1872 - Turner, J. G. The Pioneer Missionary - CHAPTER II. EARLY METHODISM IN THE COLONY, p 12-30

       
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  1872 - Turner, J. G. The Pioneer Missionary - CHAPTER II. EARLY METHODISM IN THE COLONY, p 12-30
 
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CHAPTER II. EARLY METHODISM IN THE COLONY.

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CHAPTER II.

EARLY METHODISM IN THE COLONY.

IN March, 1787, eleven vessels, under command of Captain Arthur Phillip, R. N., left Old England for New South Wales, with five hundred and sixty-five male and one hundred and ninety-two female prisoners, and a proportionate military guard. After a tedious voyage of eight months, relieved by calls at Madeira and the Cape, they anchored in Botany Bay. Anticipations formed from Captain Cook's report of the place were not realized, and the ships' boats were employed in coasting northward, in search of a better harbour and more promising country. Quite unexpectedly they found Port Jackson, which had been descried from Cook's vessel, and described as a "boat harbour," to be a spacious and inviting one; and on January 26th, 1788, the expedition by "the First Fleet" landed from Sydney Cove. The wood resounded with the echoes of the axe, and in a few hours a camp of tents and huts replaced the trees which had skirted the lovely crescent bay. Governor Phillip's colony numbered one thousand and thirty persons. The circumstances were new and eventful to all.

The next Sydney-bound vessel from England was "The Guardian:" she was wrecked at the Cape. Complicated difficulties at Port Jackson, and fears of starvation, from want of supplies, induced the Governor to relieve the community by sending some of the prisoners to Norfolk Island. The "Sirius," which conveyed them, was

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wrecked on its rough coast. A second fleet arrived with stores from the Cape in 1790. After Phillip's day, the government was administered successively by Hunter, Bligh, and Macquarie. The rule of the last-named Governor, from 1809 to 1821, was marked by the improvement of the community, considerable exploration, and much progress in public works.

Fifteen years after the occupation of New South Wales the penal population numbered some six or seven thousands; but the harvests were so redundant, and no market for the surplus available, that the convicts became a burden on the hands of the Government, and relief was a second time sought by expatriation. It was with this intent that Van Diemen's Land was selected; and in August, 1803, it became the exile home of the worst of the Botany Bay community. Its founders debarked at Risdon, on the eastern bank of the Derwent, from the ship "Lady Nelson," Lieutenant Boner Commander, and Dr. Mountserrat surgeon. They were in all but a few prisoners and soldiers, and were soon unexpectedly joined by a large number from England, under Colonel Collins. It occurred on this wise.

The result of the British policy had led to the content plated founding of a new penal colony in the south of the continent, and Colonel Collins sailed in charge of the expedition. He was not more fortunate than his pioneer predecessor, Phillip, in the place chosen for his debarkation, --Port Phillip, --and became so disgusted with his first difficulties as to recommend the abandonment of the place. The expeditions were removed to Van Diemen's Land, where, in due time, they established themselves at Hobart Town and Launceston. They were conveyed from Port Phillip in "The Lady Nelson" and "The Ocean," and arrived in two parties, on January 30th, and February 16th, 1804. The ships' companies comprised Lieutenant-

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Governor Collins, Rev. Robert Knopwood, chaplain, several other gentlemen holding commissions in the enterprise, a competent marine guard, and three hundred and sixty-seven male prisoners. In October, 1804, the "Lady Nelson" having meanwhile surveyed the entrance to the Tamar, a small number of prisoners were sent round under Colonel Paterson to found a settlement in the north. For some time they held little intercourse with their neighbours on the south of the island.

Soon after this, on the recommendation of Governor King, the penal station at Norfolk Island was abandoned, and many of its families were removed to Van Diemen's Land, where as grantees they originated the settlement of New Norfolk in the south, and Norfolk Plains in the north. The second Governor of Van Diemen's Land, Colonel Davey, arrived in February, 1813. He was succeeded in April, 1817, by William Sorrell, Esq., Governor Macquarie, of New South Wales, being then in the ninth year of his administration.

