PATTESON THE MARTYR

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 252, 23 September 1929, Page 2

PATTESON THE MARTYR

NOBLE-MINDED BISHOP. Fifty-eight years ago on Friday the noble-minded Bishop of Melanesia, John Patteson,’ suffered martyrdom. He was treacherously clubbed to death at Nukapu. Santa Cruz, in the Solomon Islands. If ever there was a saintly man (says the Auckland Star) it was Patteson, and tho sweet memory he left behind him is still a power for good. The son of an English judge, he was born in 1827, and when a boy at Eton he listened to a sermon by Bishop Selwyn, which turned his thoughts to the mission field. He had a wonderful gift for languages, being able to learn with ease what would cause men not so gifted tho greatest study and work. This gift stood him in_good stead in the chosen work.

_ Like Selwyn, he was a man of the simplest tastes, and in the voyages among the islands took his full share of the routine work and shared all the privations of his fellow workers. After serving six years as a missionary he was. in 1861, consecrated Bishop of Melanesia in the old St. Paul’s that stood on what is now Emily Place. For nine years he devoted his energies to the work of his scattered diocese and not only gave the best that was in him but spent his considerable private means upon it. A man without fear, lie went among the natives quite unarmed, and his diocese included some of the most savage tribes in the Pacific. In the end he fell a victim to his own trustful nature. On September 20, 1871, the Southern Cross was off Nukapu and tho Bishop went ashore in a boat, accompanied by . Mr Atkin and four natives. They were met outside the reef by several canoed, and the Bishop consented to land in one of them, having always found that by entering their craft he quickly disarmed suspicion. The boat’s crew saw the Bishop land on the beach,' and there lost sight of him.

The boat had been about half an hour drifting about outside the reef in company with several canoes, when suddenly the islanders made a sudden attack, throwing arrows at Mr Atkin and his boys. The boat quickly pulled out, but not before three of the crew were hit. One man had his cap nailed to his head by an arrow, Mr Atkin got one in his left shoulder, and a native named Stephen Taroniara was lying in the bottom of the boat “trussed up” with six arrows in chest and shoulders. They pulled back to the Southern Cross to report what had happened and have Stephen attended to, and then the boat put off again to find the Bishop. As the boat approached the shore two canoes were seen coming off, one being towed. One cast off the other and then went back. The canoe that was cast off had a pile of something laid in it. The “something” proved to be the dead body of the Bishop. There were five wounds in it, and across the chest was a palm leaf with five knots tied in tho leaflets. The Bishop was buried at sea, the service being read by Mr Atkin. Mr Atkin himself, and the native Stephen, suffered fearful agony from tho wounds caused by the poisoned arrows before they passed away. Naturally a profound sensation was caused in Auckland when the Southern Cross returned ; the Bishop was so loved, and Mr Atkin and family were so well known. Miss Mary Atkin, sister of Mr Atkin, is still living down at the old home at Kohimarama. She has been a wonderful friend to the Church and the mission, and is one of the few remaining links with the memory of the great Bishop. The reason for Patteson’s murder is somewhat obscure. It was afterwards said that it was in revenge for the murder or kidnapping of five natives by traders, and colour was lent to this storv by the five mysterious knots tied in the "leaflets of the palm leaf which was laid on his body when it was placed in the canoe. There are a number of memorials to Patteson. The finest, of course, is the chapel at Norfolk Island. The outside is far from pleasing, as the English architect thought the island*was visited by hurricanes and planned accordingly ; but inside it is beautiful. There is a lovely pulpit erected to his memory in Exeter Cathedral. In New Zealand,' there are minor memorials in various churches. In the historic little chapel at St. John’s College, Tamaki, there are two excellent stained-glass windows, and part of the college is called the “Patteson Wing.” There is also in Auckland a Patteson Street. One of the most interesting memorials of Patteson in Auckland is the collection of personal relics to be found in the Melanesian Mission Museum, in the old mission buildings at Kohimarama, where ho spent a number of years before moving to Norfolk Island. Included in the collection is the log of the Southern Cross for the voyage on which the Bishop was murdered.