RATANA CHURCH

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 240, 11 July 1928, Page 6

RATANA CHURCH

REPLY TO CANON W„ G. - - . WILLIAMS Reference to the statements made at the Wellington Diocesan Synod by Canon W G Williams was made at the Ratana Church, Raetihi, on Sunday, by Apostle L. A. Eastman, in an address to a large congregation of Natives, Speaking of the statement made by Canon Williams to the effect that the Ratana movement was waning, and that the Native was reverting back to lohungaism. Mr. Kastman saidd he denied it. The statement tended to create a bad feeling among the Native people. It was deplorable that such a statement should have come from Mr. Williams, who had done sucli good work among the Natives, and had been instrumental in helping the Maoris to set up their own Church. If the matter was one for discussion at a Synod, would it not haie been more fair if a representative of the Ratana • Church had been asked to be present. The Ratana Church taught of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost and True Angels, and it hnd been the pnyi-Ic-e of the speaker to attend many pakcha Anglicans who had received’ blessings through the Divine healing mission of the Ratana Church. Mr, Eastman urged tliat as brethren all' should have compassion with each other irrespective of creed or dogma. He exhorted his hearers to pray that, the Anglican Church, with others, might tench and use that divine healing power for the benefit of suffering humanity. In conclusion, Mr. Eastman snid that the Ratana Church was not waning,’but on the other hand it was extending its sphere of usefulness, even among then; pakelia brethren,