SAMUEL MARSDEN

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2341, 24 December 1914, Page 7

SAMUEL MARSDEN

MISSIONARY & COLONISER WHAT N.Z. OWES TO HIM A period of a hundred years—a century of marvellous progress—soparates us from the day when Samuel Marsden landed on tho shores of New Zealand and declared "dad tidings of groat joy" to one of the strangest congregations over addressed by a Christian minister.. Coming across from Sydney in the brig Activo, he came ashore near the Bay of Islands on December 19, 1814, and he delivered tho first sermon ever preached iii New Zealand on the following Sunday, which .was also Christmas Day. In this manner was Christianity introduced into Now Zealand, and the centenary of Marsden's proclamation of the Gospel message is to bo celebrated by a service to be held on Friday nest, Christmas Day, at the foot of the memorial cross erected at Marsden's landing place at Oihi, Bay of Islands. A Pioneer of Civilisation.

Samuel Marsden was not only a great misisonary, he was also a_ practical coloniser and a pioneer of civilisation. He was a man of outstanding personality and force of character. As the preacher of his funeral sermon declared, lie was "not merely a good man who filled up tho place allotted to him on earth and then sank into his grave; not merely a faithful minister of Christ, who loved and served his Saviour and turned many to repentance, but more than either of these. Rightly to estimate his character we must view him as a peculiar man, raised up for an especial purpose. Little is known about Marsden's early life. He was born in Yorkshire on July 28, 1764. He was educated at the village school, the free grammar school of Hull,, and at St. John's College, Cambridge. Ho subsequently entered the ministry of the Church of England, and was appointed second chaplain to the settlement in New South Wales by a Royal Commission, bearing date January 1, 1793. In Maroh of the following year he took up his residence in the barracks of Parramatta. Soon after his arrival the eenior chaplain returned to England, aiid Marsden was left alone to face a situation that might well have filled the bravest with dismay. The majority of those to whom he was called upon to minister were criminals, and tho moral 6tate of the community was appalling.

Troublous Tlmos. _Aa the purpose of this article is to givo a sketch of Marsden's connection with New Zealand, the story of his vork in New South Wales can only bo briefly touched upon. In spite of much opposition and discouragement, he did his best to improve the lot of the convict and to raise the-moral tone of the settlement. His efforts brought him into conflict with the authorities and others. He was attacked in the most bitter manner. He was maligned, his motives were misrepresented, and his personal character was brutally assailed. Every obstacle was put in his way, and on one occasion the Governor even threatened him with a court-martial.' But he won through in the cud. His good work was eventually recognised, and his character completely vindicated. We are told that the Governor, before leaving England, "bore testimoy' to the piety,- integrity,-aiid invaluable services of tho only man' who"had dared, patiently, yet firmly, to contend with him during a long course of years." .

Marsden was a man of big ideas and was able to take long views. He saw that Australia was destined to become a great country and had strong faith in the future of New Zealand—and this, aB his biographer tells us, "at a time when even statesmen had only learned to think of Now South Wales as a national prison, and when 'he conversion of New Zealand was regarded as a hopeless task oven by tho majority of Christian men, and treated by the world with indifference or scorn." The Maori Race. It was during two years' visit to England, 1807-1809, that Mersden laid tho foundations for his work in New Zealand. Ho had a high opinion of the Maoris—much higher than that formed by Charles Darwin, who visited New Zealand in 1835. Writing a friend, Marsden said: "They are a noble race, vastly suporior in understanding to anything you could imagine in a savage nation." Several chiefs had been his guests at Parramatta, and the more he learned about the Maori people the more desirous he became of visiting their country. On returning to Sydney from England_ in 1809, Marsden discovered on the forecastle of the ship a man whose dark skm aud sad appearance attracted his attention. It was Ruatara, a Maori Chief, who had gone through series of extraordinary hardships and romantic adventures. Sick and dejected, , Ruatara was making his way back to New Zealand. Marsden befriended him, and ho became "one of tho principal instruments in preparing the way for the introduction of the art ?i of civilisation and the knowledge ot Christianity into his native country."

