WORDS OF FAREWELL.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 10473, 31 December 1927, Page 8 (Supplement)

WORDS OF FAREWELL.

DEMISE OF BISHOP W. WILLI AIMS.

GRIEF OK POVERTY BAY NATIVES.

‘FATHER OF POVERTY BAY TRIBES.”

No more sorrowful gathering was ever held in Poverty Bay than that at Raukalnkatea, at the home ot Archdeacon L. Williams, when the Natives of Poverty Bay assembled to express their griet at tue death of Bishop \\ . Williams, who, in the course of the addresses, was referred to as ‘‘The leather oi the Poverty Jiav tribes." Vnribd and generous were the tributes paid to the late Bishop. Iho bo vs and the girls whom he had taught dime with their elders to join in the weeping. It was especially stressed that lie had always bceft kind to the old people of the tribes. Although tlie Bishop had died at .Napier.- t he Natives here said they could not .mid their grief from ins son; it must he allowed to burst iorth to him. They wept aloud in the ,Rsesence of the. Europeans and said U*ey did not feel ashamed to let their sorrow he seen hy them. Men, women and children piteously. Wl(on tho weeping Iliad partly ceased, Archdeacon Williams stood up■ and said:— "I will speak to you concerning, vour own custom o' weeping for the death and will say: ‘Come, O come, sons and daughters (those who wore taught by the late Bishop) and tveep for our father. • Ho has gone to the true home. His. Saviour, Christ, has called him to llimsclf. And he is now sitting in the presence of bis Lord and Saviour, where lie is waiting to greet us on our arrival there. It is right that we .should show our sorrow tor him, but our sorrow should urge us lo go to Christ and obey his Commands. Our sorrow should lead us to obey the Gospel as preached to us by him. He will not come hack to us ; we shall go tohim.’ ’’

Bishop Stuart also addressed llio gathering, urging one and all to hvo up to the principles of the/ Truo Faith. Butene Ahunuku and it was good that they should wee]) as the Bishop had boon a father to them all. Tamiliana asked Bishop Stuart !(>• send a European minister to bis tribe. Ha mi Alataora said: “You say theBishop'died a happy death ; then wo shall not feel sorrow on bis account, as be is how in the home of quiet and peace. We may weep for him in respect to the death (if bis body, but. we shall not weep for bis son), as it is now at rest with God. But we can follow his teaching and try to act in the way he taught us. If we do this then such acts on our part will show: our lov*- and remembrance of him. They sadly needed a minister to help diem.” . > Anaru Alatote said: “Go, 0, ,'rfur father: go on the road you so fully know. It is the road that is full of light. HT-\ our father, brought the Word of God to all these parts. So let him rest. Hirini Te Kani and Paora Katewere too.- grieved to rise and add their personal tributes.