The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-12-10 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

CHURCH MISSIONARARY SOCIETY.

A public meeting of the members and friends of the
Liverpool Auxiliary to the Church Missionary Society
was held last night, at half-past six o'clock, in the Music
Hall, Bold-street, for the purpose of receiving informa-
tion concerning the operations of the society in several of
the British dependencies abroad. There was a crowded
attendance : upon the platform, besides other friends of
the society, we noticed the Rev. Messrs. W. W. Ew-
bank, Thomas Nolan, Henry Carpenter, B. A. Mar-
shall, W. It. Hunt, C. W. Lawrence, H. Hainpton,
Hugh M`Neile, R. Davies, &c. &c. ; Messrs. T. B.
Horsfall, A. Hodgson, Jobn Howard, W. Ravett, Tho-
mas Forsyth, Charles Cotesworth, P. 0. Cooper, R. A.
Payne, George Jones, George Groom, William Maples,
Lord Bangor, &c. &c.
The chair was taken by Mr. ADAM HoncsoN, who
(after prayer had been offered by the Rev. H. Carpenter)
said he regarded the numerous attendance at this meeting
as an evidence of the interest felt in the cause. It was
with a view of deepening this interest, and of keeping
alive our sympathy for the great object of Christian mis-
sions, that it had been deemed expedient not to limit
these meetings to the anniversary meetings, but to have
occasional supplementary meetings at which to give testi-
mony with regard to the different branches of missionary
labours. It had been the particular desire of the com-
mittee that the proceedings should not be protracted to
any great length, and accordingly they would be confined
to two addresses, in relation to two different missions,
and he had no doubt their observations would be found
to interest the meeting,
The Rev. W. W. EWBANK then came forward, amidst
much applause. The Chairman, he said, had well ob-
served that the object of these supplementary meetings
was to deepen our interest in the sacred cause of missions,
not only in the common way of meetings, but especially
by attempting to impress more particularly upon our
minds the geography of missions, in order that by direct-
ing attention to one or two special portions of the world,
where it had pleased God to bless our missionary exertions,
our minds might be able to rest more definitely upon those
portions of the missionary subject. Our blessed Saviour
himself, in his own history, gave us a specimen of this
feeling; his heart was always deeply engaged for men ; it
was to save nien that he came down from heaven; and
yet we found that upon special occasions his sympathy was
particularly called firth. For instance, it was when he
saw Jerusalem, and had that city extended before him,
that he wept for its coming destruction ; it was when be
actually stood upon the grave of Lazarus that he wept for
the loss of his friend ; and it was just upon this principle
that the committee were anxious to impress the public
mind, if possible, with some particular portions of neces-
sary enterprise. The subject assigned to him was an ex-
ceedingly large one ; and he Might just say in the com-
mencement, that it would be utterly impossible for him
to mention even the various status which it had pleased
God to plant for the dissemintion of the Gospel in
Northern India: but he would simply attempt to do his
best, in order to give some general view of what had been
done in that important portion of the world. We could
scarcely mention India without having our imagination
excited by the remembrance of its past history.We re-
membered that that ancient history was connected with
the name of one of theigreatest conquerors in the world,
Alexander the Great, who, just before he reached the
Ganges, was obliged, by the rebellion of his soldiers, to
return into Europe. Long after that time, we found that
Ghengis Khan overrun a great portion of, that country ;
and after that the Malocriedans, under Mahomet the
First, issued from the mountain fortress of Ghuznee—
the name of which had now become well known to us—
and occupied almost the whole of Northern India, fixing
their capital at Delhi, which was now. though not exactly
a missionary station, included in one of the principal
missionary stations of the Church Missionary Society.