It would serve no good purpose to dwell upon the moral darkness and social disorder of the early days of British settlement in these parts. Through a long, distressful night of iniquity, a watchman here and there waited for the morning, and when at length a few faint grey streaks struggled into the mournful gloom, they came but to reveal its density. Several administrations had passed away, and governmental systems changed, before the bonds of iniquity, whether self-imposed or ordered by home authority, relaxed. Society of all classes was knee-deep in oppression, dishonesty, and shameless vice. The habits of the military officers discouraged moral reform. The first Colonial Chaplain, the Rev. Mr. Johnson, of Sydney, had much opposition. In 1803 the priest of a Spanish vessel, visiting Port Jackson, was surprised on finding that no church had been provided, and that the clergyman

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sought some shady spot in the open air, for his public ministrations. For four years Mr. Johnson vainly waited for official help, and then, at his own cost, built a church of "wattle and dab," and roofed with thatch. The Governor now sought to enforce attendance upon public worship. The sentiments of the prisoners, as to this improvement, were read in the flames which reduced the church to ashes. His Excellency, it is said, threatened to punish them by employing them on Sundays in erecting a stone church. That threat, however, if made, was not carried out, and a store which became available was fitted up for public worship. Before Mr. Johnson's removal to England, the Rev. Samuel Marsden 1 arrived, and settled at Parramatta. His earliest religious efforts do not appear to have been very successful. In 1808 he returned to

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England for a season, during which time the colony was without a clergyman. His representations, however, secured further appointments, and he was afterwards aided by the Revs. Messrs. Cartwright and Cowper.

In Van Diemen's Land religion was nominally represented by a gentleman, who, though he combined the magisterial with the clerical functions, was quite unable to cope with the abounding iniquity.

The time will come, within this century, when the Christian world will accord to Methodism no small honour, as the pioneer of advanced civilization in both hemispheres. The tone of Samuel Marsden's character and life purpose was doubtless received and matured under Methodist teaching; for in early days he was a member of the Methodist Society. Through life he practically honoured his parents' views of Methodism. It was at his request that Mr. Bowden, a teacher of the Great Queen Street charity schools, and highly respected for his personal qualities as well as for his piety in the London West Circuit, of which he was a member, went to New South Wales as a schoolmaster. He was joined by another Wesleyan, Mr. John Hosking, who was introduced to the chaplain by Joseph Butterworth, Esq., M. P. The value of their presence and piety is apparent from the following communication to the Wesleyan Mission House, forwarded by a zealous member of the society which they founded in Sydney, soon after their arrival. It was published in the January Missionary Notices for 1814, and is the earliest authentic account of Methodism in the southern world of which I have any knowledge:--


"SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, July 20th, 1812.

"On the 28th we got safely into this port, which is a most astonishingly beautiful, romantic, capacious, and commodious harbour, (sic,) of which I need say but little, several authors having done this better than I can do..... Of

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Methodists we have here in Society the following persons: in Sydney, Mr. John H., who leads a class in his own house, consisting of Mrs. H., Mrs. B., and Mrs. I., and three of the senior girls in the school. Mr. B. has also a class in his house, consisting of Mr. H., I. F., T. J., husband of the above, and a soldier or two of the 75th Regiment. Our meetings generally are very comfortable and profitable. At Windsor, we have a class under the care of Mr. E., consisting of six. Mr. E. is a pious, sensible young man, sent here from Ireland, where he was converted while under sentence of death for forgery. He was bred to the bar; and being of a humble, affectionate disposition, and zealous in the cause of God, I doubt not (especially could his reproach be wiped away) would make an useful man among us. He has been employed for some months past in teaching school, and he goes some miles into the country on Sunday, where he reads the Church Liturgy, and expounds or preaches to the settlers, several of whom are thankful for his labours. This is a very recent undertaking, only of a few weeks, so that we can speak but very little of its success.

"March 6th, 1812. --We held our first class meeting, and it has continued ever since.

