SAMUEL MARSDEN

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2954, 18 December 1916, Page 5

SAMUEL MARSDEN

NEW ZEALAND'S AP'OS'fLE AND COLONISER. j "Samuel Ma'rsden: New Zealand's Apostle and Coloniser," was - tho subject of the address given at the Brooklyn Baptist "Men's Own" yesterday by'tho Rev. W. S. Rollings. Tho career of this splendid pioneer clergyman was lucidly sketched by the speaker. His large-liearted advocacy of the rights of Botany Bay. convicts, to whom he obtained permission to become chaplain, indicated liis sympathy for the outcast, and his courage was not daunted by tho rigid officialism of his day. He was the pioneer of Australian's staple industry, being th.o first to bring out merino sheep to that country when it was considered only a fit dumping ground for tho criminals of Great Britain. Unarmed Marsden led the New Zealand Natives from darkness to light, and ho was the first to teach them the arts of peace. His lifo was a striking example of practical Christianity., His ideals for this beautiful country had been lost sight of in. the advanco of commercialism, but they wore worth keeping in mind and striving for although their realisation seemed unattainable. Tho chairman, tho Rev. R. H. Hobday, M.A., ivho liad given a good deal of time to research in connection with Marsden's life', . added some very interesting data which emphasised tho strong personality and spiritual power of tho pioneer Church of England clergyman who had formed tho subject of tho-afternoon's address. Marsden's faith was based on the power of the Holy Spirit, and if his ideals were ever to be realised it would bo through tho power of Christianity and not through economic changes. Several present expressed their views, and votes of thanks wero accorded to tho speaker and chairman.