"The Role of Friedrich Hagenauer in Raising the Profile of Mission to the Aborigines in the Presbyterian Church of Victoria."

By Darren Middleton T/E CPC
www.pressiechurch.org

Synopsis.

In evaluating the role of Rev F.A Hagenauer in raising the profile of missions to the Aborigines within the Presbyterian Church, one must look at the circumstances and context in which both parties laboured. The Presbyterian Church was divided until 1859 and was desperately undermanned, however, with Church union they were able to concentrate upon the mission of the Church, that is, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The question of missions to Aborigines was a difficult one, in the past all missions had failed. There was a general consensus that they (Aborigines) were something less than human. Rev F.A Haggenauer arrived in 1859 and he was the perfect vehicle for the Presbyterian church to reach the Aborigines. He was a man convinced & motivated by the knowledge that the church had but a little time to reach the native people of this state before all full bloods disappeared forever.

With the purpose and vigour of a ‘dying man preaching to dying men’ he converted many Aboriginals and convinced many whites that this was an important mission. Rev Hagenauer pleaded with the church at General Assemblies, mission meetings and used all various methods of persuading people of the need of Aboriginal missions. The Presbyterian Church invested its resources in Aboriginal missions and within fifteen years became the most active church in this entire mission field.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that the Aborigines of Victoria would almost certainly of died out had it not been for the missionaries of this state. The Aborigines today have come from the remnant of the natives of Gippsland and the Wimmera region that survived on the mission stations funded by the Govt and churches of Victoria. How then did the need arise for these missions stations? Moreover, what part did the Rev F.A Hagenauer play in raising the profile of missions to the Aborigines in the Presbyterian Church of Victoria.

With the arrival of white people in Vic in 1830 the Aboriginal population in Victoria had fallen from somewhere like fifteen thousand to approximately two thousand in 1859.(1) It is pertinent to also note that the population (white) of Vic grew from 10,291 in 1850 to 537,847 in 1860, thus there was a mass settlement (some would argue invasion) during these ten years. Many folk of influence believed that the Aborigines were an eye sore to the public of Victoria.(2) This view fuelled by Darwinian thinking led to the terrible treatment of Aboriginals with the desire outcome to control disputed land and to be rid of the perceived embarrassment of Aborigines. Consequently, Aborigines were dispossessed of their land and systematically dispersed (killed) by the settlers and police. in addition to the this, were  the harmful effects of white diseases and alcohol which added to a rapid decline in numbers. it must be acknowledged that the general view in the community was that Aboriginals were sub human, this was not only informed by, but apparently confirmed by the Darwinian theory of evolution which placed Aboriginals at the bottom of the scale with the apes.

Unfortunately, this sub human view of Aborigines was also widely held within the churches which explains their reluctance to preach the Gospel from the start. The Presbyterian Monthly and Messenger commented in 1886: "Twenty three years ago, Scientific men - yes, even Christian men, like Charles Kingsley - were denying that our poor aborigines had a soul."(3) This view was certainly present in all spheres of society, in a interdenominational mission rally at St Pauls in Melbourne in 1860 the bishop of Melbourne said the following: " What they (the meeting) would presently hear he had no doubt would remove from their minds the impression - if it ever existed - that the aboriginal population of these colonies were mentally incapable of being savingly benefited by the preaching of the gospel of Christ."(4) It was not only Darwinian theory that hampered missions but also drunkenness within the aboriginal community, this is evident in Hagenauer's pamphlet on missions: " In general the people here have no faith in the success of the missions, - they judge all the blacks indiscriminately by those they see intoxicated.."(5)

Although there was much pessimism about the future prospects of Aboriginal missions it is fair to say this started to change around 1845-55. The leaders of the Churches and some noble laity pushed for the protection and evangelisation of the Aborigines. The Presbyterian church of Victoria was formed in 1859, and up until this time they had been consumed with the work of trying to bring about union which had side tracked the Church from its mission agenda. The Church was desperate for Ministers and much of its finance raised was to bring ministers (Scottish) out to Australia to fill the pulpits here.(6) However, once union was settled the Presbyterian Church immediately refocused and set about missionary work to the Aboriginals, Rev F.A Hagenauer comments: "The Church of England soon began a 2nd station in Gippsland and the Presbyterian Church shortly after their union of the different branches looked at the poor dying Aborigines as those heathen who should get their first help."(7)

The Role Of Frederick Hagenauer in Raising the Profile of Missions in the Presbyterian Church of Victoria.

