Chapter III
(page 16)
"Where'er we
dwell, we dwell with Thee"
IPSWICH
'Forty years ago
the passage from London to Sydney differed widely
in every respect from what it is at the present
time, when the beautiful and commodious steamers
so constantly starting from either port arrive at
their destination at the end of five or six weeks.
The good ship Nile was four months at sea,
and the passage was on the whole a pleasant one.
Very stormy weather was experiences off Cape
Finisterre, and afterwards gales were occasionally
encountered. ON the first Sabbath at sea, October
9th, the vessel touched the Goodwin Sands, off the
coast of Kent; and thus the passengers were
exposed to the perils of the deep while still in
sight of home. But they were mercifully preserved
from harm. Some weeks after this, a ship, the Rose
Ellis, passed so nearly across the course of the
Nile as narrowly to avoid a collision; but
she went on her way, and again the threatened
danger was over. One death occurred on board, that
of a little girl, and on Mr. Griffith devolved the
sad task of committing her body to the deep. He
had previously done all he could to relieve her
sufferings, by the aid of his early knowledge of
medicine. On every Sabbath Day, weather
permitting, the passengers and part of the crew
assembled for worship, Mr. Griffith reading the
church of England Service, and afterwards saying a
few earnest words.
Both Christmas and
New Year's Day came on Sunday this year
A journal kept
during this voyage gives a full and interesting
account of its various incidents and experiences.
The long journey
ended on February 6th, 1854, and a very kind
reception was given to the travellers on their
arrival in Sydney. Mr. and Mrs. Griffiths became
the guests of Mr. David Jones and other kind
friends entertained the different members of their
family. Three weeks were happily spent in Sydney.
Mr. Griffith preached each Sabbath at the
different Congregational Churches, and, had it not
been for his engagement to proceed to Ipswich, he
would probably have been detained for a while at
least to supply the pulpit at Pitt Street, left
unexpectedly vacant by the sudden illness of Dr.
Ross, its esteemed pastor. But the hand of God was
very plainly directing his footsteps, and after an
uncomfortable voyage of five days in a small and
crowded steamer, The city of Melbourne, the family
arrived at Brisbane.
There in those
early days the only lodgings to be found were most
uninviting, but this necessary evil had to be
endured, and at last they were able to continue
their journey to Ipswich in the very diminutive
and remarkably slow steamer, the Hawk, well
remembered by the early settlers on the banks of
the Brisbane and Bremer. The other steamer, the
Swallow, which plied alternately with the Hawk,
had unfortunately been wrecked in the river a few
days before, causing much inconvenience at a time
when travelling was under the best of
circumstances difficult and slow. At last, after a
day's journey through beautiful scenery, with the
serious drawback of intense heat, Ipswich was
reached, and the travellers were welcomed by Mr.
H.M. Reeve, one of the members of the church to
which Mr. Griffith had come to minister. They were
accommodated at an inn for the night, and the
amount of the bill for expenses the next morning
opened the eyes of the new arrivals as to colonial
prices.
There was a great
deal of romance attached to the experiences of
those early days in the colony. The first house
which the family occupied was at a little distance
from town - then quite in the bush - and the only
means of conveyance was by a bullock dray, which
also contained the household goods, and
provisions, and the slow though short trip was
taken in the heat of a summer day. Insect life
abounded, and a snake was very soon seen in the
house, to the terror of the ladies and children.
The aboriginal inhabitants, too, were very
numerous in the neighbourhood, which increased
their fears. Then it was very difficult to obtain
help of any kind, and Mr. Griffith and his sons
became for a time 'hewers of wood and drawers of
water" The kindness, however, of one good
neighbor, and the real practical sympathy shown by
her, was always gratefully remembered. But in a
few weeks a more convenient house was found in the
town, to which the family gladly removed, and then
their colonial life fairly began.
The United
congregational Church in Ipswich so-called from
its consisting of an union between Baptists and
Congregationalists, met in a small room in
Nicholas Street, and was presided over by the Rev.