"April 3rd. --Our friends at Windsor came down, and we held a lovefeast, which was a most blessed season. God was eminently present, and gave us such a meek, humble, simple, loving spirit, that the place was a little heaven; and each thought himself the most unworthy of so great a blessing. We had been consulting on the most effectual means of procuring the Gospel among us by means of itinerant preaching. We had justly concluded that, although we have a few worthy clergymen here, yet till we see more labourers going forth in the spirit of their work, with pure, disinterested principles, labouring only to win souls to Christ, we cannot reasonably hope that

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God will make bare His arm, and display His saving power.

"We therefore determined to address our Missionary Committee, and to solicit their aid in sending us some Ministers whom God has anointed for so great a work. Of such men we doubt not our native country has several, whose desire is only to spend and to be spent in the work of saving souls...... One of the most powerful arguments we can urge is, --here are thousands of souls perishing for lack of knowledge, both in high and low life. Iniquity exceedingly abounds; and in many cases the only difference between the one and the other is that which avarice or oppression has made...... The statement made will show that abundance of work might be found for one or two Missionaries; and could two be obtained it would be of very great advantage, as they could act in concert, strengthen each other's hands in God, and their work would be far pleasanter. As for their support I am allowed to state that could they be sent out to us with a good allowance of books, wearing apparel, furniture for a house apiece, we would be answerable for the rest. I am sure Mr. Marsden would be glad to see the different settlements provided, and especially if we proceed in the primitive way of Methodism, not in hostility against the Church, but rather in unison with it; not so much to make a party distinct from the Church, as to save souls in the Church. Of course, the preacher should not be radically a Dissenter; if possible, one attached to the Establishment, as Mr. Wesley, Dr. Clarke, and most of our primitive preachers were.

"I am, "&c


The official action of the society appears to "have been delayed for a short season, from some unexplained cause, as their communication, which is in harmony with that

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above given, did not reach the Mission House till March of 1814. From it ample extracts are made.


"To the Preachers and Members of the Committee of the Methodist Missionary Society.

"REVEREND FATHERS, --

"There are probably twenty thousand souls in this colony, natives of the British Isles, and their descendants. From the description of people sent hither, much good cannot be expected. The higher ranks of those who were formerly convicts, are, in general, either solely occupied in amassing wealth, or rioting in sensuality. The lower orders are indeed the filth and offscouring of the earth, in point of wickedness. Long accustomed to idleness and iniquity of every kind, here they indulge their vicious inclinations without a blush: drunkenness, adultery, Sabbath-breaking, and blasphemy, are no longer considered even as indecencies. All those ties of social order and feelings of decency which bind society together are not only relaxed, but almost extinct. This is the general character of the convicts, high and low; and, excepting the civil and military departments of the government, there is no other difference than that which wealth naturally creates, in the means it affords for the greater indulgence in vice.......

"The present Governor of the colony is a respectable man, mild, moral, and attentive to the forms of religion. He encourages every attempt to reclaim or improve the people....... We have here four chaplains, sent out from England, with handsome salaries....... With respect to them all, from their characters, we have full reason to conclude that they would approve of further exertions being made among us, provided these exertions did not imply an opposition to the Established Church. There are some Calvinist Dissenters, Missionaries that were some years since sent by the London

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Missionary Society to Otaheite and the South Sea Islands. Having been forced to leave the islands, they came to this colony, and many of them have settled here in trade and business.

"Blessed be God, notwithstanding the general depravity, there are a few endeavouring to escape the overflowing of iniquity, and to serve the Lord in simplicity and godly fear. We have formed two classes at Sydney, and one at Windsor. Our numbers now are nineteen in class, besides occasional attendants, and by God's blessing we look for an increase. At first there was only one family. There are numbers who, from some remains of former impressions, and many other causes, would join us heartily, if we were a settled people, and had a pious, upright man, to preach to and watch over us. Most of us have been but a short time in the country. We are, however, endeavouring to do as much as we can in the way of prayer-meetings, &c

"Thus circumstanced, and in such a country, your children begotten by you in Christ call upon you, reverend fathers, for help. Send us your aid. We doubt not that you will think of the offspring of your labours, your tears, and your prayers. Send a faithful servant of the Lord to us. Surely there are many willing, yea, desirous to succour the disciples of our common Lord, to proclaim His salvation to perishing sinners, even in this distant land. Find out one such, and send him among us. Deny us not: our hearts, our expectations, are turned to you. Our hope is from you: disappoint us not. We call upon you in our own behalf, leave us not in this benighted land. We call upon you in behalf of our children: let them not be left to perish for lack of instruction. We call upon you in behalf of those who have neither opportunity nor inclination to speak for themselves, --perishing, dying sinners: leave them not in their blood. We call upon you in the name of the outcasts

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of society, sent and daily sending hither: administer to them that word of life which may make their exile a blessing. Send us that Gospel which you have received from the Lord to preach to every creature. Send among us one of yourselves, and we and a seed to the Lord shall rise to bless you.

