THE BLENHEIM PULPIT ON THE POVERTY BAY MASSACRE.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 149, 19 December 1868, Page 4

THE BLENHEIM PULPIT ON THE POVERTY BAY MASSACRE.

On Sunday evening last, in consequence of an intimation that the Rev. W. Lee purposed alluding to the recent calamitous butchery at Hawke’s'Bay, we paid a visit to the Wesleyan Chapel, and took a few notes of his address, as likely to interest many of our readers : The Rev. gentleman took his text from Eccles., 7 eh, and 14 v.—“ In the days of adversity, consider.” He said it was the duty of ministers sometimes to meddle with politics, and he could not avoid a reference to them in connection with recent events. The text might be applied or refer to individuals, to families, and to countries. Our country is now experiencing a day of adversity, and was never in so critical a position before. No calamity so dreadful had befallen it as that which recently filled every heart with horror, indignation and sorrow ; and never, perhaps, was it in a more critical position than now. Atrocities, horrible and diabolical, had caused humanity to shudder, and caused a dark shadow of sorrow and gloom to fall across the land of our adoption. They will form the darkest page that our national history as yet contains ; and we earnestly pray that the like will never have to be chronicled again. He would not attempt to describe the scene which occurred on the early morning of the 10th November last—a scene enough to make humanity to shudder, and even angels to weep; a series of cold-blooded murders — a massacre of the most horrid description, when beings, that must have been incarnate fiends, assailed the homesteads of these poor settlers. Cowardlike. they came like wolves in the night 1 The state of the country was more critical than many supposed. War, fierce and bloody, still rages ! Though we are happily removed from its immediate vicinity, yet they, on the other hand, are our friends and brothers j and to withhold from them our deepest sympathy would be most criminal. We have too long regarded the native disturbance as a comparatively insignificant affair, and have had bitter reason

to regret our supineness. It is high time we should shake off our lethargy, and at this day of adversity “consider.” This is not a time merely to give utterance to the revengeful howl of execration ; we ought rather to act as becometh those who profess to be a race of beings superior in virtue and religion to those with whom, unhappily, we are engaged in conflict. We should consider why this calamity has befallen us; remember, that as a country we may have deserved chastisement, and Providence may intend to teach us some salutary lesson. We are not in a position to offer any opinion as to the immediate causes of the war, but would most earnestly deprecate the wicked slanders of those who attribute much of it to Christian missionaries. Without defending all the acts of every individual missionary, we would maintain that the New Zealand missionaries, as a class, have been noted for their promptness, and earnest zeal, were self-denying in their labors, and have frequently averted instead of causing disturbances with the Maori race. It is true that a dark cloud at present hangs over missionary operations in this Colony; but it has been the case in other missionary fields, that now yield the most abundant harvest of missionary toil. It is the Gospel that the Maoris need ; and had missions been more liberally supported, and more earnestly prosecuted, much that we now lament, would probably never have occurred. What would be the state of the world had it not been for missionary labors; the state of England but for religion ? God’s word had caused her greatness ! England’s Queen was right when she pointed to the bibie, and said that was the cause of her greatness. The Maoris may have wronged us; but shall we withhold from them the Gospel? He urged his hearers to avoid passion, and remember that the natives of New Zealand are our brothers, springing from the same common parent. With what ought to be done politically, he had nothing to do; but in acting in this time of calamity, we should avoid the two extremes —of undue severity on the one part, and unwise leniency on the other, fair war was one thing, and cold-blooded murder another. While we almost shudder to hear the thoughtless speak about shooting down all Maoris as dogs, we cannot endorse the opinions of those who would recommend forgiveness and mercy to such wretches as Te Kooti. If such men as the Maungatapu murderers deserved the just rigor of the law, who will say that righteous vengeance should not fall on the guilty heads of those who took part in the recent outrage ? Still, we should be careful, and, as far as possible, prevent the innocent suffering with the guilty. All engaged in the war are not equally guilty ; it is becoming in our rulers to mingle mercy with justice, and avoid unnecessary cruelty. Justice, not revenge, should actuate us ; and though in face of such outrages it may be difficult to restrain natural feeling, yet wo must not forget that the bibie is to be our guide, and its precepts and directions in list he obeyed This day of adversity should lead us to deep 'humiliation and prayer. Let us remember that the Lord reignetb, and forget not to seek His aid, and pray for a settled and permanent p* ace. He will then speedily grant that the Prince of Peace shall sway an unchallenged sceptre through all the world.

The Rev. gentleman was listened to very attentively by his auditory, who at times were much moved by the eloquent manner of his address. On "two occasions only was the silence broken by a muttered “ hear, hear,” from an excited listener. The Chapel appeared to be very well filled.