MORMONISM.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8529, 8 April 1913, Page 2

MORMONISM.

GETTING A STRONG HOLD.

MAORI COLLEGE OPENED

(Per Press Association.)

HASTINGS. April, 7. Between five and six thousand people, including the 1700 Maoris who are attending the.hui close by, were present at the opening of the Korangata (Bridge Pa) Mormon College on Sunday. The buildings, which stand in their own grounds of some iou acres in extent, consist of a schoolhouse, lecture hall and church, with a workshop at the back for the students. The buildings are up-to-date in ©very respect. The rooms are both large and airy, and should fulfil entirely the objects for which they were erected. The I cost of the buildings runs into something like £12,000, and'tli© expenditure on the land for the farm, implements for farming and the furnishings for the college will bring the total cost somewhere near £17,000. It is hoped to start school work on Wednesday next, but the authorities are uncertain yet what course of academic work will bo pursued. Several have been suggested in- a. prospectus already issued, but until the instructors have had an opportunity of testing the ability of the students no definite syllabus will be adopted. The students will, of course, have to take up the study of agriculture, which is the primary purpose of the college. .', - ■••'■■■ Professor Johnson, who has charge of the college, comes direct from the United.States to assume.the presidency.' He is a bright young University graduate, and holds degrees in physiology and pedfvgogy. Yesterday he gave a stirring speech on his Church as an educational factor. One of their great mottoes, he said, constantly held up before the young people was that the Glory of God' was intelligence. The great Prophet of the Church had said that men and women could not be saved in ignorance; they could only be saved when they gained knowledge. With these principles before them no one could be surprised that in the United States the Church had erected so many school buildings. If anyone could visit their cities, towns or hamlets, tie would find on every prominent corner a school building devoted to the educational development iof the young people. The erection of the college at Hastings was inspired by the same spirit that had dominated the erection of their'other schools, which had for their object the training of young people in all matters pertaining to morals and tb© secular branches of education. The New Zealand college had been opened for the exclusive us© of Maori boys. Young Maori boys who belonged to any-other Church would be welcomed at the college, and would be taught in the same way as the other students, and their present religion would not be interfered with. Europeans would not be admitted to the school. Their sole ;olh ject in erecting the school was to give assistance in £h© better training and education of Mjaprf boys, in. order that they might take their place in the activities of the commercial world and as intelligent citizens. There' was >no selfish motive underlying their college, which was philanthropic in its purposes. When it, was said;'that the cost to » student for his ■■ schooling, board and the use of all inoafern conveniences for a whole year waa?dhly £12.\it would .be seen that the Church x hadnot gon© into the question for the .purpose of making money.