"You have now our state and circumstances laid before you, and are best judges of the qualifications necessary in the person you might be disposed to send out to us. Yet we would beg leave to suggest these necessary considerations: (i.) That he be a single man.......(2.) That he be legally qualified. A certificate obtained in the usual way in England will be in force here. (3.) That he be rendered perfectly independent, in all points, of us and everybody else, and a regular credit established for him to draw on as he may deem fit. This suggestion arises not from our unwillingness or inability to support a preacher; for, thanks to God, we are all able, and fully determined, and hereby pledge ourselves so to do. But, for other reasons, which we need not here specify, he should (4.) have a good supply of wearing apparel, house furniture, and particularly books.

"With a filial confidence on your pastoral love, we subscribe ourselves,

"Reverend and honoured fathers,
"Your children and servants in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, --
"Signed in the name and on behalf of the Society,
THOMAS BOWDEN, J. HOSKING, Leaders


Who that is acquainted with the results of that communication, can fail to mark in Methodism the gift of God's mind and heart to the Southern World?

That letter received prompt consideration by the Missionary Committee, and the Conference Station list, adopted three months later, included New South Wales in its Asia division. The record is, --

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"N. S. Wales--Two to be sent by the Committee."

In the same Station list, there is in the Nova Scotia and New Brunswick District this appointment:--

"27. Montreal--Samuel Leigh, if wanted."

In due time Mr. Leigh left his Staffordshire home for London, and for America. He was on the eve of sailing when the Secretaries received a letter from Montreal, requesting that at present no Missionary might be sent, as the country was in a very disturbed state. Whereupon half his passage money was recovered, and he was appointed to New South Wales. He sailed from Portsmouth in the "Hebe," on February the 28th, 1815, and reached Port Jackson on the 10th of August. His biographer tells of his having been much depressed the first day and night after his arrival, but of encouragement quickly following.

"It was regarded as a primary duty on the part of Mr. Leigh to pay his respects to His Excellency the Governor, present his credentials, and, if possible, obtain his official sanction. Accordingly, the next day, at eleven o'clock,, he called at Government House. After waiting some time, he was ushered into the presence of His Excellency by his aide-de-camp, and received with much formality."

His Excellency. --"Who sent you here, in the capacity of a Wesleyan Missionary?"

Mr. Leigh. --"The Committee of the Society, at the request of several British emigrants, and, as I understood, with the concurrence of His Majesty's Government."

His Excellency. --"I regret you have come here as a Missionary, and feel sorry that I cannot give you any encouragement in that capacity."

Mr. Leigh. --"The documents which I now present to your Excellency will show you that I am legally and duly authorized to preach the Gospel in any part of His Majesty's dominions."

His Excellency. --"You have come to a strange country.

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Those documents are of no value here. It is necessary we should be jealous and cautious; for a few years since we had a religious rebellion, aggravated by the bitter hostility of both Papists and Protestants. If you will take office under Government, I will find you a situation in which you may become rich, and one in which you will be much more comfortable than in going about preaching in such a colony as this."

Mr. Leigh. --"I thank your Excellency for your generous offer; but having come to New South Wales as a Wesleyan Missionary, I cannot act in any other capacity while I remain in the country." He then briefly stated the object of his Mission, and the means he intended to employ.

The Governor, who had listened with marked attention to his statement, observed: "If those be your objects, they are certainly of the first importance; and if you will endeavour to compass them by the means you have now specified, I cannot but wish you all the success you can reasonably wish or desire. Call at the Surveyor General's office; present my compliments, and say that I wish him to afford you every facility in his power in travelling from one township to another." At the close of the interview, his Excellency advanced towards Mr. Leigh, and shook hands with him in the most cordial manner.

