In political matters Rowland had aligned himself with the supporters of Bligh and was a signatory to petitions in Bligh’s support. He deplored Johnston’s treatment of Bligh and the subsequent unrest in the colony, particularly the increased lack of law and order – even the “present Chief Constable carts his firewood out of roads close to the church doors during Divine Service”. During the period of the rebel regime, Rowland was concerned that honest merchants would be discouraged from importing goods into the colony. He was distressed at the treatment meted out by those in power to the merchant Robert Campbell, where his son Thomas worked briefly as a clerk. Rowland held Campbell (who later founded Canberra) in high regard and said:
“Those who have suffered through the revolution met with a humane friend in Robert Campbell, esquire, who is always foremost to help the distressed and rejected.”
He welcomed the arrival of Macquarie as the new governor and wrote: “I do not know whether the colony could have had a better man for Governor”. His loyalty to the established order was evident when he attended ceremonies to mourn the death of George Ill and signed a proclamation on the accession of King George IV in 1820.
Rowland engaged in many other activities. In March 1804 he was a sergeant in the Loyal Parramatta Association of Volunteers. He was elected in 1814 as a committee member of the New South Wales Philanthropic Society for the Protection and Civilization of such of the Natives of the South Sea Islands who may arrive at Port Jackson. In 1816 he was on the committee of the Institution for Civilisation, Care and Education of Aborigines. In December 1814 he was appointed to the committee of the Native Institution, which had been started by his friend and fellow missionary, William Shelley. Thereafter he was involved with the Institution as manager of the government allowances and he supported Mrs Shelley when she took on the Institution after her husband’s death.
Rowland served many times in the public interest. He gave evidence at the inquests into the deaths of George Patfield, William Sneed and Thomas Flannigan. He was used by the Governor to read General Orders at the various stations at which he preached. He was on a committee to survey and value lands occupied by Captain Kemp at Parramatta. He built a drain and tunnel from George Street to the river at Parramatta. He acted as surety for James Smith for the completion of the church and tower at Liverpool.
In November 1818 some citizens expressed disquiet that a recently arrived convict ship had carried, as well as convicts, goods which were to be sold in the colony as an investment by the shipowners. What concerned the citizens was that the goods had been prohibited entry because convict ships were not allowed to carry such cargo which would take space better employed for bringing convicts. The concerned citizens, of whom Rowland Hassall was one, argued that there was a need for British-made goods in the colony. They suggested that vessels of 150 tons burden should be permitted to trade with the colony and bring in British goods. The ships could then be used to take wool back to England. Macquarie was asked to convey this request to the ministers in England.
One of his descendants, the distinguished if controversial historian, Professor Manning Clark, wrote of Rowland Hassall in his book ‘A History of Australia’:
“There he quickly won a reputation for religion and piety by preaching the gospel in all the districts of the colony; he began, too, to acquire property, both of which activities won him the esteem of the Reverend Samuel Marsden. When Marsden was dejected by the fate of the soul of a negro convicted of rape in November 1804, Rowland comforted him. When Marsden left for England in 1807, Rowland acted as his agent. By 1808, Rowland had acquired one thousand three hundred acres of land, including a grant of four hundred acres on the Nepean at Camden. Despite his high calling neither his charity nor his loving kindness were very fully developed, and for the lack of these qualities he was often reproved by the convicts to whom he lectured on Christian qualities.”
Nevertheless, others thought of him as pious and benevolent and a worthy preacher, although his friend and fellow missionary, William Shelley, in a letter to the London Missionary Society wrote that he had noticed that “Bro Hassall still continues to preach, and I am sorry to add with as little appearance of success”. It is not clear whether this is a reflection of Rowland’s skills or a comment on the citizens of the colony. Whatever the case, Rowland had not set himself an easy task.