Thomas Deacon; but Mr. Griffith received a welcome
from the good old man, who felt that owing to his
increasing age he must resign his post, and the
congregation, though few in number, were united in
spirit and looking forward hopefully to
undertaking greater things for God. A plot of
ground, on which the present church is built, had
already been secured, tenders were advertised for,
a grant of 400 received from the Congregational
Church Building Society of New South Wales, and a
neat Wooden Church was built which is still in
existence as a schoolroom
Although much
interest attaches itself to the fact of being, as
Mr. Griffith was reminded, "at the beginning of
things" still there are many heart sinkings and
discouragements for the pioneer who finds himself
cut off from the brotherly communion enjoyed in
the old land, and who needs more closely than ever
to cling to the unseen arm of Him who "sticketh
closer than a brother" These words formed the text
of the first sermon preached in Ipswich.
The first
congregational Church in the district of Moreton
Bay was opened free from debt on March 11th 1855,
just a year after the minister's arrival; the Rev.
Dr. Nelson, Presbyterian minister, preaching in
the morning, the pastor in the evening.
During the month of
September 1855, Mr. Griffith was invited to Sydney
to supply the still vacant pulpit of Pitt Street,
the Rev. S.C. Kent, of Newtown, exchanging with
him. This pleasant trip was much enjoyed. Maitland
was visited on behalf of the Congregational
Mission, and five weeks were spent profitably; for
in whatever situation this zealous servant of god
found himself he always determined to make "full
proof of his minister". In the winter of the next
year, 1856, the Congregational Missionary Society
of NSW proposed that Rev. J. T. Waraker of West
Maitland, and Mr. Griffiths, should exchange
spheres of labour. This plan was carried out, and
after taking leave of the many true and sincere
friends who had been associated with them in this,
their first home in the colonies, Mr. and Mrs.
Griffith with their six children, and still
accompanied by their kind and unselfish sister,
started for Maitland, meeting Mr. Waraker and his
family in Brisbane on their way to Ipswich. Here,
during the few days of waiting for the southward
bound steamer, the family were very hospitably
entertained y different kind friends.
Chapter IV
(page 21)
"Take my
intellect and use Every power as Thou dost choose"
MAITLAND
Arrived at Maitland
after a short sojourn with hospitable friends in
Sydney, Mr. Griffith found a small congregation
meeting in a rather dilapidated place of worship,
as the new church, a substantial brick structure,
was in an unfinished state. But before long the
work was re-commenced, and by the end of the
following year - in December, 1857 - the building
was completed.
During the winter
of that year the town was visited by three
disastrous floods, which followed in quick
succession in the months of June, July, and
August. Those who are acquainted with the Hunter
River district are aware how rapidly the water
rises, and to what an extent it spreads itself
over the surrounding country, covering miles of
land when at its height, and, after
receding, leaving every thing covered with a
deposit of thick soft mud. The first flood took
the family by surprise, unaware as they had been
of the near approach of the danger. The father
hurriedly took his little ones from their beds,
and carrying them in his arms waded through the
fast rising water to the house of a neighbour,
which fortunately remained above flood mark until
the morning, being on a slight elevation. Boats
soon conveyed them to the higher parts of the
town, where they were kindly received and
entertained by true friends in need, until able to
return to their home after some days. The part of
the town where they then lived was called the
Horse shoe Ben, pleasantly situated near the banks
of the river, but too near, as they were proving,
to be a convenient or safe residence; for when the
second flood came, six weeks after the first, Mr.
Griffith was in great danger. Having placed his
family in safety he returned to lock up the house,
and after doing so, before he had time to leave
the garden, being overcome by fatigue and
excitement, he fell in a swoon, and lay for two
hours unconscious, until aroused by the shout of a
passer by, just as the rapidly rising water was
creeping around him. His escape was providential
indeed, and seemed almost miraculous. After this,
Mr. and Mrs. Griffith removed to a small house -
the only one to be obtained at the time - above
the reach even of the third flood, which quickly
followed and was higher than the two preceding
ones.
