RATANA MOVEMENT

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 5, 6 July 1928, Page 11

RATANA MOVEMENT

. . . —; m ■ ' ' ■" LESS ENTHUSIASM - EFFECT O^'THE CHUKCH "Uepor'ting to the Diocesan Synod on the work of the, Maori Mission,. Canon W. G. Williams, the superintendent, called attention to the effects of the Ea'tana movement. ' '■;.•■ " ; '" "The Batana movement," ho said, "still causes a sad diminution in; the 1 attendance at the services, but, Maorilikej the enthusiasm-for their newlyfouiide.d church is- decidedly waning. Several of the' principal leaders..have openly broken with the' movement, and we may hope that in time we shall see many, of the ■.misguided" ones coming back to tie Churchy ; One cannot .say, hqweverij that there is any definite, 'movement is' thid direction at present.;.' Anothei''menace, tyhictimany of us feared would arise with the; decline, of.::the Batana influence, is now becoming evi--.dent in 'the'; tendency of many of .th 6 ,pe6ple to'resort to the Maori tqhuhgas, ;or.spirit';cLoctors. One man, in particular, is 'attracting a. number of devotees ;in the district between Otalu and' ; Paiin-' ' erston; and these men are so clever at keeping within the. letter of: tho: law that there, -appear ,to "be: no legal grounds.for putting a stop to their practices; Nothing but a deeper grasp of Gospel truth can save the people from the wiles of these spirit, mediums, and" it is just this 'definite consecutive teaching,which it .is so difficult to impart to such a. scattered flock." ,' After reviewing the work in detail, the report concludes with the state-. ment that the financial position of the •Mission, continues to give serious cause for anxiety/it being essential that some definite steps should be tiiken at the-present session, of Synod to assure a more adequate income. ; Consideration of the report was taken in committee. . ' '