The establishment of tho New Zealand mission Wis delayed by' the burning of the Boyd and massacre of- the ship s company- at the Bay of Islands. Other-difficulties had also to be overcome. In 1814 Marsden was in a position to make a start, and on November }J of that year he sailed from Sydney in the brig Active. He caught the nrst glimpse of New Zealand on December 15, and he landed at Whangaroa on December 19. One of his first cots was to make peace between two contending ttibes. The First Religious Servloe. Divine service was held in New Zea- ™ «' first time on Christmas Day, 1814, Huatara having made tho necessary preparations oil the previous day. In describing this memorable service, Marsden writes:—

He (Buatara) enclosed about half an acre of land with a fence, erected a pulpit and reading-desk in the centre and covered the whole either with black' native cloth or some duck, which he had brought with him some Port Jackson. ' He also procured some bottoms of old canoos and fixed them up as seats on each side of the puplit for the Europeans to sit upon. The wtolo was becoming and had a. solemn appearance. Ho had also erected a flagstaff on the highest hill in the village "On Sunday morning when I was upon deck I saw the English flag flying, which was a pleasing sight in Now Zealand. I considered it as the signal and the dawn of civilisation, liberty, and religion in that dark and benighted land. "About ten o'clock we prepared to go ashore to publish for the first time the glad tidings of the Gospel. . . . Tho inhabitants of the town, with the women and children, formed a oircle. A very solemn silence prevailed—the sight was truly impressive. I rose up and began the service with singing the 'Ohl Hundredth' psalm, find felt my very spui melt within mo when I viewed my congregation, and considered, tho state they were in. After reading tha servico, during which tho Natives stood up and sat down at tho signals given by Koro Koro's switch, which was regulated by the movements of the Europeans, 'it being Christinas Day, I preached from the second chapter of St. Luke's Uospel and tenth verse, "Behold I bring you -glad tidings of great joy," etc, The Natives told lluatara

that they could not understand what I meant. He replisd that they wore not to mind that now, for they would understand by and by, and that he would explain my meaning as far as he could, . . . In this maunor the Gospel has been introduced into NcvY Zealand, and 1 fervontly pray that the glory of it may never depart i'rom its inhabitants till time shall bo no more."

Marsden mado seven visits to New Zealand between tho years 1814 and 1837. Ho won the affection of the savage cannibal tribes in a marvellous way, and h3 never lost his hold over tliein. He did not know how to be afraid. Like Xavier, he feared God, and ho feared nothing olse. His quiet confidence and unfailing courage greatly impressed the Natives. Besides introducing Christianity into New Zealand, Marsden also laid the foundations of the "arts of civilised life." Ho taught the Maoris to cultivate tho soil, and to him belongs the honour of having established sheepfarming in this country and our wool export trade, which has done so much for tho prosperity of tho Dominion. He brought tho first sheep to this country in 1818, and the first wool shipment was made in 1824, when 11 bags of wool were sent to Sydney and brought 2s. 6d. a pound. Cannibalism. He might have obtained almost whatever ho liked in the way of land, and timber in exchange for guns and ammunition; but he said he would sooner abandon the_ whole work than permit barter of this sort. He allowed his smith to make axes, or hoes, and any other tools, but would not permit him to repair guns or other warlike instruments—"No, not even for the greatest chiefs upon the island" —and we are told that he took an opportunity on all occasions to impress upon the Maoris "the horrors their cannibalism excited: how much their nation was disgraoed by it."

AVriting of bis second visit in 1819, Marsden says: "We assembled on the beach for public worship as there was no place sufficiently spacious to hold the people. . . . It was gratifying to be able to perform worship to tho true God in the open air, without fear or danger, when surrounded by cannibals with their spears stuck in the ground, and their pattoo-pattoos and daggers concealed under their mats."

His journal is wonderfully interesting.

"We were literally at the ends of the earth, with relation to our native land," Tie writes, "surrounded with cannibals whom we knew to have fed on Iranian flesh, and wholly in their power, and yet our minds free from fear of danger—"all this excited in my breast such new, pleasing and at the same time opposite sensations as I cannot describe."

