George Brown: In his own words (Auckland)

The Rev. T. and Mrs Buddle
Photos courtesy of the National Library of Australia.

We landed in Auckland, and, after making inquiries, a young companion of mine and I started for Onehunga, where I was told my uncle and aunt, the Rev. T. and Mrs. Buddle, were living. I well remember one incident of that walk. When I was leaving England, my father begged of me to give up the bad habit of smoking, which I had contracted at sea. I said then that I was afraid to promise to do so on the voyage, but that I would do my best if spared to reach New Zealand. On our way I found that I had neglected to bring tobacco, etc., on shore. I purchased some as we were going up the street, and smoked as we went along. When about half-way to Onehunga I was going to smoke again, but just then I remembered the promise I had given my father, and I threw pipe and tobacco over the hedge, and decided at once to give it up.

I had a kind and loving welcome from all at the Parsonage, and it would be simply impossible for me to state all that I owe to the good man and his loving wife who took such an interest as they did in the friendless lad from the old home. I soon found a situation in town, but the home at Onehunga was always my home. Every holiday was spent there, and invariably I stayed there from Saturday till Monday each week. The influence of that Christian home caused me to feel that there was something wanting in my life, and, under God, I attribute my conversion to the good impressions received there. I was not preached to except by the powerful influence of Christly lives. Day by day I realised more and more that there were higher things than I had dreamed of, that the life I had lived was very far from that which I ought to live. I realised with a great sorrow the imperfections and sinfulness of my life. Every week I experienced the power of sermons which were never spoken or preached at me. In a short time I felt constrained to meet in class. My first class-leader was the late Rev. J. H. Fletcher, afterwards Principal of Newington College, Stanmore, but then Principal and Headmaster of Wesley College, Auckland. I have never forgotten some of our meetings in that old college. The class was composed principally of young men, and I have never met with any man better qualified to deal with young men than my old leader, whose memory I revere and love. It is a great pleasure now, in the latter years of my life, to think of those days in Auckland ; and I often wonder how it is that the Church-life of to-day seems so different to what it was then. I well remember some years ago, in Sydney, hearing Mr. Fletcher say that he had never known such prayer-meetings and such week-night meetings as were held in the old High Street Church in Auckland. We young men never dreamed of staying away from the Monday prayer-meeting, and the large schoolroom at the back of the church was always well filled with an earnest and devout congregation. Often, too, the congregation at the week-night service was almost as large as that which gathered in the big church on the Sunday. The names of the Revs. R. B. Lyth, John Whiteley, J. H. Fletcher, Alexander Reid, and Isaac Harding are always associated in my mind with those services, which I so valued and loved.

George Brown: In his own words

The Early Years and The Call

The Early Years
and The Call