. movements of the Europeans, it being Christmas Day 1 preached from the 2nd ebr. St. Luke’s Gospel, v., 10th, ‘Behold I bring you glad tidings of great joy. ’ 'The natives told Duaterra they could not understand what I meant. He tepHed they were not to mind that- now, for they would understand bv-and-by, when he would try to explain the meaning as well as he i could. When I had ended the sermon he informed them of what I had described in my discourse .... In the above manner the Gospel has been introduced into New Zealand, and I fervently pray that the glory of it may never depart from its inhabitants till time shall be no more." It is remarkable to think that New Zealand’s first Christmas Day, which Marsden thus commemorates, is distant in time only 116 years. What hardships have been' endured and perils faced to change New Zealand from a wild land inhabited by bloodthirsty savages to a land literally flowing with milk and honey, inhabited by two races living in perfect friendship together! Viewed from the proper angle, tho storv of New Zealand has as much interest as the story of any century in the history of older lands.' Adventure by land and sea, wars and rumors of wars, and the less spectacular conquests of peace, arc all to be found in the Dominion's story, which began in a sense with tho great adventure of Samuel Marsden on December 25, 1814.