FOR DISTANT ISLES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 223, 20 September 1928, Page 8

FOR DISTANT ISLES.

WORKERS IN MELANESIA.

SERVICE OF DISMISSAL..

MARTYRDOM OF PATTESON

An impressive service was held at St. Mary's Cathedral, Parnell, at 10.30 this morning for the dismissal of the missionaries who are to leave for Melanesia on the steam yacht Southern Cross at 2 o'clock to-morrow afternoon. Added interest was given to the service by reason of the fact that this is the 57th anniversary of the martyrdom of Bishop John Coleridge Patteson, the first Bishop of Melanesia. His martyrdom was remembered in the special prayers which were offered.

Bishop Patterson came from England to Auckland in company with Bishop Selwyn in 1855, and in the following year he entered upon missionary work in the islands of Melanesia. In 1861 he was consecrated Bishop, and for ten years he directed the work of the mission. Bishop Patteson h-d been on a visit to Auckland for the sake of his health, when on returning to Melanesia he was killed by the natives at Nukapu, in the Santa Cruz Group.

The special service to-day was conducted by Archbishop Averill, with the assistance of Archdeacon Hawkins and Canon James. There was a large gathering of friends of the mission and of missionaries going out to service. Those who leave by the Southern Cross are Miss I. C. Wench, Miss M. T. Simson, the Rev. A. A. Thomson, and Mr. A. Hogger. Mr. Thomson came to New Zealand on the last trip of the Southern Cross to join Archdeacon Hawkins in presenting the recommendation of the Melanesian Synod in favour of the appointment of Bishop Molyneux as successor to Bishop J. M. Steward in the charge of the Melanesian Diocese.

In the course of the dismissal service special mention was made by the Archbishop of the martyrdom of Bishop Patteson, of the work of Bishop Molyneux and the missionaries in the field, and of Bishop Steward, now en route to England.

There was a celebration of Holy Communion, and the benediction of the Church was given to those about to leave for Melanesia. It was a solemn occasion, and served to emphasise the courage as well as the devotion of the men and women who leave friends and comforts to go forward in faith to uphold the cause which they espouse in the tropical islands of the Pacific.