The Wesleyans then resident in Sydney rented a house on The Rocks, one of the most densely peopled and Sodomlike neighbourhoods of the place. They removed the partition walls, and fitted up the building for worship. The Sabbath services, held at six in the morning and at six in the evening, were attended by a promiscuous crowd of soldiers, sailors, immigrants, and prisoners. A Sabbath school which had lately languished was revived, and regularly attended to by a few pious soldiers and some reformed convicts. This arrangement was not only useful in itself, but it secured Mr. Leigh's access to many houses

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of the scholars. A worthy soldier, Sergeant James Scott who had been converted in the West Indies, opened his house for week-evening services. He afterwards purchased some property in Prince's Street, part of which he sold to the Missionary Society. It is the site of the oldest church property in the Southern World now held by the Wesleyan Connexion, and its Trust Deed is the model deed of the Australasian Conference property.

The notice of Mr. Leigh's early visits to the country, -- "the interior," as it was then called, --gives many interesting details of the first services among the settlers on the Nepean and Hawkesbury, where Methodism has since witnessed many a blessed revival. His course of Mission labour is shown in the following extract from a letter to the Rev. Joseph Benson, eighteen months after his arrival in Sydney.

"In this distant and barren land, I have had the satisfaction of seeing six classes formed; the fourth class at a place fourteen miles from Sydney; the fifth, thirty-five miles; and the sixth, upwards of forty miles. And in some of them the people seldom meet without experiencing the power of God among them. Thanks be to God, there are some who are earnestly seeking the salvation of their souls; and others are willing to receive instruction. Several have set their hands to the Gospel plough, and have been added to the Society this week: may they never look back, but soon enjoy and live in the full assurance of faith."

The same communication notices the founding in Sydney of an Auxiliary Bible Society, under the auspices of His Excellency the Governor. From another source it appears that Mr. Leigh, in connexion with the aide-de-camp, was the first Australian collector for that noble institution.

For the sake of its historic interest I append the first notice of Van Diemen's Land submitted to our Committee as a suitable Mission field. It is from the last paragraph of the same letter.

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"I now beg leave to recommend to the notice of the Committee the present state of a settlement distant from this, though within the jurisdiction of this territory, a place called Van Diemen's Land, where there are two or three places of trade, one called Hobart Town, (which is the seat of Government there,) and the other Port Dalrymple (Launceston). I would earnestly request that some of our Missionaries should be authorized to visit each place, previous to any regular appointment being made."

About this time Mr. Leigh conducted service occasionally at fourteen different places, the chief in importance of which appear to have been Parramatta, Windsor, and Castlereagh. At the last named settlement, resided a worthy Methodist whose good deed ought not to be omitted by any chronicler of Church events in those times. John Lees, of Castlereagh, built at his own cost the first Wesleyan church in the Southern World. It was a substantial building of weather boards. It still stands, surrounded by numerous Methodist homes. It was filled with attentive hearers when dedicated to God on October 7th, 1817. Mr. Leigh's text was, "The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad." (Psalm cxxvi. 3.) It was a day of spiritual joy. The people were not willing to leave; so, in the evening Mr. Leigh conducted a prayer-meeting, at which they pleaded for the prosperity of God's cause especially in that place.

On the door of this church in the wilderness were painted the words "Methodist Chapel;" and below them, "Prepare to meet thy God." Mr. James Burns, for many years a successful class leader, was convinced of sin by reading that text.

During his first two years' residence in the colony, Mr Leigh appears to have taken as many as eight preaching tours through the settlements of the interior, his course comprising, in addition to the places named, Portland Head>

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Wilberforce, Richmond, Liverpool, and Camden. He also occasionally visited Newcastle, and preached to the prisoners.