To come down to more recent times, and more interest-
ing for the especial purpose in view, it was not till the
year 1599 that a small company of British merchants
asked and obtained permission from Elizabeth, the Queen
of England, to undertake a trade in India. A royal charter
was obtained, and this was the beginning of that East India
Company which now ruled over nearly two hundred mil-
lions of British subjects in India, The first proceeding
of this Company was to build a factory near a very cele-
brated idol temple, called " Caligoot, the meaning of
which Ilindostanee term was "the landing place of one
of the principal divinities of Hindostan." Its modern-
ized name was- Calcutta. We must of course pass Over
all the exertions of other societies, and other c:asses of
christians to evangelize Northen India; very little, how-
ever, bad been done by any body of christians till the
year 1812, in which year we first forced a notice of the
claims of India in the reports of the Church Missonary
Society. There was then given a lengthened consideration
of its claims ; and it was said " At a time when the mer-
chants of England are pressing forward to obtain the ad-
vantages of trade, surely the servants of Christ ought
not to be behind them in asking for an entrance for the
gospel into that benighted region, where there are hun-
dreds of millions of idolators living without hope and
without God in the world." The first step which was
taken following that, was in the latter part of 1813, when
a requisition was sent to the Rev. Josiah Pratt, then se-
cretary to the Church Missionary Society (who died very
lately), to call a meeting of the society. Mr. Willerfare
was in the chair, and it Was agreed to send a deputation
to her Malesty's ministers. This deputation was alto-
gether unsuccessful, her Majesty's ministers had deter-
mined, at that time, to create en ecclesiastical establish-
ment for India; it was determined that one bishop and
two archdeacons should be sent out, and they positively,
at the time, refused to give leave to any missionary to
proceed to India except under the permission of the di-
rectors of the East India Company. But in consequence
of the excitement which was produced—a religious and
proper excitement—by this refusal, a petition was after-
wards addressed to the houses of parliament, and a reso-
lution was passed by the Home of Commons with consi-
;lnertia it
Missionary& m ed the
fdoeur an bd laet
idoinfflocfu ltthy.,
pwr
ohei cf d
negw. oouf dt
hree acd
Society in Northern India :—" It is the opinion of this
committee
rnmittee that it is the duty of this country to promote
the interests and happiness of the natives of the British
dominions in India, and that Juch measures ought to be
adopted as may tend to the ifitroduction among them of
useful knowledge, and religious and moral improvement;
and, in the furtherance of that object, every facility should
be afforded by law to persons desirous of going out and
sending in India for the purpose of accomplishing those
benevolent designs. This resolution, simple and natu-
ral though it appeared, was passed with very considerable
difficulty; it was passed by a very small majority', and
it was stated by Lord Miltown, who supported the
resolution, that "it was quite a sufficient proof of
the necessity of missionaries going to India, to hear
the sentiments which were uttered in parliament by no-
minal Christians who had just returned from India."
The resolution, however, was passed ; and this was the
foundation of the Church 'Missionary Society's future
proceedings. The first station they bad in England was
at Calcutta. They had there, for two or three years, a
corresponding committee, the object of which was to
look out for opportunities of usefulness througlicut the
whole of northern India. But let him fora short time en-
gage attention with the difficulties which the missionaries
expected toencounter when they entered upon their arduous
work. First, there were the immense numbers in northern
India, it being calculated that in the whole of that pen-
insular there were now about 150 millions of idolators,
including the Mahometans, who might be computed at
one-tenth. Then there was the religious system of the
Hindoos—which the reverend gentleman explained in a
popular manner—the consequence of which upon the
minds of the inhabitants was that they had not the
slightest knowledge of the difference between right and
wrong ; their consciences werzt, in fact, completely asleep,
and one of the grea.ctt difficulties which the missionary
experienced was to awaken the conscience. , How, indded,
could we expect it to be otherwise, when we find that
the God's were continually represented to them as
being guilty of the grossest crimes' and the most dis-
gusting immoralities? Then look at their religious
books. These books were of incalculable size; and
it was computed that it would be utterly impossible
for any man to read them through in the whole course of
his life. They were divided by Oriental scholars into 18
diuisions ; and though a portion of them seemed to be de-
rived from ancient philosophy, and contained many beau-
tiful descriptions of abstract virtue, we found them filled
as we might suppose them to be filled, with the most dis-
gusti7g narrations of their Gods. It was to attack such a
nidolatryof
andhu wickedness Church
mon
Missionary
that
Societythe
gbmoyasstphseelo afstrength of God; and he would now attempt to
show what had been the general result of, and what had
been the mode of proceeding by, the Church Missionary
Society in India. They had built chapels and churches in
all the places they had been enabled to occupy. Those
chapels and churches were of the simplest formation ; but
the missionaries went forth and preached during the
idol feasts, in the large fairs, and in places of conti-
nued resort. One of the most useful modes in which
they disseminated the gospel was by itinerating ex-
peditions on elephants (some of which were described)
and on these occasions it was surprising how anxious the
lower orders of the people were to have copies of the
word of God. Here the rev. gentleman narrated an anec-
dote of a Sirdan, who actually seized a missionary, and
retained him in a strong grasp until he gave him a copy
of the new testament. " There was, he added, a remarkable
story of a fakir, one of the order of individuals who think
they will obtain holiness by practising certain ascetical
absurdities. This person had been for seven or eight
years perambulating the whole of India in order to get
rid of his sins; and at the end of the last year of his
perambulations he met, accidentally, or rather provi-
dentially, with a Christian native. This native told
him in the simplest manner that all his observances
would be of no use, but that if he would believe on
the Lord Jesus Christ he would find rest to his soul.