Rev F.A Hagenauer was a Moravian Missionary who was sent out from London to the Ebenzer mission station in the Wimmera. Rev Hagenauer arrived in 1858 with a fellow missionary Rev Seiesecke who had been involved in an earlier attempt to establish a mission station but had failed.(8) However, they soon found out that there was not a great amount of enthusiasm behind missions to the natives due to the prevailing views of their lack of intellect and spirituality. Haggenauer soon realise that if Missions to the natives were to take off then people must appreciate the success of mission stations and so far this had not been the case.

Given that the Wesleyian mission station Birregarg had commenced in 1839 and with little success, it was closed down in 1851. The perception that mission to Aboriginals was hopeless was seemingly confirmed by the failure of the Anglican mission station Yelta (on the Murray River) which started in 1855, although it remained open till 1866, in reality, it was finished in 1860. As mentioned earlier the first Moravian mission station in 1851 was at Lake Bogga and this was also a failure, by 1856 it was finally abandoned. The failure of the early mission stations of Birregarg, Yelta and lake Bogga led to a belief in the community and the Churches that the natives were beyond help, and up until 1858 there had been no proof that mission stations were useful in any way  in making known the gospel of Jesus Christ to the ‘poor lost blacks of this land’.

In light of this one can see why the Rev Hagenauer’s success was imperative in lifting the profile of missions in the Presbyterian Church of Victoria. 1858 was the pivotal date when things changed for the better, it was then that a new mission station was founded on the land of a Presbyterian laymen Horatio Ellerman (who would later become a minister and be of great service to that station) on his Antwerp station in the Wimmera.(9) By 1859 work had commenced at the station that would go on to prove the viability and success of Aboriginal mission stations in general. Indeed, by February 1860 the station had its first conversion in the young man Nathaniel Pepper and then later in his brother Philip Pepper. These two young men were truly on fire for the Lord and went about evangelising their Aboriginal brothers and sisters. By 1865 the Presbyterian Church hired both men as evangelists and committed them both to the superintendence of the Presbytery of Wimmera.(10)

In 1861 Rev Hagenauer was asked by the Presbyterian Church to establish a new mission station for the Aborigines in the Gippsland region. After many delays and problems with land selection the government finally granted land in the Lake Wellington region and the Ramahyuck Station commenced in 1863. The aim of Hagenauer at Ramahyuck was to do several things, firstly gather Aborigines at the station, then help to encourage them in Christian living and education, while at the same time ministering to their spiritual needs in the hope of leading them unto the Lord. Hagenauer then looked after both temporal and spiritual needs with a high degree of success. This was an impetus for the changing of attitudes and desires in regards to helping the Aboriginals. It was also a great encouragement for the Christian Churches to take the gospel to the natives, for they had read and heard of the Ebenezer and Ramahyuck success.

During his time as Superintendent of the Ramahyuck station it was generally seen as the most successful mission in Victoria. The Royal Commission of 1877 into the condition of Aboriginal care reported that for the best example of care, with the most successful results, one should look too the Ramahyuck mission station as a model for Aboriginal care.(11) This was important that the government recognise the station as successful because this gave credibility to Rev Hagenauer which would eventually allow him unprecedented influence upon the government and the church.

Education at Ramahyuck was a strong point at the station and the mission school was reported by the Inspector of schools as excellent in its educational standards, the report to parliament states, "This school has again passed an excellent examination. This is the first case since the present result system has been enforced that 100% of marks has been gained by any school in the colony. The children, moreover, show not only accuracy in their work, but also exhibit much intelligence - excellent progress is shown."(12)

Rev Hagenauer taught daily from God’s Word and made steady and quiet progress. In 1866, Rev Campbell opened the new church at Ramahyuck, in the presence of a great many people. There was many baptisms and marriages at the church over the years and the Sabbath day was always well attended.(13) With the new converts within the Aboriginal community, their continuing need of spiritual care, coupled with the educational, medical and physical care the station was a spur for the Presbyterian Church to continue ministering within the Aboriginal community.

The Rev J.Paton having spent time on a Aboriginal mission tour throughout N.S.W and Victoria commented, "Their religious training and spiritual interests are left entirely to the churches.......At Ramahyuck, for instance, the superintendent is Rev F.A Hagenauer; and he and his excellent wife instruct the blacks. Nothing can be more delightful than the results. The faces of the people were shining with happiness... Many at the station, have after a consistent Christian life, died in the full hope of Glory together with Jesus."(14) Thus the fruitfulness of the work in Gippsland had a great galvanising effect on the PCV and its mission work.