His labours aroused persecution on the part of some godless friends of the Established Church. While on a visit to Windsor, the Governor invited a number of official personages to dine with him; --magistrates, military officers, and the Windsor Chaplain. The resident Magistrate inquired whether His Excellency knew that a Missionary was "going up and down in the several townships, collecting large bodies of people together, and persuading them to become Methodists." He stated that "unless some restraint were laid upon him, they would soon, in his opinion, become a colony of Methodists." The worthy Magistrate concluded by recommending, "that Missionary Leigh be sent to work in the chain-gang in the coal mines of Newcastle." "You had better," said another officer, "let Missionary Leigh remain where he is; and keep a vigilant eye upon him." Governor Macquarie's reply was worthy of his office: "Gentlemen," he said, "I am neither unacquainted with the person to whom you refer, nor with his proceedings. As I did not in the first instance approve of his mission, I have, I assure you, kept a vigilant eye upon him. I have now sufficient evidence that he is doing good everywhere." Then, turning to the Magistrate who preferred the complaint, His Excellency added, "Sir, when Mr. Leigh comes here again, I desire that you will call the servants of the Government into the store-room, that he may preach to them. Remember, I wish this to be regularly done in future."

As the Governor was returning from the country, Mr. Leigh met him. His Excellency stopped his carriage, and asked how he was getting on, and why he had not applied for land, that, like the clergy and others, he might improve his circumstances by breeding cattle and sheep. The

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Missionary thanked him, but respectfully intimated that he "had been sent to the land for purely spiritual objects." He then informed the Governor that though he could not accept of any gifts for his own use, he felt at liberty to avail himself of any offer that might be made of land, on which to build chapels or school-houses for the Society.

Once in three years there was a general muster of the colonists, when each one had to present a schedule of his landed property, houses, cattle, and grain. On looking over the Missionary's schedule the Governor remarked, "Mr. Leigh, have you nothing to return but your old horse? You seem to have neither cattle nor grain yet. Why, you will always be poor at this rate." About five hundred persons were present, including Magistrates, Clergymen, military officers, and wealthy settlers, who had assembled to pay their respects to His Excellency; and Mr. Leigh embraced the singular opportunity afforded him of explaining the regulations of the Missionary Committee, and the design of the Mission. 2

Success and the many open doors for usefulness induced Mr. Leigh to write to the Committee for more Missionaries; and on the 1st of May, 1818, the Rev. Walter Lawry arrived in Sydney. Upon his first Sabbath he preached with great power and acceptance. Of his pioneer he wrote:-- "He is everything I could wish in a colleague. In commencing this Mission he has not only been alone, like a sparrow upon the house top, but has endured calumny and opposition from those from whom he expected assistance. I need not dwell upon his wanderings in these forests without food, having no shelter by day nor bed by night. His patient soul endured all in quietness, and the effects of his labours will be seen after many days. By his exemplary conduct he has established himself in the good opinion of almost every one, from His Excellency the Governor to the

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fisherman at the stall. We are agreed to live upon two meals a day if we may have another Missionary and a printing press."

For nearly two years, reckoning the short interval of Mr. Leigh's visit to New Zealand, these brethren laboured zealously and successfully together, without further ministerial help. In September, 1818, the foundation stone of the Windsor chapel was laid, on a site generously given by the Rev. Samuel Marsden. On the 1st of January, 1819, Mr. Leigh laid the foundation stone of the Macquarie Street chapel in Sydney, the site having been the joint gift of His Excellency Governor Macquarie and Thomas Wylde, Esq., from adjoining parts of their separate properties. Meanwhile Sergeant Scott was erecting, at his own expense, a chapel in Princes Street. It cost him more than £500. It was opened one Sunday evening in March, 1819, by the Rev. Walter Lawry.

Early the next year Mr. Leigh, whose health had given way, went to England, with the approval of the New South Wales Church; and for some weeks Mr. Lawry was alone.

With 1820 begins the history of Methodism in Van Diemen's Land. The third Wesleyan Missionary sent to the South Seas was the Rev. Benjamin Carvosso, appointed to New South Wales. In May, 1820, his vessel touched at Hobart Town. The Rev. Mr. Knopwood introduced him to Governor Sorrell, who authorized his teaching. The man of God from Cornwall stood upon the street steps by a house doorway, his congregation being part within and part without. His text was appropriate to the times, and characteristic of the man, "Awake, thou that sleepest." During his two or three weeks' sojourn he preached to numerous congregations, visiting both Pittwater and New Norfolk, where, up to that time, no religious service had been held. Mr. Carvosso described the Van Diemen's Land people as being "kind, but dissolute." He

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heard of a religious settler in the country, and went fifteen miles to see him, but found him swearing.