The word of God fonnd entrance into his heart ; he at
once determined to embrace the religion of Christ ; and
it was reported as having been a most affecting sight to
see him strip himself of his fakir dress—first the ring
that was bound round his neck, and then the large iron
chain that was fastened round his waist. Mr. Ewbank
then described the positions of the various stations of the
Church Missionary Society in Northern India at the pre-
sent time ; following the course of that famous river, the
river Ganges, which had its source in the north-western
part of India, in the Himmalayan Mountains, the course
of which was from north-west to south-east. Beginning
at Calcutta, which was situated upon the river Hoogley,
Gtweenngteys.,fitvheerte wereeaehe five stations,
ts.Atßurd threee n,tomis-
sionaries,ro
s ta then
od f Calcutta, there were two stations, two
sfounded
missionaries,
fourteen
Lieutenant
Stewart.
teachers.
The
Following h
miss ion herete
a
course of the Hocgley, and proceeding towards the

east there was a very interesting sphere of Christian
labour, the district of Krishnagaz, (of which he narrated
the well-known history,) containing five stations, five
missionaries, and sixty-three teachers. The next prin-
cipal station was upon the banks of the Ganges itself, in
the city of Benares, which had been well called the
Athens of Hindostan, in the immediate neighbourhood of
which there were three stations, Manpore, Baxar, and
Chunar, giving four stations, four missionaries, and
twenty-seven teachers. Proceeding north-west, and leav-
ing the banks of the Ganges, we came to Agra, in the
kingdom of Oude, where there was one station, four
missionaries, and eight teachers. Then returning to the
Ganges, we find another station called Meerat. which
contained one station, no missionaries at present, and
three teachers. We had now almost arrived at the north
of the Ganges, and one of the last and most interesting
proceedings of the society had been the foundation of
another mission in the Hemimalagan mountains at Simla,
concerning which he gave several attractive details.
He had thus attempted to give only a sketch of the pro-
ceedings of the society in northern India ; but after all
what had the society, or rather what had we done ? How
many Hindoos did we think were allotted to the exertions
of a single missionary ? Why, if we calculated the popu-
lation of northern India at forty millions (which was less
than the reality) there would be only one missionary,
counting all the various stets, to about one million of
idolaters ! How could we expect the religion of Christ to
make much progress when we did so little to assist
its progress? And yet.how much had been done !
