CHAPTER II. SAMUEL LEIGH.
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CHAPTER II.
SAMUEL LEIGH.
TWENTY-ONE years after Mr. Marsden landed in Sydney, he accorded a hearty welcome to the Rev. Samuel Leigh, the first Methodist missionary sent to the Antipodes. The biographer of the venerable chaplain (his son, the present Bishop Marsden,) speaks of him (Mr. Leigh), in reference to New Zealand, in these terms:--
"The Rev. Samuel Leigh, a man whose history and natural character bore a marked resemblance to those of Mr. Marsden, was the pioneer of Methodism, and proved himself a worthy herald of the cross, amongst the New Zealanders. A warm friendship existed between them. On his passage homeward, he was a guest at Paramatta; and no tinge of jealousy ever appears to have shaded their intercourse, each rejoicing in the triumphs of the other."
Mr. Leigh arrived in the colony on the 10th of August, 1815. He was a native of Milton, in Staffordshire. In his youth he joined the Congregationalists, and for some time was with Dr. Bogue, of Gosport, for a course of theological study. But as his doctrinal views took a form in harmony with those of the Methodists, he felt it his duty to offer his services to that Church. After two years' preparation, he was ordained in 1814, and appointed to New South Wales.
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He had a voyage of five months in the Hebe. Paramatta was then the second town of importance. The only church was that of Marsden. By him Mr. Leigh was received with great cordiality; but all were not like minded.
In the town of Liverpool, there was a clergyman who, outwardly friendly with Mr. Leigh, was offended because, when he came thither, the public bell was rung to call the people to his service. This clergyman complained to the senior chaplain. He had him and Mr. Leigh face to face. When the whole affair was explained, a well-merited reproof was given to the complainant; for it was he, as the chaplain said, who had entered within Mr. Leigh's labours.
At Newcastle, the Government built a church for the benefit of the convicts. There was no resident minister, and Mr. Leigh was asked to supply it as often as he could. When the large-hearted Marsden heard that the Methodists intended to build a church in the town of Windsor, where he had some property, he at once wrote to Mr. Leigh, saying he would give land enough for both a church and a parsonage. The letter did great credit to his mind and heart. "You may rely," he said, "upon my continued support and co-operation, in all your laudable attempts to benefit the inhabitants of this populous colony."
In like manner, when Dr. Lang was building the first Presbyterian church in Sydney, and could not proceed for want of funds, the generous chaplain offered to advance all that was necessary, as a loan without interest, and found the sum of £500 for the completion of the building.
Can we wonder that when this liberal-minded clergy-
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man died, and his funeral sermon was to be preached at Paramatta, a notice was read in the Wesleyan church; "Next Sunday morning we intend to close this place of worship, and, as a mark of respect to the memory of our late venerable friend, go to the English church to hear his funeral sermon."
With the manly spirit of Marsden, Leigh had the strongest sympathy, and they were fellow-helpers. The latter showing signs of failing health, his friend urged him to try the effect of a sea-voyage, and offered him a free passage in a vessel he was sending to New Zealand.
While he was considering this thing, the Rev. Walter Lawry arrived from England. That was in May, 1818. Being thus relieved, Leigh felt himself free to accept the kind offer. Mr. Marsden asked him to inquire into the plans of the missionaries, and to favour them with his counsels. By them he was most hospitably received, and had frank and profitable conversations about their "work of faith and labour of love."
No impression, in favour of Christianity, had yet been made on the Maori mind. During a stay of nine months, Mr. Leigh saw much of the appalling degradation of the people, and "his spirit was stirred in him." He returned to Sydney with improved health.
In 1820 he visited England. After repeated appeals, he persuaded the Wesleyan Missionary Society to open a mission in New Zealand. With this object before them, Mr. and Mrs. Leigh sailed for Sydney, on April 28th, 1821, and in the month of February of the next year they landed at the Bay of Islands. The Episcopalian missionaries hailed them joyfully as fellow-labourers, and did all they could to promote their design. Before
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leaving Sydney, Mr. Marsden had made Leigh a present of two fine asses, and sent them on to New Zealand: after landing, he inquired for them, and was told that they had been seized and carried off by the Maories, for having trespassed on their wahi-tapu (sacred ground). They took them to be large pigs. Late in the evening they were brought back in good condition.
Acting on the advice of Marsden, it was Leigh's intention to form a station at Mercury Bay; but this was prevented by Hongi's action. "I will," he said, "sweep that people from off the earth." He therefore turned his attention towards the north. He hired a boat, and five Maories, to go on a tour of observation. Overtaken by a storm, they found refuge in the Wangaroa harbour. It was here that the Boyd massacre took place. But before he would decide on a site, he paid a visit to the Oruru valley, inland.
The Rev. Mr. Butler went with him, Mrs. Leigh staying with his family. They were well received: "the barbarous people showed them no little kindness." He went also to Wangarei, to the south, where thousands of natives had perished by war within three years. After much thought, and earnest prayer, and friendly counsel with Messrs. Butler, Hall, and Shepherd, it was decided to renew the visit to Wangaroa, where an eligible piece of land was secured. This was done on June 10th, 1823. The next day saw the erection of a rude building, under the direction of Messrs. Butler and Leigh. On the Sunday, a war-canoe arrived, laden with slaves, one of whom was killed, roasted, and eaten in the village.
It was in the romantic valley of Kaeo that the first Methodist station was planted in New Zealand: it was
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named "Wesley Dale." Just before this time, Mr. Leigh found a valuable colleague in Mr. Stack. Some years afterwards, he (Mr. Stack) transferred his services to the Episcopalian mission, and now, at the ripe age of seventy-eight, he is abundant in vigorous labours among the navvies in Portsmouth, where he resides.
Soon afterwards, the mission staff was increased by the arrival of Mr. White. Mr. and Mrs. Leigh lived little more than a year in this beautiful spot, when the state of Mr. Leigh's health required for him medical advice. Accordingly, they embarked for Sydney, in the Dragon, with Mr. Marsden, their unfailing friend, who had visited them at Wangaroa on the 14th of November, 1823. Mrs. Leigh died in Sydney in 1831, whereupon her bereaved husband returned to England, and ended his course there in 1852.
Mr. and Mrs. Leigh were not long enough in New Zealand to acquire more than a very slight knowledge of the language; but they had to endure some of the experience incident to life among such a savage, warlike, and haughty people. One of their keenest trials arose from the firm refusal of the missionaries to supply the natives with arms, or powder, in exchange for food supplies. They would offer as many as a hundred baskets of potatoes for one musket, and doggedly refuse to sell for anything else.
The thievish habits of the people taxed their forbearance. Every now and then, a fighting party would arrive, and place them in peril. One of the missionaries wrote: "Since Hongi's return, the natives, one and all, have treated us with contempt. They are almost past bearing, coming into our houses when they please, demanding food, thieving whatever they can
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lay hands on, breaking down our garden fences, stripping the ship's boats of everything they can. They seem, in fact, ripe for any mischief. Had Mr. Marsden himself been amongst us, much as he has their esteem, I believe he would not have escaped without insult; but the Lord is 'a very present help in time of trouble.'"
It may with truth be said, that in those days, all who engaged in that work, exposed themselves to perils among the heathen." It is to their self-denying labours, and patient endurance, we owe, under God, the later prosperity which has crowned that distant field. And they, "after they had served their own generation, by the will of God, fell on sleep."
