RATANA’S LATEST

Evening Star, Issue 18999, 22 July 1925, Page 4

RATANA’S LATEST

ADDING TO CHURCH'S TRINITY PASTORAL FROM BISHOPS [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, July 21. A great deal of anxiety is being caused to the Anglican Church authorities by the development of the Eatana movement, as a schismatic organisation (“ The • Church of Eatana”) is being formed.

At a conference of representatives of the three North Island dioceses of the Church of England hold at Eolorua recently it was stated that the Eatana people had called upon ministers of all denominations to baptise “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, and of the True Angels.” They further demanded that whenever the Trinity was mentioned in the service there should he added “the True Angels,” although they asserted that they did not worship the angels. Should a. clergyman refuse to comply with those demands, Eatana had instructed his followers that they wore to leave that “minister and start a branch of “ The Church of Eatana.” As the result of the conference the thrr*j North Island bishops have issued a, pastoral letter to the Maori clergy and laity. The letter states that the .facts seem to be that it has been decided, apparently with Eatana’s approval, that his followers should withdraw from their respective churches, while emissaries were going about endeavoring to induce the Maoris to sien an undertaking to do this and to declare their adherence to what was oeing styled “'Die Church, of_ Eatana.” A fundamental formula of this so-called church was one in which “ True Angels ” were associated with the persons of the Holy Trinity, ft was now being insisted that this formula should be used in the administration of the rite of baptism, contrary to the command of our .Lord Himself and the invariable practice of every branch of the Holy Catholic Church. In many places the acceptance of the ministration of the clergy was being made conditional upon their use of the objectionable formula in baptism and other services. The three Norlii Island bishops— Archbishop Avorill, Eishop Sprott (of Wellington), and Bishop Sedgwick (of Waiapu)—have therefore issued instructions to the clergy and people of the Maori race. The instructions state that any person who signs the covenant now put forth by Eatana’s emissaries is taking the very serious step of excommunicating himself from the Church of Christ, it is not lawful for the clergy to give to such a person the ministrations of the church in the, matter of the Holy Communion, marriage, or burial. The performance of baptism by a minister or agent sot up by Batana cannot be allowed, ns this ceremony cannot be performed otherwise than as ordained by our Lord when He said: “Go yo therefore and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.” The instructions go on to state that, while it is to be desired that persons who have acted in this misguided way should be won back to the fellowship of the church, the clergy must not take upon themselves the reception of those who wish to return, but refer the matter to their bishop for definite instructions. In the case of any person who has previously not received Christian baptism the instruction of the bishop must be sought before baptism is administered. Any lay reader who joins Eatana’s organisation thereby forfeits his license, and must return his badge of office. Such lay reader is not permitted to officiate in anv wav.

Finally, tlie lettor stales that all faithful members of the church should at once sign the declaration provided by the General Synod for church members. Moreover, definite instructions should be given by the clergy upon the doctrine and sacraments of the church for the purpose of strengthening the faithful and rendering them immune from the danger of being led' astray by a false and plausible teaching which contradicts the teaching of the New Testament.

In issuing those instructions the bishops statei they arc confident that the clergy and the people will carry them out loyally, and so remain true to the faith once delivered to the saints, which had done so much for the uplift of the Maori race.