Rather than be disappointed because none had not been
done, we ought to wonder that so much had been
effected. We ought to look upon northern India as
a most decidedproof that it is not by might or by
power, bat by the spirit of the Lord of Hosts that
the gospel had already produced such effects, and
that idolatry was actually wailing before the son of
righteousness ; then we considered the times which
were coming, and looked what India might become,
speaking of the improvements which were continually go-
ing on in science, in the course of a few years,—when we
remembered that from Calcutta it took not many days to
proceed to China,—when we look at the advantages of
communication India must shortly possess, and recol-
lected that our last act had been to occupy a station in
Gimla, which was the highwap to the plains of Taatary,
and the whoje interior of that great empire,—what might
We not ezpect in the providence of God in the course
of a very few years. The most judicious mis-
sionaries—and he had conversed with one who was
not inclined to take the highest view of affairs,
who thought, as they thought-, tharnot many-years would
elapse before idolatry would be actually overthrown in
India. Therefore if God would lalers us in our exertions
for a few years longer, we might expect to see a wonderful
change in that country. There was a remarkable tree in
India, called the banyan fig-tree. The characteaistic of
this tree, said Mr. Evebank, is, that while the mother root
remains in the earth, the tree is continually extending
branches which again drop their branches to the ground,
and they take root, so that the tree at least covers an im-
mense tract of country. This tree has been in some re-
spects well compared to the proceedings of the Church
Missionary Society; but there is one point in which it
will be deficient. It is, I believe, a fact, that while the
young branches are taking root in the ground, decay at
last seizes upon the mother of a 1 this progeny. I trust
that this will never be the case here—(hear, hear,
and cheers);—that while influenced by the love of
God, and while anxious to send forth the Gospel of Jesus
Christ to the most distant regions, the Church of Eng-
land will exert herself still more, and with increased
energy year by year—that she herself shall by the blessings
of God propagate her avengelical party; and that while
she is reaping the harvest of thankfulness from the re-
ports of distant missionaries, she shall find among her
own members an increasing knowledge of the religon of
Jesus Christ, and that God's blessing shall be more
widely spread upon all the members within her own
pale. (Loud cheers.)

•
The 'Rev. THOMAS NOLAN, whose rising was greeted
with very great applause, addressed the meeting as fol-
lows :—As theopening observations of my friend and brother
who has preceded me have obviated the necessity, so like-
wise the wholesome regulation, according to whica we
must close this meeting by nine o'clock, precludes the
possibility of prefatory observations; therefore, without
any further delay, I proceed at once, Mr. Chairman, to
say, what is equally well known to most of those assembled
as to myself, that the name of New Zealand belongs to
two islands in the great S. Pacific ocean, lying between
34 and 48 degrees of south latitude, and 160 to 180 de-
grees of longitude east from London, about six or eight
days' sail east from New Holland, and thus lying at the
very opposi e extremity of the globe, the very Antipodes
of
e v England.out
And
thankfulnesshere,
is there
our
gracious not
God,
matter
thathumble
at
l
and d
assembly of Englishmen is met together to listen with
deep interest to the spiritual condition of that remote
region, that, during this dispensation, England seems
ofraised uep, sr
th and: kepth
eurpe, teoe bt e for s
eeje salvationth something
u
in
thisnt o h
reflectiont e e nd s
calculated to prompt from every English heart the tender
earnest prayer for England's Church and England's self,
" Destroy her not, for a blessing is in her." There is
reason for supposing that New Zealand may have been
visited by Juan Fernandez, in the year 1576; but we are
certain tfiat it was so by Abel Jansen Tasman, the enter-
prising
re eeptireception
uhtec he
xnpaevrii
eg an teoerd,
ai in
tlh6e42, haaendds tehfe
tchhea raaaettievre
so ftnt he
ye
be inferred from the name be gave to the only place he
au e
r defr
Newers . "
Zealand From
—n
o" authenticTh The
Bay
accountofA
l
o
a,inwhen our own celebra ed countryman,
thecm taetepe
timemtt
as pi
untes
Cook,
tl
ol of oTklapTsu6:
nta,ten e in sight of it on the 6th of October.
His first experience of the disposition of the natives to-
wards foreigners was any thing but prepossessing; and
the communications of the natives with him subsequently,
in 1774 and 1777, left the conviction on his mind, that
previously to his first visit, an European ship must
have put in to New Zealand ; and, as nothing was
ever heard of her afterwards, that she must have been
destroced, with all her crew, by the savage islanders.