The effects of Hagenauer’s work at Ramahyuck can be seen in the General Assembly records where the reports of the Committee to the Heathens glowed in praise for the success of Ramahyuck and greatly influenced the Church's desire to devote resources and people to the Aboriginal work. The G.A of Vic passed three important resolutions in 1862, after hearing of the work and future plans through the committee and  speeches by Hagenauer. himself. The three resolutionsof 1862 were as follows; that all Ministers should preach on the Churches missionary duty at least once per year. That all congregation actively contribute to the missions of the Church, and that at least two pages of the ‘Messenger’ shall be placed at the disposal of the committee to the heathen and used for missionary intelligence.(15) The P.C.V also passed several resolutions in 1866 which encouraged the children of the churches to collect for the clearing of debt on the Aboriginal chapel in Gippsland. Called on liberal friends of the Church to stock the paddocks of the Ramahyuck mission station. Called on all congregations to collect immediately for the missions to avoid deficiency in mission funding. Called on all Presbyterians to be in prayerful support of Aboriginal missions.(16)

By the 1868 Assembly the P.C.V had written to the Moravian Mission Board agreeing to subsidise (Presbyterian) missions in the colony in full, including Rev F.A Hagenauer.(17) In 1882 the Rev A.Mackie of Lilydale, was now holding fortnightly services at Coranderrk (near Healsville) as this was a government mission and therefore had no spiritual concern for the Aborigines at all.(18) The Rev Ellerman of Dimbola was also helping out with services and religious teaching and instruction at the mission station at Ebenezer.(19) This was a large turn around because the Presbyterian Church was the last church to enter into Aboriginal missions and now they were one of the leaders if not the leader in the mission field of Victoria. Of the six mission stations in Vic, of which the government controlled three, and the Anglicans, Presbyterians and Moravians controlled the others, all except Framlington came under Presbyterian religious education at one time or another. Rev Hagenauer was superintendent of Lake Tyres, Condah, Ramahyuck and Ebenzer, and thus influenced them spiritually. Coranderrk received religious instruction from Rev Mackie and Rev Ellerman ministered at Ebenezer.

With the success of the Ramahyuck mission Station, we can conclude that this was a first but most important task in lifting the profile of Aboriginal missions within the Presbyterian Church. If the mission had failed people would have just written the natives off as sub human, unable to be educated or civilised and no point in trying to bring the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. To this end, the work at Ramahyuck was most influential.

Rev Hagenauer was also instrumental in urging the churches in general and in particular  the Presbyterian Church through pamphlets, sermons and public speeches with the sole aim of soliciting finances, prayers and recognition of the Aboriginal mission cause in Victoria. Rev Hagenauer personally preached at the Presbyterian Church General Assembly on many occasions urging a greater concentration of resources and prayer for the Aboriginal people. In 1862, the evening prior to the Assembly voting on resolutions of the mission committee, Haggenauer addressed the assembly on the subject of missions, needless to say it had its desired effect as the next day all resolutions concerning Aboriginal missions was passed and adopted.(20) Rev Hagenauer also addressed the assembly on the 13th Nov 1867; Nov 72; 21st Nov 1883 (a stirring address) and many other occasions.(21)

In 1874 the committee of heathen missions which was in massive debt (450 pounds) and decided rather than risk closing down the missions it would institute a series of Missionary Week night meetings. The express purposes of the meetings was collections for missionary work as well as  deepening the understanding and interest in missions. The Rev F.A Hagenauer was called on as the man to visit Melbourne and complete the 20 or so meetings arranged in the various centres of Population over the course of about five weeks. The meetings were a big success and over 112 pounds was raised and Rev Hagenauer was richly welcomed by all.(22)

In 1880 Rev Hagenauer wrote a pamphlet called "Mission Work among the Aborigines of Vic," this pamphlet was used greatly throughout the churches and told of the great response of the Aborigines to the gospel ministry. Hagenauer also wrote many letters explaining and exhorting the church to missions, examples of these are the letters to the Christian Times, the Messenger, Anglican news etc. All of these activities persuaded many within the P.C.V that missions to the Aborigines could not wait, they are a dying race (full bloods) and we must pinch some of the remnants as jewels in our Lords crown.

