PRIMATES OF THE PAST

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 122, 27 April 1925, Page 11

PRIMATES OF THE PAST

SIX DISTINGUISHED MEN. SELWYN’S MISSIONARY WORK. Tho history of tho Anglican Church in New Zealand shows that Bishop Averill, who took over his new duties lust week, comes seventh on tho list of Primates. Tho first Primate, whose official title was the Bishop of Now Zealand, was the famous missionary bishop. Dr George Augustus Selwyn. The call was first made on William Selwyn, his elder brother, but ho declined the appointment. Bishop Selwyn reached Auckland in June, 1842. When the Governor, Captain Hobson, received word that a Bishop was to bo appointed to Now Zealand, ho exclaimed, “A bishop 1 What on earth can a bishop do in New Zealand where there are no roads for his coach.” When he beheld (ho recipient of the surprising appointment, he changed his mind. “Ah,” he remarked, “that is a very different thing; this is tho right man for the post.” After events abundantly proved that Selwyn was the right man. He landed with a full knowledge of tho Maori tongue, and instantly won the confidence of the Maoris. He explored New Zealand from end to end at the earliest opportunity. Returning from his first visit to Wellington, he reached Auckland with his bag containing his gown and a cassock, “the only articles in my possession which would have fetched sixpence in the Auckland rag-market,” as he relates. “My last remaining pair of shoes (pumps) were strong enough for tho light and sundy walk from the Manakau Harbour to Auckland, and 1 reached tho Judge’s houso by a path, avoiding tho town, and passing over the land which I have bought for the site of a cathedral. It- is a spot which, I hope, may hereafter be traversed by many bishops, better shod, and far less ragged than myself.” THE BISHOP IN TIME OF WAR. One great work was the establishment of St. John’s College, which at first consisted of two or three small tents, and later of wooden houses, thatched with roods. During the Maori War, his attitude was an essentially Christian one. His bravery was amazing. The Auckland Times described him thus; “Fearless in the very midst of the contest, he sought to allay the heat of blood, and to arrest the fury of the fight. He was also seen bearing tho wounded from the field; afterwards, unwearied, he was at tho bedside of the dying. Much more than this, he was the nurse, and tho surgeon, and the servant of tho sick, as well as their spiritual attendant.” The bishop wus very keenly concerned with the progress of missionary work in Melanesia. In 1867, Selwyn, after having twice previously declined tho appointment to the Bishopric of Lichfield, accepted it at Royal request, lie left Now Zealand sorrowfully, but left it with the Church in a wonderfully improved position, a tribute to his tireless energy. The second Primate was Bishop Henry John Chitty Harper, who occupied '.he position till 1890. In 1856 he was ccnsecrated bishop in Lambeth Pat.i/e Ciiapei and in 1863, when Selwyn left his loved New Zealand to take up his new office at Lichfield, Bishop Harper became Primate. In 1880, ul the age of S 6 years, he resigned the cares of office. Canon Piuehas, in his New Zealand ( hurch History, states “Bishop Harper was pre-eminently a man of peace, hut beneath the placid exterior lay an indomitable will. One who knew him well wrote of him thus, lie left upon mo tho deep impression t hat he never had an ideal of power or wealth or fame; but that to go about and to promote the welfare of his fellow men with all Ins strength were the objects he had in view in his whole life.’ ”

TROUBLE OVER APPOINTMENT. The resignation of Bishop Harper led to difficulties regarding the appointment of his successor. At the General Synod of 1889, Bishop Harper gave notice o his intention to resign, and at tho third ballot for his successor the voting was in favour of the veteran Bishop ot Wellington, Dr Octavius lladfield. Tins decision, however, was contested, since the canons gave no authority for tho election till the position of primate was actually vacant. The Standing Commission ruled the election null and void, but tile Wellington and Dunedin Synods maintained that tiro election was legal, and refused to take any notice of the communications of Bishop Suter, of Nelson, who proceeded to act as Primate. “This position, wrote Canon Purehas, “was full of interest to lawyers, but it was painful and humiliating to devout members of the Church.” At a special general meeting of the General Synod held in 1890, Bishop liadlield was elected Primate. On account of ill-health, liadlield was obliged to leave Oxford University as a young man, and came to New Zealand when in deacon’s orders. On the application of Hauparaha for a missionary at Otaki, liadlield responded to the cull, and was the first in New Zealand to receive the office ot priesthood, llis Christian influence was exerted for good during the troublesome days of Maori strife in the Wellington anil Taranaki districts. He was consecrated Bishop of Wellington in 1870. _ It is written of him that he rallied again and attain from ivliat seemed to ho a bed of death, and ho outlived most of those with whom he began his work. Ho was a ™ an of wide learning. His resignation followed in 1893, and in 1904 he passed away after final years of retirement at Marton. SECOND AUCKLAND PRIMATE.

Tiie Primateship was then conferred bv unanimous feeling on the Bishop pt Auckland, Dr. William Garden Cowie. Ho was Selwyn’s success as Bishop ot Auckland, being consecrated in Westminster Abbey. He died at bis post in 1902 after a short lilness, and was thus tho only Primate whose office was ended by death. All the other Primates have resigned their position. _ ~ The fifth Primate was Samuel iarratt Nevill, Bishop of Dunedin, and the only survivor of the post-Selwyn group. He was consecrated Bishop of Dunedin in 1871 and was Primate from the death of Bishop Cowie, till the end of 1919. He had 48 years’ service as bishop, and at tho General Synod of 1919 thanked those who expressed the wish that ho would complete the half-century of service. It was sufficient, he continued, that ho was now the senior bishop of the Anglican episcopate, and though lie would like to attend the Lambeth Conference in Ihe following year, he did not want his failing strength to become a hindrance to the conduct of the Church s woik. RETIREMENT OF BISHOP JULIUS. Bishop Churchill Julius, of Christchurch, was the next Primate. At tlie General Synod of 1922 his title was altered to that of Archbishop and 1 rimate of New Zealand, though the added dignity was immaterial to the man himself, as he told the synod that, while he had no love for titles, he appreciated the kindly thoughts of clergy and laity. Archbishop Julius endeared himself to his people throughout New Zealand in a very special way. His kindly and genial dispoaition have made him much loved. He ha always been a virile figure, and the completion of Christchurch Cathedral was due m a large measure to his personal advocacy Tile erection of church schools, and of St. Saviour’s orphanages and the establishment of the Order of St. Anne showed his love for the young people. Ho has been described as an inspiration to tho members of the Church and an ornament to the clergy. When announcing his decision to retire, the Archbishop referred to his advanced age of 77, and said he was almost the oldest bishiop by date of consecration in the communion.