This is confirmed by the evidence detailed in Captain
'Cruise's journal. About this time also a French vessel,
the St. Jean Baptiste, under the command of M. de Sur-
ville, came in sight of the same part of New Zealand as
that visited by Cook. The accounts preserved in the
narrative of Abbe Rochon of de Surville's voyage, and
that of his countryman, Marion du Fresne, of the Mas-
carin, who sent a boat ashore near the Bay of Islands on
the 3rd of May, 1771, afford a sad picture alike of the
disposition of the natives, as of the character of the treat-
ment they met for the most part at that time, and for
years after it, at the hands of the Europeans that visited
them. Du Fresne, after living upon terms of the utmost
confidence, and interchanging acts of the utmost kind-
ness with the natives for a space of five weeks, was, with
a boat's crew of sixteen, including four superior officers,
suddenly set upon, barbarously murdered, and their bodies
devoured, after being brutally mangled, by the infuriate
savages. This led, of course, to a sad and severe repri-
sal : whole villages were burnt, and the enusquetry of the
enraged marines dealt ample vengeance for the blood of
their butchered countrymen. Apologists and exagge-
rators will be found, as might be expected, on both sides
of the question ; some imputing the blame of these un-
happy deeds to the cruelty and injustice practised by
Europeans towards the natives ; others, again, ascribing
it all, to the ferocity and bloodthirstiness of the natives
themselves: happily, however, we arc not required t 3
decide the point on either side ; ours is to come to the
chronicle of more pleasing events ; but it was necessary
that these facts should be stated, in order that a proper
estimate might be formed of the difficulties by which we
were surrounded. It will at once be felt and admitted
how far the blessing of God hath been with us, in ena-
bling us to surmount them, when it is known that the
scene of the tragedy just referred to, and called in conse-
quence by Crozet (du Fresne's first officer, in whose nar.
rative the account is given), " the Bay of Treachery,"
is no other than the "Bay of Islands" of the Church
Missionary Society. "Not unto us, 0 Lord, but to thy
name, give the glory for thy mercy an,i for thy truth's
sake."—Amen. It is not until the tenth report of the
society's operations that the account meets us of the in-
tended settlement at New Zealand. In the appendix to
that report there is given an important letter from the Rev.
Samuel Marsden, principal chaplain of New South Wales,
a name that must for ever remain gloriously associated with
the first efforts to erect the banner of the cross above the
wastes of heathenism, and to pour in the light of the gospel
upon the darkness of New Zealand. This devoted servant
of Christ was returning to Port Jackson in the summer of
1809, and took along with him William Hall and John
King, the first christian settlers bound for New Zealand.
It so happened that on board the same ship was also a
young New Zealander, Duaterra, related to some of the
most influential chiefs, between whom and the chaplain,
and settlers, a close intimacy was contracted, the result
of which was fou d afterwards greatly to promote the in.
terests of the settlement. All seemed to promise well for
the immediate and successful commencement of the work
of God. The letter of instructions from the Rev. Josiah
Pratt, in the name of the Committee of the Church Mis-
sionary Society, abounds with exhortations to holy con.
versation such as becometh the gospel—to discreet and
cautious intercouse with the natives—animating them to
prudent zeal in the great work they had undertaken—and
susteining them with the powet and sympathy of fervent
prayer, to be strong and of good courage in the Lord and
in the power of his might. From Quaterra, Mr. Mars-
den received information, regarding the habits, prejudices,
eawfech:hlheetd.ihernfcrreghclooehNasumhuewfseoi
causes,
Nevertheless
seshßtrei
htonai
euldnehrdisciddseerotpresuousetrseoehent
traditions, and gods of his countrymen, of the utmost im-
portance,
not allowed that the work should commence so soon.
