MAORI MISSION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 245, 15 October 1940, Page 5

MAORI MISSION.

SERIOUS CONCERN.

INDIFFERENCE TO WORSHIP.

When referring to the Maori Mission in his address to the Anglican Synod to-day, the Right Rev. Bishop \V. J.i Simkin said that the position of. the work of the Church amongst the Maori people of the diocese gave cause for serious concern. "The prevalence of drunkenness, the lack of control in moral conduct, and the indifference to worship, are three evils which demand the serious attention of the Synod," continued the bishop. "The Church cannot stand aside, merely looking on and doing nothing to stem the devastation in the spiritual lives of the Maori people, of which these evils are indisputable evidence. Without attributing blame to any person, or body of persons, our first duty is to awaken ourselves from the lethargy into which we have fallen, and to seek to find out whither these' things are leading, and what must be the inevitable outcome.: When we realise this, we must seek toi find out where our weakness lies, and apply the remedy." The bishop said he had a responsibility to the Maori race as important as the responsibility to his own ]>eopk', and he could not excuse himself on the ground that the Maoris had a bishop of their own race. In the fullest co-opera-tion with the Bishop of Aotearoa he hoped to exercise towards the Maori people the ministry of his office, and to bring more closely together in the worship and service of God the people of the two races. He had planned to visit the native settlements with the Bishop of Aotearoa, in November, and] | hoped before the next Synod met to] I make < a careful study of the Maori' problem, to help to discharge the trust j bequeathed to the Church by Bishop! Sttlwyn. 1