SPREADING THE GOSPEL.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10392, 9 May 1927, Page 5 (Supplement)

SPREADING THE GOSPEL.

DIFFICULTIES ON THE EAST COAST.

LESSON OF HOROUTA FORGOTTEN.

STRANGE GOD TAKEN ABOARD THE CANOE. The tieed to revive and extend the Christian religion on the East Coast was stressed hv the late Rev. Alohi Turei in an address, given in the Te Hero district, in Afarch 1878, that was adorned with a wealth of characteristic appeal. “As the canoe of Horouta (or Alatahua) in which our ancestors came from Hawaiki to these islands was,” he said, “broken, so lias the ennee of our worship of the true God been, wiecked. norouta was the canoe oi cur ancestors which b:ought the first kumara (potato/ to these is.aims .rom ha«. lki. Let it remind us that Kahukura gave his final instructions to Pawa, Taipupini, Taiwawana, Raugituroua. Houtaketake and all. the other priests wiio came away from Hawaiki in Horouta. Said Kahukura: "‘Go and paddle to anotner land, but. when you go on shore, do not put Rmuroma aeroa n.ie j-:::-mara) with Arikiroaroa (the fern root/ lest Rongcniaraeroa he angry and you perisn. But, .rather, lot, there be only one in the canoe—that is Rongomaraeroa alone. It is not right to put the kumara with the fern-root.’ (The kumara was eaten only in tunes of peace and was the emblem of repose from contention : the fern root was alone 'e A ten in times of war, especially by a war partv when in an enemy territory). 'The fern root is a goo and the reason why he is not put in contest with the kumara is that lie is roasted in the fire, also because the fern root contains astringent fibres. Hence the origin or the following proverbs: ‘The astringent fibres of fern root’ ; ‘The pungency of the taro’ : "The sourness of the fins’; The sourness of the kareao.’ ■‘But the teachings or Kahukura were not heeded. There was a woman aboard that canoe whose name was Jvanawa who, when tae canoe landed at Ahuahu (the name of one of the islands passed on the vovage from Hawaiki to New Zealand and now given to one of the Alercurv Islands) brought fern-root on board the canoe and her act was not known to the priests. But when the canoe again got into midocean then tor the first time wa> Rongomaraeroa angry. Then came in furv the great and ierriole winds of Heaven and the canoe was covered at times with the spray and the foam of the ocean breakers and the priests sought m vain for the cause of this evil falling on them. AY hen the canoe arrived opposite the Oln'wa district-, she upset and drifted oil shore. ihey again made the canoe senworthv and put the property of the god Rongomaraeroa on hoard again and thev distributed them all over these islands. But. later, they went hack to the old custom wh en decreed that.Jern-root and kumara should not lie eaten together. ••Now the Gospel oi is like the Horouta. There sncuiu be onlv one faith for all men. .ror oJ years you. 0 tribes of Porott. puhco with cine stroke to the time given hv the leader cf the paddles am. the pilot was correct in lus guiding of the canoe. But. in the yea: 18&3 you became uouble-hnnuyn: ton had to paddle to and keep t in your act of paddling to the son: of two voices. And your canoe. tribes of Boron, was wrecked, it was because you stole another gen. and vou brought it on to your canoe. 'And He who reigns above let you have your own way. so thy l vou should lie taught how lutlo power of your own yon pns"sr.>s ••You will remember that tin' reason for holding our meeting m the vear IST” at Alatnnlm was to hoisti the Union Jack, but we als > a creed that we should worship oniv one God. That great meet m a creed to build churches once morand that we should open schorl* „ and make roads. Roads have been made in our district. AVe ms > built a church at Uawa, another nt» AYharononga and uow one at to ldoro. But there are . some districts in which we have not built churches. Some schools have .als) been opened. But at Tuparoa one » is lacking and at Hat cue the school was given up, as the children would not attend. The evil is with the parents, who are thoughtless people. For the last four years 15.27G, we have not been growing in good works. There is deadness in our worship. If we forsake God, He will cast us off.”