Ak
.pluitatrettn)eheti
adhs
tebpNeeyvxr
aitcohnedegp
atti
inrhoefenau melancholy
infuriated
theeeitt
el
natives,ltt.ew
lf
ti e s'i
Captainr a c sh
workingeTi ds dspuas rdei
en:gv
leer
intnsht
the
joined
osoissynaeaegngdeeet
borne
r aoo mt N
epao r
Zealand
chief,y
who
Wales. a s
e
difficulties that are always in the way of every great or
good undertaking, caused nearly five years to elapse be-
fore the attempt could be made with any prospect of suc-
cess of settling permanently in the country ; and so it was
not till Marcb, 1814, that the missionaries of
this society, the most effectual pioneers of civiliza-
tion, sailed from Port Jackson, in the ship
Active, purchased by Mr. Marsden for the
purposes of the missionary settlement. Duaterra, the
young chief, had previously returned to his own country
from New South Wales, and to him Mr. Marsden, whose
name was even then familiar and beloved in New Zealand,
gave letters to the missionaries, as also to another chief,
by whom they were kindly received. The first attempt
was to teach the natives the value of the Christian sab•
bath : accordingly, while the " Active" remained in the
Bay of Islands, divine service was duly performed on her
deck; and by degrees several of the chiefs were brought
to attend it : and in fine some of them returned in the
ship to Port Jackson, to obtain further information as to
the habits and skill of our countrymen, with which already
they had become so favourably impressed. This visit

was one of trial, and so far under God it was abundantly
successful. I dwell with perhaps tedious minuteness
upon the early history of this important mission, even
though by doing so I must be compelled to pass with great
rapidity over succeeding years until we come to the actual
state of things now existing in New Zealand. The effect
of this visit was to encourage the settlers to banish their
fears, and to make them thenceforth eager to be settled,
and to commence vigorously their first work. Mr. Mars-
den, with the sanction of Governor Macquarrie, to whose
kind and judicious co-operation he was all along much
indebted, sailed with the Messrs. Kendall, Hall and King,
in November of the same year, for the purpose of aiding
in their final settlement in the place of their destination.
The account in his journal- of this voyage, and his first
visit to the land for which he had so long been anxious,
and which occupied so large a place in his heart and
prayers, is deeply interesting, especially of his first sab-
bath sermon. The day was also Christmas day, and
he preached to them from.the 2nd chapter of St. Luke's
Gospel, " Behold, I bring you alad tidings of great joy."
Through the happy authority of his friend I)uaterra, there
intelligent
congregation a numerous and orderly, though not yet very
congregation : but the chief informed them what he had
been savitig was very good: that be (the chief) would
explain it to them by and bye, and that they should soon
be able to understand it for themselves. "In this man-
ner (Mr. Marsden proceeds) has the Gospel beenintro-
duced into New Zealand, and I• fervently pray that the
glory of it may never depart from its inhabitants till time
shall be no more." Before Mr. Marsden returned to
New South Wales he completed the legal purchase of
about 200 acres of land near to the adjoining town of
Raughee Hoo, and left the infant mission, comprising in
all twenty-five Europeans, including men, women, and
children. Their first care was wisely directed to the es-
tablishnient
of schools for child;en and adults; mean-
while there was a growing respect and confidence on the
part of the natives towards the new settlers. The value
of their improvements, their skill as missionaries and
bus-
headmen was duly appreciated, and, more than all, their
disinterested care and attention to the children in their
schools rapidly gained on the affections of this people, so
long regarded with hopeless dismay. The chief hindrance
now experienced to the progress of the work, and the chief
atrocities by which the island was disgraced, were on the
part of the European ships' crews towards such natives as
happened to be in their power. The accounts of them are
shocking, and enough to make-a Christian's heart bleed
at the thought of the frauds and cruelties practised upon
benighted heathens by persons bearing the aspect of men,
and calling themselves by the name of Christian. In 1819
Mr. Marsden- made his second visit to New -Zealand,
along with Mr. Butler and his associates. He succeeded
now also in making a second settlement, having pur-
chased Irons a leading chief, Shunghee, 13,000 acres,
for 48 axes, situate near the fortified native town of
Kiddekeddee. This settlement of the society has been
named Gloucester. Very soon ground was measured for
a church and schools, and as Mr. Butler writes
to the society, " many parents have been with me
seeking admission for their children to the school before a