On taking a well deserved holiday in 1885 he went to Queensland so that he could minister among the Aborigines there. The result of this holiday was that his report on Aboriginal needs led to the setting up of the Marpoon Mission Station in North Queensland. The Victorian Church supported the Federal Assembly resolving to start a new mission in Queensland and contributed finances, clothing and hardware.(23) Rev F.A Hagenauer tirelessly exhorted the Victorian Church to help in the missions to Aboriginals, his own church constantly sent physical aide to their brothers and sisters in the Marpoon Aboriginal Station. The Church had now come to the point where Rev Hagenauer had turned their focus to the greater work in the fields of Queensland and many of the Victorian Church organisations helped the Aboriginal Mission in that state. This can be seen in the 1889 Report to the Committee on Missions to the Aboriginals; "Coranderrk (Vic) is still under our care, but we feel that, for this department of our work, the great masses of blacks in other parts of Australia deserve and demand our most careful consideration and speedy help."(24)

In a 1883 Report of the Committee to Aboriginal Missions, the amount of missions conducted by the various Presbyterian state Churches was surveyed. It is obvious from that survey that Victoria was far and away the most committed to missions to the heathen, It had J.G.Paton and D.Macdonald (New Hebrides) F.Hagenauer, A.Mackie and H.Ellerman (Aborigines) and several cathechists (Chinese), they were also supporting financially the work of Deaconess’s in Korea.(25)

How then should we evaluate the role Rev Hagenauer played in the importance of mission work to the Aborigines. It would be helpful to note that the Church had no missions to Aborigines prior to Rev Hagenauer, and indeed, only had some minor work with the Chinese from 1860. However, since Hagenauer graced the scene in 1860 the Presbyterian Church of Victoria rolled up his missionary sleeves. Financially, it gave 50 pounds annually to the Ebenezer mission Station as well as the full financuial responsibility for the Ramahyuk station as well as providing for all the spiritual needs (provision of preachers etc) of every mission stations in Vicoria with the one  exception (Framlington). Later on it also supported the Marpoon Mission Station in Nth Queensland.

If we look at all the work of the Church in Aboriginal mission we can see a link with Rev Hagenauer in either starting or encouraging each and every mission initiative. The work of Rev Ellerman at Ebenezer is linked with Rev Hagenauer when he encouraged Horatio Ellerman when he was just a layman. With the mission at Coranderrk, Hagenauer encouraged the Minister of Lilydale to conduct religious services there for they were bereft of any religious instruction. The Marpoon Mission Station was of course a direct result of Rev Hagenauer’s report on the needs of the Aboriginals, it then became a focus of the Victoriam Church as part of its Aboriginal mission focus in this state.

In conclusion, we have surveyed the pertinent areas of Rev Hagenauer’s missionary endeavours that influenced the Presbyterian Church of Victoria. We have seen that through Rev Hagenauer’s active support for the Aboriginal cause in Victoria he greatly influenced the church and its direction in mission work. Rev Hagenauer afforded the church a chance to evangelise the Aborigines of Victoria before they (full bloods) died out as a race. In 1866 the Board for the protection of Aborigines stated that the estimated population of full and half blood Aborigines in the colony was 1908, by 1879 it was only 790.(26)

With the law passed that half blood Aborigines could not remain on Mission Stations, it was then inevitable that in time the stations would close. By 1921 only Lake Tyres remained open, all other stations had been closed and the remnant people moved to Lake Tyres. Rev Hagenauer’s influence through Ramahyuck Mission Station was most important for it showed to the church what God was doing for the Aborigines. It also convinced many people that in Christ there was neither Jew or Gentile! Rev Hagenauers mission addresses at the general assembly and his sermons and speeches challenged and encouraged both Ministers and laity. His opinion was highly regarded by both his peers and the government alike, he was a man of great persuasion and conviction, a wonderful man of God.

History records that the Presbyterian church was the most active in helping the Aborigines during the latter part of the 19th century, of which the Rev Hagenauer was the great stimulus for this new Church's missionary activities. The weekly Times recorded on the 30th May 1908 the congratulations of the Presbyterian church of Victoria for the Rev Hagenauer on his jubilee as a missionary to the Aborigines.(27) On his death it was recorded in the Australasian on Dec 4th 1909 that he was a missionary that worked with ‘distinct success amongst Aborigines’.(28) The Church lost a great missionary who had influenced not only the Church but the many Aborigines who came to saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

(1)Harris.J, "One Blood" Albatross Books, Australia 1990, pg 151.