ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 513, 21 May 1909, Page 6

ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE.

PATTESON MEMORIAL WING. LAYING OF THE FOUNDATION-STONE. (BI TEIiEQBAPIt—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Auckland, May 20. Tho celebrations of the Selwyn Centenary arranged in connection with the Dioceso of Auckland wore continued to-day, and were largely attended, the Governor taking part in each of tho two functions. In the afternoon Lord Plunket laid the foundation-stono of the Patteson Memorial 1 Wing of St. John's College at Tamaki. This wing will form the first instalment of a scheme for the future permanent rebuilding of St. John's College, which was founded by Bishop Selwyn in 1842. The total cost of the new wing will be about £6000. It will accommodate about thirty students, and will also provide accommodation for the valuable library presented to tho college by Dr. Kinder, a former warden of the college.. In the course of their speeches, the Anglican-Bishop of Auckland (Dr. Ncligan) and the Governor both strongly advocated tho proposal that St. John's College, which is not merely a' theological college, should become a residential college affiliated to tbe University of New Zealand. ' This evening a public meeting presided over by the Bishop was held in commemoration of the Centenary. Speeches wore delivered by tho Bishop, the Governor, the Hon. Dr. Findlay, Mr. J. H. Upton, and the Hon. E. Mitchelson. '. "A NATIONAL INSTITUTION." / (bt TELEGRAPH—SPECIAIi CORRESPONDENT.): Auckland, May 20. The religious service in connection with tho laying of the foundation stone of the Patteson Memorial Wing of St. John's College was most impressive. All things being made ready, the stdne was laid by hia Excellency with these words: In the faith of Jesus Christ and in devout and -thankful remembrance of John • Coleridge Patteson, first Bishop ; of Melanesia, we place this foundation stone in the Namo of God the Father, God tho Son; and God the Holy Ghost; that here . true faith, the fear of God, and brotherly love may ever dwell, and that in this place true religion, sound learning, and useful industry may ever . abound, to the edification of those who Shall be messengors, watchmen, and stewards of til© Lord, and to the praise and honour of the same, our Lord Jesus Christ; Amen. Tho Bishop, subsequently addressing tho Governor, said: "Though St. John's is definitely a Church of England institution, yefc its benefits hover have been restricted to members of the Church of the, Province of New Zealand. Thus it is.a national institution founded on tho only true basis for national weal: religion. Moreover, this college never has been purely a theological college. These tilings so, 'we; the Trustees and Governors, claim to-day that we have enterprised upon a national work';,the presence and acts of your Excellency to-day encourage us in our belief. Our dream is that as the years roll on St. John's will bo the greatest residential college affiliated in some real living way with the University of New Zealand for men preparing for various avocations in life; men who, whether as clergy or as laity, will serve their country in Church or State the better and the truer because they have been exposed in their young manhood's days to the atmosphere of a religious and scholarly tradition; have been taught by the daily chapel services to consecrate their talents, in whatever walk .of real life, to our Heavenly Father; men who will do more than obey the law of duty -because, through St. John's College and its religious foundation ; they obey a higher law— that of responsibility to God. Duty is always safe in the hands of men Who have learned responsibility." HISTORY OF THE COLLEGE. THE SELWYN IDEAL. The Bishop of New Zealand (G. A. Selwyn) arrived in Auckland in May, 1842, and before the end'of June ho had established his headquarters at Waimate. Npith, Bay of Islands. Here was begun the College of St. John the Evangelist. Work was started before the end of 1842; but in after time the Founder named January 6. 1843, ■as the Foundation Day. The college was " the Bishop's palace." In the now historic parsonage,was horn John Richardson Selwyn, afterwards Bishop of Melanesia, the first New Zealand-born Anglican bishop. In the Church of St. John the Baptist, which was used as the college, chapel, were ordained the first fruits of tho institution, sent forth to minister, for example, at Nelson, Tauranga, ,Taupo, New Plymouth, Rbtorua. Therein also Was held, in 1844, the first Synod to do business in the Anglican communion Bince tho silencing of Convocation in 1717: The college found, however, only a temporary' home in the little English-look-ing village in the north.- In November 1844, the college establishment was removed to Auckland, and placed at Purewa, on the bank of the stream, just below the present cemetery. Here, at first, in tents, and later in wooden houses, thatched with reeds, tho college party lived, and the work went on until, in 1846, the buildings at Tamaki were sufficiently advanced to accommodate most of the men and boys. The work could progress only gradually from year to year, as opportunity offered. At times it .was necessary for parties to go forth in the college vessels to obtain timber, the Bishop, as usual, taking, the lion's share of,, tho work. By degrees, there grew up at Tamaki a kind or ecclesiastical village. "Bishop's Auckland" it was called. It was a Theological College for the training .of candidates, for Holy Orders; but it was a great deal more. In its many-sidedness it resembled rather one of the monasteries of medieval days. For industry it was a very beehive'. Coming down to the present day, the position is thus stated by tho authorities:— "The endowments for scholarships have, of recent years largely inoreased in value. The endowments for general purposes (warden's stipend, etc.), have not proportionately increased. This latter fact has been a source of anxiety to tho trustees and the.governors. It has also pressed somewhat hardly on the students, because it has, to some extent, demanded from them the payment of rather higher college fees than, perhaps, are desirable. There is, however, no doubt that in say, 20 years, the Tamaki estate will be of greatly increased value, and will yield a revenue amply sufficient for. the general maintenance of the college. Tho broad Selwyn ideal has never been quite lost sight of. Men in all walks of life have held scholarships. In a very real sense tho college has fceen of national benefit to New Zealand. Herein also' lies strength for St. John's. Men preparing for Holy Orders, while getting the necessary spiritual and theologioal help, get also the social help of mixing day by day with men preparing to serve God as laymen. Thus our future clergy cannot becomq mere seminarists. The attitude of the public towards an institution, such as St.John's is a matter of national importance. If the sons and daughters of New Zealand rally ronnd the college to-day, and give of thqir substance, as others did before them, then tho trustees can carry out the scheme permanent buildings; and.tho governors can make the educational advantages greater. ; "Tho proposed Patteson Wing wHI, it is .estimated, cost £6000. If tho men and women of to-day build this portion, the men and women of to-morrow will complete tho work. To each generation its own task. The late Archdeacon of. Hawko's Bay (tho Vou. S.' Williams) 'promised £1000, when £4000 wore raised for the now wing. That promise will be kept by his trustees. Other promises and donations bring the total already up to some £1200. An appeal is now mado to the public of New Zealand for assistance in raising tho remaining sum necessary; St. John's Collego is not merely a diocesan institution. By its Trust Deed, it is provincial. That moans it is national.' It offers its advantages to men from every part of New Zealand."