The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9,1871.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 266, 10 November 1871, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1871.

It w«11 be some gad consolation to' the friends , pf the late Bishop Patteson to learn that private letters .have, been; recetoed'stating that there was not anyfrighj;ful mutilation of hiß body as at first reported, When the islanders had taken his life they

appear to have trpated the body with all respect, sending it hack to the vessel wrapped in a native shroud with a palm branch upon the breast.

Unconsciously they used the Christian emblem of victory — never we believe more fittingly worn. And a public journalist may well be pardoned stopping for a moment to try and catch something of the glory of Christian heroism, and place it in conlrastwith the selfishness and pettinesses of human life which .it is his duty to record from day to day. We doubt not that in out of the way corners, and by men and women whose names will never travel beyond their own doors, self-3enial and patient continuance in well-doing are every day equally exemplified. But it is rarely that history is privileged to trace a life of such single-minded devotion as that of Bishop Patteson. His gentle courtesy and ready sympathy, his bigh order of gifts, combined with a total absence of selfconsciousness, were singularly attractive. Withal, a certain indescribable hallowedoess, as though he drank where the stream of truth was unmuddied by controversy., We have conversed with those who have never seen liim, yet to whom the charm of bis character had extended, stimulating and encouraging them to make an effort in a like direction. But he himself would rather we should speak of the cause in which he willingly laid down his life.

The contemplation of aDy good work suddenly stopped and left uufinisiied to become a ruin, a gradually decaying monument of unavailing efforts and unfulfilled aspirations, conveys at all times a profound sadness. But in truth it never in so with the good in n work that remains, whatever becomes of the outward form. The history of all great enterprises is promoting science, civilisation, or Christianity shows this. Is there auy less preparedness on the part of explorers to encounter all needful privations and dangers because Sir John Franklin and other noble men have never returned from the quest ? Has knowledge ceased to be men's goal because every year contributes its quota of overwrought brains and early graves ? Or did Nero's hecatombs of victims by flarae and sword arrest the progress of the Christian church ? Our own firm conviction, on the contrary, is that no good work ever yet prospered without sacrifice. For the good is the organic life, and the sacrifice but the decay of the outward covering which helps to nourish the life, aud causes it to develope more strongly and beauteously. We believe it will prove so with respect to Bishop Patteson's work in Melanesia. Already is his death bearing fruit. Representations have from tfmo to time been made touching the abuses of the labor traffic without avail, but, roused by this tragedy, the House of Assembly at ouce moved an address to the Queen praying her Majesty to take immediate steps for its suppression. We look however further. To judge fairly of the success or failure of any work it is necessary to understand clearly the object those engaged in it propose to themselves. In the present instance, the chief object aimed at throughout has beeu to educate the natives of these islands to be teachers of their fellow countrymen. Boys and girls are every year conveyed from the various islands to Norfolk Island, and are thus brought into contact with consistent Christian life. They are again taken back to their homes, but in many cases return to receive further instruction.

We have never perused any records of similar work that have so impressed us with far seeing wisdom and patient waiting for results. Three years ago the first native clergyman, after years of training, was ordained, and established in the island of Mota with a school around him. The following extract from a letter Bishop Patteson wrote last December gives an aspect of the work. It reads^all the more cheerfully that we know how diffident he was to speak of results for fear they might turn out fallacious.

We Dumber here 180 Meianesiims, from twenty-six years of age to two months, for we hare three infants here. Of this number sixtytwo have been baptised, and eleven or twelve we hope will be baptised before loDg ; seventeen are communicants, and seven are to be admitted to their first communion on Christmas Day. Many others are Catechumens. A good sign of the earnestnes of the older ones is their proposing to go to other islands, where the dialects are cognate to their own; and where they have made friends of the natives of such islands with us here. Five young men have offered to do this, and I have little doubt that this idea of Mißsion work will become quite general and be generally accepted. There is no doubt that they may, by God's blessing, do excellent work in this way. At the same time we shall for years need, perhaps we shall always need, a fair supply of English Missionaries to help the native clergymen.

Whether the withdrawal of the guiding hand means failure remaius to be seen. All we claim, speaking in the Bishop's name, ia; that at '.'"tints point it is not necessarily a failure.' Mucl»'^f" die-, work' oif translation has been accomplished, and the system fully tested. The foundations have

been laid broad and deep for other men to build upon. Even his own removal, and by a violent death, entered into his calculations In a report sent up last February to the General Synod of his Church, and which has since been made public, he enters calmly and dispassionately into the whole puhject of the new difficulty that had arisen io connection with the labor traffic, even his name beiug used for the purpose of enticiDg natives on board the traders' vessels. He anticipates trouble arising from it, and enters his " protest agaiust any punishment being inflicted upon natives of these islands who may cut off vessels or kill boats' crews, until it is clearly shown that these acts are not done iu the way of retribution for outrages first committed by white men." The one who wus best qualified to judge evidently did not consider such an event as lias happened a failure. Nor will we, until it be shown that others, are thereby deterred from entering upon a like noble course. But this we do not expect. One question we are sometimes inclined to ask about all missionary efforts, viz., whether the money aud zeal might not be better expended nearer horae ; aud, does experience show that savages are advantaged by contact with civilisation ? The answer we find most satisfactory to ourselves touching the first, is the fact that life in the Church at home has ever followed missionary efforts abroad. The zeal that keeks out the roost forlorn hope, kindles life in others. It is sad to have to consider whether savage races are the better or worse for knowing white men: But are men engaged in Bishop Patteson's work called upon to consider it ? Truly, oftentimes they are the ones to introduce civilisation, but, if they stopped at home, other motives such as gain or love of adventure would bring the two races together. Therefore, they doubtless argue— better run a race and be the first, that these natives may have as good a sample of Christianity as we can give them, so that to some at least may be imparted the knowledge that we have found beneficial. We have dwelt thus long upon the subject, wishing lo offer a small tribute in appreciation of tbe devotion which has cost these noble men their lives. We regard all deeds of unobtrusive heroism and unflinching zeal as public pi-operty, and the chronicling of them a most blessed heritage to. bequeath to our children. New Zealand will become great in proportion as her soil is consecrated by such lives and deaths as Bishops Patteson's. Nor do we think that this special work of his Church will languish because tbe life that has exercised so beneficial au effect these sixteen years has been perfected. Rather, undiramed by the slackening energies of disease or old age, his memory will ever shine to cheer other bravely struggling men — a fixed star in our Southern Heavens.