plank is prepared for its erection ; the cry for missiona-
ries was great, and the anxiety to receive them throughout
the entire of that district. But it was hardly to be ex-
pected that such a work could continue very long, or pro-
ceed very far, without experiencing hindrances and inter-
ruptions. Tee disposition of the Chief Shunghee, acting
upon the warlike character of his misguided followers,
proved a serious impediment frcm time to time, and exhi-
bited itself under different foams, to the success of the set-
tlers. The great desire of the natives was to become pos-
sessed of fire arms tied gunpowder: these the missiona-
ries refused to supply : hence proceeded estrangement and ,
annoyance, under the plea of retaliation, for a native New
Zealander never forgave or forgot an injury, real or imagi-
nary. In this state of things the indefatigable Mr. Mars-
den made his fourth visit to that country, in 1823, accom-
painied by the Rev. M. Williams, who ultimately esta-
blished a third missionary settlement at Pyhea; a very fa-
,
' vourable situation in every respect, lying about 16 miles
to the south of the Bay of Islands. Although we are
ready to believe that all hindrances and difficulties have
been and shall ultimately be overruled to the furtherance
of the gospel, yet we cannot but lament, when the hin-
drances arise from the infirmities or even the unfaithful-
ness of the labourers in the cause, who ought to be en-
samples as well as teachers : from this hindrance also the
work in New Zealand was not exempt; but still the Lord
left not himself without a witness. Although the progress
for a time was slow, and though little or no fruit appear-
ed. yet the work was advancing, the moral soil was gra-
dually being broken up, and prepared for the reception of
the good seed, that ere very long was destined to take root,
and bring forth some thirty, some sixty, some an hundred
fold. The reports about this period of the New Zealand
mission acknowledge the kind and Christian co-operation of
the Wesleyan missionaries settled at Whangaroa. The whole
course of the mission at this period, and for years subse-
quent, was such as to demand the exercise of implicit
trust in the goodness of their God, and the blessedness of
their work : they walked by faith, indeed, for little was as
yet vouchsafed to them over which sight could rejoice.
It is not simply that the number of their converts was not
as numerous as ardent minds might have looked for, nor
yet the backsliding of some who bad made profession of
the Gospel ; but they were actually in peril of their lives
and property, and actually harassed sometimes with ap-
prehensions that they should be compelled to abandon
their mighty undertaking altogether. When in 1826 the
commotions in the northern part of the island were so
great, owing to the wars and deadly feuds of Shunghee
with some of the neighbouring chiefs, that the Wesleyan
settlement, atWhangaroa, was completely destroyed, they
had little other expectations but that the savage tribes, in
the transport of victory, would descend upon our settle-
ment also at Kiddee Kiddee. Nevertheless, several from
the Church Missionary settlement, accompanied by a
band of friendly natives, went to the aid of the West.yan
brethren ; and in reference to that sad event, the Wes-
leyan missionary notices for that month contain the fol-
lowing announcement :—" By divine goodness, our
brethren and their companions have been preservedfrom
personal it jury, and brought safely sender the protection
of their kind and hospitable friends of the Church Mis-
sionary Establishment." But it is most true that no dis-
pensation so dark bath ever been allotted to any child or
work of God out of which light may not be found to arise
at last. An instance of God's overruling Providence and
care for his people was discovered in thisalso : fifteen months
after it was felt and acknowledged how -.i,e hand of the
Lord unseen was guiding and controlling so that all things
were working for good to them that love God and put
their trust in his promise—" Fear not, I am with you,
be not dismayed lam thy God." Shanghee, the
powerful chief of all the district in which Kiddee
Kiddee (afterwards Keri Keri) was situate, though he
never embraced or professed the gospel, yet tacitly
countenanced the missions, principally for the sake of the
civilization that he observed to follow in their train : he
was dangerously wounded just before the sacking of the
Wesleyan settlement, at Whangaroa, his death was
hourly expected, the tidings of which, they knew
would be the signal for a general uprising of the natives
against them : but this was mercifully delayed for a space
of fifteen months, dating which period the excitement was
allayed, the missionaries were more firmly established,
and their influence so far prevailed that even the barba-
rous sacrifice of slaves, usual on the death of a great chief,
was now for the first time in such a case dispensed with.
