MONSTER MEETING AT THE CHORAL HALL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLII, Issue 21, 26 May 1909, Page 46

MONSTER MEETING AT THE CHORAL HALL.

STIRRING ADDRESSES. The Choral Hall was crowded to its utmost capacity on Thursday evening in connection with the Selwyn centenary.

celebrations. One side of the orchestral benches was occupied by the pupils from the Victoria College for Maori girls and St. Stephen's School for Maori Boys. The platform was occupied by invited guests. Professor W. E. Thomas had charge of the musical arrangements, and the stewards were members of the city and’suburban branches of the Church of England Men's Society. The Bishop of Auckland (Dr. Neligan) presided. HIS Excellency Lord Plunket arrived punctually at 8 o’clock, and was accompanied on to the platform by the Hon. Dr. Findlay (Minister for Justice), Hon. E. Mitchelson. Rev. Canon Mac Murray, Messrs J. H. Upton and S. Hesketh. The Bishop briefly referred to the object of the movement, and stated that the Rev. William Selwyn. son of the late Bishop, had sent a contribution of £5O. A gentleman who wished his name to remain unknown had offered £5OO, provided three others in New Zealand would give similar amounts. That night was the anniversary of his (the speaker’s) consecration as Bishop of Auckland. The longer he was Bishop of Auckland the more he recognised that Selwyn was man beyond the ordinary run of his extraordinary gift of pre vision. Selwyn would go down to posterity as a great man because of a combination of intellect and character. Lord Plunket, upon rising to speak, was loudlv applauded. It was his duty, as the representative of the King to pay a tribute to Selwyn. who had done so much for the Empire. The late Queen. Victoria, the Good (applause) summoned Selwyn and requested him to accept the See of Lichfield. If ever there was a square peg in a square hole, it was Selwyn in New Zealand. Selwyn was a man who knew his own mind and was fearless in expressing it. Frills were abhorrent to him, and he was as much at ease with the worker as when in company with Sir George Grey. His bravery during the war, helping the wounded on both sides, was in keeping with his character. Perfect disinterestedness was manifest in all Selwyn did. As a good athlete Selwyn was sure to appeal to New Zealanders. (Applause.) Such a popularity as Selwyn’s was a power for true religion. His Excellency said the Irish Church owed a 1 debt to Selwyn, because it -was upon' the New Zealand ehureh constitution that the Irish churches’ constitution, which had been such a success, had been modelled. (Applatise.) .j, The Hon. Dr. Findlay said they were met to do honour to a great man who left New Zealand with a heart as sad as those of the thousands he left behind. Selwyn was a man of many parts, preacher, scholar. Bishop, and man of action. Great material gifts were requisite to achieve his life record. He did his utmost with the natural talents given to him. During the Maori war, Selwyn’s ministrations to both friend and foe, caused him to be misunderstood, and his acts were misrepresented. The Maori! war was the biggest trouble Selwyn had to face, for he had made the natives his friends. As a soldier of the Cross, working to the last, he died almost in harness. His • rectitude was as marked as his intellect was clear. Those present that knew such a man must truly love his memory, and they who had assembled that night were proud to do honour to such a name. (Applause). Mr J. H. Upton said that one of the great things done by Selwyn was the organisation of the Church of New Zealand. It was a true democracy. The first General Synod in New Zealand took place in 1859, so that evening was its jubilee as well as Selwyn centenary. Bi-hop Selwyn also formed a Trust Board to advise the Bishop. No doubt it did advise and get into trouble the same as nowadays. (Laughter.) Mr Upton argued that all matters of interest to the church should be settled by the Synod, not by societies outside. Selwyn arranged that they should vote by order in the Synod and also the Trust Board, so that one was a cheek on the other. Selwyn told an English Bishop who asked about that system: “I want my clergy and my laity to have a vote, so that they may tell me what I am doing, and I must listen to them.’* Mr Upton also related some characterise tic stories of the great Bishop. On the motion of Hon. E. Mitchelson, seconded by Mr Fowler, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded his Excellency at the close of the meeting ■*' V