THE MARSDEN CENTENARY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1367, 19 February 1912, Page 4

THE MARSDEN CENTENARY.

HOW IT WILL BE CELEBRATED. \t n recent meeting of Anglican Bishops the question of fittingly celebrating tho introduction of Christianity into New Zoaliind bv tho I?ev. Samuel Jlarsden was dismissed. M'arsden, who lias boon called the Apostle of the Maori race, was sent to New Zealand by the Church Mis-s-ionarv Socictv, "to introduce the knowledge "of Christ among the Natives, and, in order to do this, the arts of civilised life" He left Sydney in tho brig ' Active- on Novomber 19, 1814. He sighted land on December 15. A few days later (writes Dean Jacobs) he landed at a spot near the harbour of Whangaroa, tho very scene of the massacre of the Boyd some five years before, and where some shattered remains of that ill-fated ship still lay. He was received by tho Natives, amongst whom was one of the principal actors in the tragedy, in such ' a manner as to dispel all apprehension. His fame, as the friend of the Maori, had gone before him, and was his best introduction. Ho reached (lie Bay of Islands on December 22, and on Christmas Day lie preached the Gospel for the first time in New Zealand, his text being, "Behold I bring you glad tidings of great joy." As the landing place of Marsdcn is situated within the diocese of Auckland, the arrangements l'cr the centenary celebrations in 1014 have been left largely in the hands of the Bishop of Auckland (JDi. Crossley). No details have, of course, yet been settled, but it is probablo that a special service of an appropriate character will bo held on the spot where Marsden first set foot on New Zealand soil.- It is also proposed that a great Church Congress should be held at Auckland, to which distinguished representatives of all branches of the Anglican Communion will bo invited. It is hoped that tho mother Church of England will bo represented by one or two Bishops, besides other leading Churchmen who have earned fame as preachers or writers, or in any oilier field of religions activity. Tho Bishop of Auckland will, no doubt, bo glad of any suggestions which will help to make tho centenary a momorablo event in the history of the Church of the Province of New Zealand.