CHRISTIAN OBLIGATIONS TO THE HEATHEN.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7373, 27 January 1902, Page 2

CHRISTIAN OBLIGATIONS TO THE HEATHEN.

On the sixth day of the Australasian Students' Christian Union Convention, the Rev. R. M. Ryburn, M.A., spoke on "The Obligations of the Christian Student to the Heathen." The speaker emphasised the idea that the work of the missionary was not a mere department of church work ; rather it was the object of the church's existence. Every church was a means to an end— the salvation of the world. It was obligatory on every Christian to interest himself in the salvation of the heathen.

The Rev. F. Bennett (New Plymouth) spoke of the special obligation to the Maori race. Drawing a vivid picture of the olaims upon pakeha sympathy presented by the position of the Maori to-day, Mr Bennett at length dealt with the past of the race, which by fact of ethnology, -philology, and archaeology was reasonably held to have come through Raratonga, the New Hebrides, the East Indies, back at least to India, and possibly to Assyria and Egypt. This past gave the Maori an interest. Next were traced the results of contact; with the white man. The missionary's influence was helpful, but perplexity was occasioned by the contrast presented by the self-seeking and vice of the Pakeha-Maori. Faith in the pakeha, even in the missionary, was lost, for the Maori could not understand the difference between the missionary and the grog-seller and land-grabber. Disastrous wars, only partial on the Bide of the Maori people, however, were occasioned through this perplexity. The white map's influence had meant bless, ings far from unmixed; some of the concomitants of pakeha so-called civilisation—notoriously drink and gambling — had exercised a most pernicious influence. What was wanted was enlightenment ; could not the Union as an interdenominational organisation send one of its members to aid in the work of uplifting the Maori people? Education was needed ; and in this, too, the Union might help. A graphic account of the work of the Young Maori party followed, and its platform of social, sanitary, industrial, intellectual, and religious reform work was lucidly explained. The sympathy and help of the Christian Union were earnestly sought. A most telling address closed with this appeal;