About this time
occurred the terrible wreck of the Dunbar, just
outside Sydney Harbour. Mistaking the entrance,
she was dashed upon the rocks, and only one man
escaped to tell the tale. The consternation and
excitement caused by this sad catastrophe will
long be remembered.
In October of this
year the loving parents were called upon to mourn
the loss of an infant boy. aged four months. A
little brother had died the previous year - also
in the month of October, at a time when there was
a succession of illness in the family, so that
life in Maitland commenced with trial and loss;
but, while feeling deeply the removal of their
little ones, the fond parents were enabled to say
from their hearts - " It is well with the
children" and to realise that they were spared
from all the trials of this life, "Safe in
their Savior's arms"
When the discomfort
occasioned by the floods had passed away, and the
ordinary occupations of life had again been
resumed, the work of completing the church was
accomplished; and, it was opened in the beginning
of the following year, 1858, but, unfortunately,
not free from debt.
Mr. Griffith found
Maitland an important centre for many kinds of
usefulness, and resolved with the Divine help not
only to do the work both of a pastor and an
evangelist, but of a good citizen also, and to
seek "the good of the city where the Lord had
called him to dwell'
Of his usefulness
to the souls of the people under his charge much
cheering testimony has been given, and one of
those who joined the church during his pastorate
wrote in after years to the family then mourning
his loss to refer with much affection to the time
when, through his instrumentality, she was led to
decide for Christ.
He was essentially
a public spirited man, and threw his whole
energies into the different kinds of work in which
he felt called upon to take part. The
Maitland Hospital found him a useful member of
committee, and he became secretary of the School
of Arts and of the British and Foreign bible
Society. With the latter noble society he
continued to be identified until the end of his
life, and ever felt the warmest interest in its
welfare.
While in this town
his tow sons attended the High School, then
presided over by the Rev. William McIntyre, from
which the future Premier of Queensland (Sir
Samuel Griffith) proceeded to the Sydney
University.
When the Rev.
Thomas Binney visited Australia, he made a short
stay in Maitland, and, as was usual when he
preached, a very large congregation assembled to
hear him in the congregational Church
In August, 1860,
Mr. Griffith received two calls - one from
Murrurundi in NSW the other from Brisbane, now the
capital of the new Colony of Queensland. These he
prayerfully considered, and at length was led to
decide that it was his duty to go to Brisbane,
from which place he had received an unanimous
invitation. The Rev. George Wight, the first
minister, was intending, after a short but happy
pastorate, to return to the old country. A new
place of worship had just been built and the
prospects of the Church were encouraging. On the
other hand, the Rev. R. T. Hills from Victoria,
was seeking a new sphere of labour. Preaching at
Maitland, he made a favourable impression, and was
invited by the people to become their pastor. So
the way was made plain; and with many expressions
of goodwill and gratitude for past services from
the institutions for which he had so cheerfully
laboured, and from the attached congregation of
the church in High Street, Mr. Griffith quitted
Maitland for the sphere in which he was to spend
the remainder of his life.
The following is
the testimony of a local newspaper to the esteem
in which the departing minister was held by his
fellow citizens:
"After a
residence in West Maitland of upwards of four
years, the Rev. E. Griffith took his departure for
Brisbane, Queensland on Thursday morning. Mr.
Griffith has made himself exceedingly popular in
Maitland by his untiring zeal not only as a
clergyman but also as a citizen to promote the
social and moral well being of the community. The
School of Arts and Hospital both obtained a large
share of his attention; and his services to these
institutions will long be held in grateful
remembrance. The Hunter River Auxiliary to the
British and Foreign Bible Society also had the
benefit of his services, as honorary secretary,
and owes its success in a large measure to his
continuous labours on its behalf. Mr. Griffith
took with him from Maitland testimonials from each
of these Institutions of the sense entertained of
his services. His parting from his congregation
was of an affecting character. The evening
previous to his leaving Maitland a concert of
sacred music was given in the hall of the School
of Arts as a mark of respect to Mr. Griffiths, the
proceeds of which will be applied towards reducing
the debt on the West Maitland Congregational
Church in which Mr. Griffith has, since his
residence in Maitland been labouring with much
acceptance"