Soon after this a detachment of the 58th Regiment were quartered in Hobart Town. Some of these soldiers had been converted in Sydney. They obtained a room for worship in Collins Street, where eight persons met on October 29th, 1820. Their leader was Corporal Waddy. They shortly removed their meetings to the house of Mr. Wallis. Here they met with some rude disturbances, which, however, were put down by the interference of the Governor. Their landlord soon tired of his lively tenants, and they had again to turn out. There was a workshop belonging to one Charles Donne, a carpenter, who had been a prisoner, but who had lived to acquire the confidence and respect of his neighbours. His proper name was Cranmer, and he was a descendant of the illustrious archbishop. After much entreaty he promised to arrange the place for worship. His wife, who was a vigorous Romanist, violently refused her consent. But that night, in the midst of a dreadful storm, which rocked the house, she started up in terror, and exclaimed, "The Methodists shall have the room!" Those who flocked to the services of the soldiers and their pious civilian friends, could not find room within the building: they therefore had it enlarged.

Some few months later the Rev. Ralph Mansfield, the fourth Wesleyan Missionary appointed to the South Seas, called at Van Diemen's Land, on his way to his station, New South Wales. Like Mr. Carvosso, he heartily embraced the opportunities offered during his two or three weeks' stay, and engaged in the delightful work on which his heart was set. On May 13th, 1821, the first Sunday-school was established by the Methodist Church, as yet without a Minister.

In 1820, about fifty years ago, the Wesleyan-Methodist Church was represented in this hemisphere by three Mis-

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sionaries, the Revs. Walter Lawry, Benjamin Carvosso, and Ralph Mansfield, all of New South Wales.

Early in 1821 a reinforcement arrived, in company with the Rev. Samuel Leigh, who had been appointed by the British Conference General Superintendent of the Mission to New Zealand and the Friendly Islands. They were the Revs. William Walker and William Horton, both for New South Wales, --the former to found a Mission among the aborigines. They touched at Hobart Town, where the claims of the Society and the openings for usefulness so impressed them, that although they were not able to seek official sanction, it was agreed that Mr. Horton 3 should remain in Van Diemen's Land.

1   The Rev. Samuel Marsden was the son of a tradesman in the village of Horsforth, near Leeds, where he was born on the 28th of July, 1764. Both his parents were of repute as upright and pious. They are known to have been favourable towards the Wesleyan Methodists of their day. In his boyhood he was placed at the grammar school at Hull, of which Dr. Joseph Milner was the head master. Thence he went into his father's business, but his mind was not in it. He was a member of the Methodist Church, and zealous in the service of Christ. The Elland Society opened his way to Cambridge, where he studied in St. John's College. Before he had completed his studies he was offered, it is supposed through the influence of Mr. Wilberforce, the appointment of "Chaplain in His Majesty's territory of New South Wales." At first he declined the offer, --it would seem, from motives of diffidence. His objections, however, were overruled, and he received his commission under date January 1st, 1793. He married Miss Elizabeth Ristan, and voyaged to Sydney. His course in New South Wales was one of high public spirit, guided by piety and benevolence. His varied difficulties and labours in the interest of the aborigines and of prisoners are matters of history, as also his deep and practical interest in the welfare of the New Zealand race. He voyaged to England once, and to New Zealand seven times. He died on the 12th of May, 1838, at Parramatta.
2   Strachan's Life of the Rev. S. Leigh.
3   The Rev. William Horton was born in Louth, and at twenty-one years of age was received into the ministry of the Wesleyan Church. For eight years he laboured in Van Diemen's Land and New South Wales, and for twenty-two years afterwards in England. In 1852 his health failed, and he became a Supernumerary. On the 18th of June, 1867, he was seized with apoplexy, and suddenly called to his reward.

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