BRINGING THE TIDINGS

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2673, 18 December 1923, Page 1

BRINGING THE TIDINGS

FIRST CHRISTMAS IN NEW T ZEALAND. A THRTLLTNG STORY. MAR-SDEN’S VISIT IN 1814.

(By H. T. Drew in Wellington Post). Of all the beautiful Christmas stories which have enriehed our literature, few are more thrilling- or stir the soul more deeply than the simple, unadorned aeeonnts that are on reeord for the first Christinas service celebrated in New Zealand. With our churches and our chapels, our joyous or "an music heralding- in each Christmas morn—in the reunion of families and friends, and the partaking of the

Christmas Communion, it seems a Hong way back that we must go to find the first stone upon which this great edifice has been built. Yet it is only but little .more than a century ago that Samuel Marsden and !.i.- little band brought the first Chri-tmas tidings to New Zealand. By some coincidence it was also the first Christmas service held within these shores.* Marsden, intent on introducing Christianity to his beloved New Zealanders, arrived at Whangaroa Harbour in the brig Active on De-

cember In, ISI4. There is much that could be told of the incidents of preparation which led up to this event, at present only the immediate story of his coming can be related. TTr had planned for it for years; in the midst of his busy, harassed life as chaplain to the New South Wales Convict Settlement he had carefully laid the foundations by establishing a private school for New Zealanders at his own expense; and he furthered bis project when visiting England in 1808 and 1800 by securing- the services of three lay-mis-sionaries, William Hall, John King, and Thomas Kendall. Two of these men lie had sent across to New ‘Zealand early in 18.14. He had intended to go with them himself but Governor Macquarie had forbade the visit because of the massacre of the Boyd, which had occurred a little while previously, and for which punishment bad been

meted out. No Government ship was allowed him, so be purchased and chartered Ihe Active as a missionary vessel, and sent Hall and Kendall to be the forerunners, giving them messages of Christian love and good fellowship to take io a young chieftain, Dnaterra (so named in the records), to whom he had extended great kindness. On August 22, 1814, the two missionaries returned, having been well received, and they brought with them Dnaterra and six other chiefs, among whom were “Hongi and Shnngi.” Marsden’s joy was unbounded. He saw his goal in sight, the consummation of the great work upon which he had set bis soul. His letters of that date are beautiful tributes of thankfulness to bis Master. He determined at once to go to the islands now awaitng him and his message, regardless of the grave doubts of the Church Missionary Society as to bis safety; and a sympathetic Governor this lime “bade him ‘God Speed.’ ” MA R SDEN’S LA NDING.

The Active left Sydney for New Zealand on November 10. There were on hoard, states Marsden, a total of 35—the master, his wife, and son, and three missionaries with their wives and children, eight returning Maori chiefs, two Tahitians, John L. Nicholas (whose printed records of those times are now most, valuable, four Europeans belong-' ing to the vessel, two sawyers, one smith, and a runaway convict who had secreted himself aboard. They took with them a horse and two mares, a bull and two cows, and . a few sheep and poultry. The cattle were a present from Governor Macquarie, and were from the King’s herd. On December 15 the party were in sight, of land, ancl next day the chiefs were sent ashore and

they opened up friendly communications. Marsden’s fame as the friend of the Maoris had preceded him. He found them eagerly awaiting him. “We were now quite, free of fear,” he states, “as the Natives seemed desirous of showing us attention by every possible means in their power.” The Active dropped her anchor as close inshore as possible in Whangaroa Bay, near the scene of the massacre of the Boyd’s crew and there amongst the very cannibals by whose hands their countrymen had fallen so recently, the first Christian mission was opened. A war had been raging—as the result of the massacre and the subsequent British retaliation —between the Natives of Whangaroa and the Bay of Islands, the former accusing the latter of having conspired with the English to shoot their Chief Tiparee, who it was held was blameless—a view Marsden supported.

FIRST CHRISTMAS IN NEW ZEALAND. A THRILLING STORY. MARSDEN’S VISIT IN 1814. - (By H. T. Drew in Wellington Post).

Marsden was known as the friend of the Bay of Islanders, and his first task was to convince the Whangaroans that he was equally their ally. To convince them, accompanied only by Nichols, he spent one night amongst them. He was cordially received; Marsden explained the object of his visit, and asked them to receive his message of peace. A Native, known to his people as George, acted as interpreter. As the evening wore on the people retired to l’est in groups under the sky. George directed Marsden to lie by his side, and Nichols was close by. Around them innumerable spears were stuck in the ground. “I viewed the situation,” wrote Marsden, “with feelings and sensations that I cannot express, surrounded by cannibals who had killed and eaten my countrymen. I wondered much at the mysteries of Providence and how these things could he. I did not sleep iniich. My mind was too seriously occupied with the present scene and the new ideas it engendered.” Could visions of these days have passed before his mind? The next day Duateri’t, Shungi, and Hongi shook hands and rubbed noses with the Wliangaroans as a sign of reconciliation. THE FIRST CHRISTMAS EVE. The first Sunday was Christmas Day. Christmas Eve was spent by Duaterra in preparing for the Christmas service. He enclosed about half an acre with a fence and erected a pulpit and reading desk in the centre, covering them with black Native cloth or some duck he had brought from Port Jackson. Old canoes bottom upwards, were placed around as seats. These preparations the chief made of his own accord. The story of the first Christmas service Marsden himself tells in language which is like the man, virile; I, 'yet simple and direct. THE CHRISTMAS SERVICE.

“On Sunday morning,” he says, “coming on deck early T saw the English flag flying over the village, which was a pleasing sight in New Zealand. I considered it as the dawn of civilisation and liberty and religion in that dark benighted land. T never viewed the bright colours with more gratification, and lintior(ii nivself that they would never be removed until the of that land i-irjoyed all the happiness m British subjects. About 10 o'clock yy;’_ nroc«ejj£:l. to. egl OAh'f f (mulish for the first time the glad tidings of the Gospel. T was under no apprehension for the safety of the vessel, and therefore ordered all hands ashore except the master and one man.

“We found Hongi. Duaterra and Koro Koro dressed in regimentals, which Governor Macquarie had given them, with their men drawn up ready to he marched into the enclosure to attend the Divine Service. They had their swords by their sides and switches in their hands. We entered the enclosure and were placed on sente nt each side of 1 lie pulpit. Koro Koro placed his men on my rigid hand, in the rear of the Europeans, and Duaterra his men on the left. The inhabitants of: the village and the women and children and a number of chiefs formed a circle around the whole. A very solemn feeling prevailed —the sight was truly impressive. T rose up and began tlie service by singing “The Old Hundredth” psalm, and felt my very soul melt within me when I viewed my congregation and considered the state they were in. After reading the service, during which the Natives stood up or sat down at signals given by Koro Koro’s swit-* eh, which were regulated by the movements of the Europeans, it being Christmas Day, I preached from the second chapter of St. Luke’s Gospel and the 10th. verse “Behold! I bring you tidings of great joy.” The Natives told Duaterra that they* were not to mind that now for they would understand later, and that he would explain the meaning as well as he could. When I had done preaching he informed them of what I had been saying*. “In this manner the Gospel was introduced to New Zealand and T fervently pray that the glory of it may never depart from its inhabitants till time shall he no more.”