About this time also another incident took place which is
worth relating, as illustrating the habits of the country
and the benign effect of the gospel in subduing the savage
passions of the human heart. A chief of tr.e Bay of Islands
was shot in an encounter with the tribes of some rival
neighbour: and among the natives, nothing but blood
could wash out the stain incurred by the loss of their
chief: the missionaries were under the dread of a bloody
and desolating war ; but it pleased the Lord otherwise
and in compliance with some of the chiefs themselves,
Rev. H. Williams, with Messrs. Kemp, Clarke, and
Davis, accompanied them on an embassage of peace. The
account is touchingly interesting ; the negi,tiations were
opened on a Saturday, and, at the solicitation of the mis-
sionaries, could not be concluded until Monday. The
sac sacred
to
a bb
natives
ath .vas
bothsp spent
sides
h t
the
menh
eof God in
blessings
on
oft
ie G preach-
ingos-
pc! ; they had a congregation of five hundred ; they
prayed with them, and contrasted with their own bloody .
habits, the glorious triumphs of the Prince of peace.
In this way, one of them writes, "We went our
Sabbath in the midst of an army of savages without the.
least fear or apprehension." On the next day the white
flag of peace was hoisted. Peace was solemnly ratified
on both sides, and much carnage and bloodshed thus
mercifully obviated, under God's blessing, by the happy
intervention of his faithful and intrepid servants. Amid
such scenes, and by such means as these, have our dear
brethren been animated and reserved. They moved to
and fro amongst the savage tribes like Daniel among the
lions, not holding their lives dear unto them, but still pre-
served unhurt. Going forth in tears bearing the good seed,
but the time was now approaching when they should come
agai,i with joy bearing their sheaves with them. A' an exami-
nation held at Pyhea (Pachia) in December, 1831 there were
172 men,and boys, and 92 females. The word of G:-d was being
translated into the native language, and eagerly sought after
by the inhabitants; and whenever the missionaries were able
to make a tour through the villages adjoining their respeetiv
stations. they were kindly welcomed and eage:ly followed
while they examined. The years 1832 and lean ar remarkable
for the sending out a consular agent, Mr. James Busby, who
took up his abode on the northern part of the island. The trade
in timber and flax had increased sufficiently to demand supenn-
tendence ; and the further object of his mission (to the shame
of professing Christians t,e it spoken) was. to prevent the out-
rages and wrongs hitherto perpetrated by the British subjects to
a frightful extent. How different this. the establishment of an
agent, from the state of things fifteen years before, when the
settlers went to explore. and examine, and feel their way.
Truly might they say, "The Lord halls done great things for
us, whereof we are glad." Frdm this time the work went on
rapidly increasinr. The next year four new stations were
formed south of the Bay of Islands, and more missionaries
were stationed among the people. I'y the help of a printing
press, and of copes printed in England, and a magnificent do.
nation of the New Testament, in the native language, from the
British and Foreign Bible Society, !he missionarie, were able,
to some extent, to satis'y the growing desire of the natives to
become possessed of a copy of the word of life. Many of the
natives were now able to read, and rejoiced in teaching their
fellows; and so it happened that frequently some of our mis-
sionaries, on visiting, for the first time, a remote tribe or dis-
trict, found many of them able to read, and only anxious to he
supplied with a copy of the word of God, " so mightily grew the
word of God, and prevailed." Each static n now became, more
and more. the centre of an influence that was felt upon the
surrounding districts, when congregations used to assemble of
from 201 to 400 ; the congregation regularly assembling at
Kaitaia at this period was estimated at 600. The Christian sees here
encouragement not to despise the day of small things: though the
blessing tarry, wait for it ; it will come. and not tarry. Though
time presses, and much remains still unsaid, I cannot pass
without notice the death of the Rev. Samuel Marsden, so often
mcntionedas the wise and zealous friend of New Zealand, and the
father and originator of the mission that now began to bear
much fruit to the glory of God. He had deeply at heart the
spread of his master's kingdom in the islands of the Pacific ;
for a period of forty-five years he held the arduous position of
chaplain of New South Wales ; and, during the last twenty-five
of them, he watched with parental tenderness and anxiety over
the spiritual destinies of New Zealand. He visited the island
five times during that period; the account of his last visit in 1836 two years before he was called to his rest and his reward,
is, deeply interesting and touching in the extreme. (Herethe rev.
gentleman gentleman read some extracts, for which, we regret, we cannot