Another letter from the same lady to the sisters adds further details to the scene, after describing the figures in the church:—­

’Lady Martin, who had never seen the dress (the cassock and rochet) before, said that Coley reminded her of the figures of some young knight watching his armour, as he stood in his calm stedfastness, and answered the questions put to him by the Primate.

’The whole service was very nicely ordered, and the special Psalm well chanted.  With one exception (which was, alas! the Veni Creator), the music was good, and Coley says was a special help to him; the pleasure of it, and the external hold that it gave, helping him out of himself, as it were, and sustaining him.’

Lady Martin adds her touch to the picture; and it may perhaps be recorded for those who may in after times read the history of the first Bishop of the Melanesian Church, that whatever might be wanting in the beauty of St. Paul’s, Auckland, never were there three Bishops who outwardly as well as inwardly more answered to the dignity of their office than the three who stood over the kneeling Coleridge Patteson.

’I shall never forget the expression of his face as he knelt in the quaint rochet.  It was meek and holy and calm, as though all conflict was over and he was resting in the Divine strength.  It was altogether a wonderful scene:  the three consecrating Bishops, all such noble-looking men, the goodly company of clergy and Hohua’s fine intelligent brown face among them, and then the long line of island boys, and of St. Stephen’s native teachers and their wives, were living testimonies of Mission work.  Coley had told us in the morning of a consecration he had seen at Rome, where a young Greek deacon had held a large illuminated book for the Pope to read the words of Consecration.  We had no such gorgeous dresses as they, but nothing could have been more simply beautiful and touching than the sight of Tagalana’s young face as he did the same good office.  There was nothing artistic about it; the boy came forward with a wondering yet bright look on his pleasant face, just dressed in his simple grey blouse.

’You will read the sermon, so there is no need to talk about it.  Your brother was overcome for a minute at the reference to his father, but the comfort and favour of His Heavenly Master kept him singularly calm, though the week before he had undoubtedly had much struggle, and his bodily health was affected.’

All the friends who were thus brought together were like one family, and still called the new Bishop by the never disused abbreviation that recalled his home.  He was the guest of the now retired Chief Justice and Lady Martin, who were occupying themselves in a manner probably unique in the history of law and lawyers, by taking charge of the native school at St. Stephen’s.