THE HISTORY OF METHODISM . IN . NEW ZEALAND 1362 BY THE REV. WILLIAM MORLEY, D.D., Connexional Secretary of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in WELLINGTON: MCKEE & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1900. T" HE facts contained in this History have been the accumulation of many years. When I arrived in the Colony, most of the early Missionaries were still living. I have also had the opportunity of reading the early Methodist Magazines, which, for the first twenty-five years of the Mission, contain full reports and letters. From these, and the personal recitals of the Missionaries I have known, the narratives and incidents given in connection with the Maori Mission have been selected. In 1881, the late Rev. T. Buddle and myself were appointed by the General Conference to collect information respecting the History of the Church in New Zealand. On Mr. Buddle's decease, the Rev. R. Bavin took his place, and when Mr. Bavin was removed to Sydney, the Rev. H. Bull was appointed. In reply to circulars sent to all the Ministers and English Circuits by this Committee in 1886, many interesting items were obtained and noted, and various letters, documents, and extracts from official records furnished. These have been freely placed at my disposal. On arrangements being made for the publication of this volume, I again appealed to Ministers and Office-bearers for further data. To this there was a very generous response, and from all parts of the Colony I have received contributions. Having also resided in each of the four chief cities, I became acquainted with many of the early Church Members, and examined the early Minute Books. During the past twenty-five years I have been called upon frequently to travel through the whole Colony, and thus obtained a personal knowledge of almost every congregation. The Rev. H. Bull, who has a large store of memoranda most methodically arranged, has rendered specially valuable assistance. The task of collating the different documents and letters, particularly those relating to early days, has been arduous, but the greatest care has been taken to secure accuracy. For the illustrations in the Maori Section, I am indebted to the excellent photographs of Messrs. J. Martin, Auckland; Wheeler & Son, Christchurch; Burton Bros., Dunedin; and some others. I am also under special obligation to Mr. C. Ewen, Wellington, for permission freely given to copy Engravings and Paintings from those scarce books " Angas's New Zealanders" and "Wakefield's History." A few engravings were also supplied by the Wesleyan Mission House, London. The views of European Churches, and portraits of past and present Office-bearers and Members, have been obtained by the ready co-operation of my ministerial brethren and hosts of friends. To one and all I tender my hearty acknowledgements. CHRISTCHURCH, 2ND AUGUST, 1900. WM. MORLEY. |