Such was his daily life during his stay in New Zealand in those pagan times.- When he expressed anxiety for the missionaries he was leaving behind him a chief assured him that they would bo ajl right. "The flesh of tho Maori," said the chief, "is sweeter than that of a European in consequence of the white people eating so much salt." Marsden's Suocossors. Til© work began by Marsden and his companions was carried oh, as far as the Anglican Church was concerned, by the Williams's, George Clarke, Richard Davis, W. G. Puckey, Jamos Hamlin, Charles Baker, T. Chapman, J. Matthews, B. Y. Ashwell, Alfred Brown, G. A. Kissling, Robert Maunsell, R. Taylor, Octavius Hadfield, R. Barrows, and others. Representatives of other churches also did their part, and did. it nobly. Those pionoors of Christianity did not spare themselves, and- rucceeded in commending the Christian faith to the Maoris, both by their preaching and example. They won tiio hearts of the Maoris by their devotion and self-sacrifice.

In'spite of many difficulties and disappointments the mission which Marsden founded grew and prospered, so that when' Bishop Selwyn arrived in 1842 he was able to say:

"We see here a whole nation of pagan's converted to the faith."

Later on came a period of , partial eclipse. The growth of tho European population brought with it misunderstandings and conflicting interests. Distrust of the white man was followed by distrust of his religion, and there was a great falling away from Christianity. ,Ittook many yes.rs to restore confidence, and tho ill-effects of those days of bitterness and strife have not yet been entirely removed; but tho present position is most .encouraging, and there is every reason to look forward to the future with hope and confidence. > ■ ■ Final Parting. Describing the scene on Waimate Beach at the conclusion of Marsden'e final visit to New, Zealand, a friend states that, "like Paul at Miletus, we parted with many benedictions, sorrowing most of all that we should see his face again no more. Many could not bid him adieu. The parting was with many tears." Mavsdon died in. New South Wales on May 12, 1838. Among a few incoherent expressions just before ho passed away was a reference to the New Zealand Mission. Darwin's Testimony. The work-done by men like Samuel Marsdeh provides the most ample justification of Christian missions to heathen lands. There was a time when it was the fashion, even among educated people, to deride missionaries and their work. Hut empire-buildars, scientists, and other intelligent observers, who have been in a position to speak, from firsthand knowledge, have given enthusiastic testimony to the splendid work that the. pioneers of the Gospel have achieved among savage races. The missionaries have also done, directly and indirectly, great things for commerce and industry, for various branches of science, and for the general advancement of civilisation. Charles Darwin has placed on record his very high appreciation of their work, and this article may be appropriately closed by his'impressions of the Maoris and missionaries as ho saw them in 1835, 21 years after Marsden's first voyage to New Zealand. Darwin thus describes his visit to Waimate:—

"All this 16 very surprising whon it is considered that five years ago nothing but the fern flourished here. Moreover, native workmanship, taught by the missionaries, has effected this change—the lesson of the missionary is the' enchanter's wand. The house had been built, the windows framed, the fields ploughed, and even the_ trees grafted, by the New Zealander (i.e., the Maori). At the mill a New Zealander was seen powdered white with flour, like his brother miller in England. When I looked at this whole 6cone I thought it admirable. It was not ineroly that England was brought vividly before my mind; yet, as the evening drew to a close, the domestic sounds, tho fields of corn, the distant _ undulating country, with its trees might well nave been mistaken for our fatherland; nor was it the triumphant feeling at seeing what Englishmen could effect; but rather the high hopes thus inspired for the future progress of this fine island." The Missionary and the Scientist. But when he looked back over his visit to New Zealand as a whole, Darwin was not favourably impressed. "I beliovo wo were all glad to leave Now Zealand," ho writes. "It is not a pleasant place. Amongst tho Natives there is absent that charming simplicity j which is found at Tahiti;' and the greater part of the English are tho very refuse of society. Neither is the country itself attractive. 1 look back but to ono bright spot, and that is Wainiato. With its Christian inhabitants." Marsdcn took a much nloro hopeful view of both tho Maori and the country, and the missionary has proved to lip »'t truer prophet thou the* ecleutiot.