MAORI FAITH HEALER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 225, 29 December 1920, Page 3

MAORI FAITH HEALER.

! WELLINGTON ViSITOR!S IMPRES-, ; .. SIONS. .:' : A |well-known "Wellington business man,' who (has been spending, his,, Christmas vacation iin Wanganui, motored out to Rataha,' Iho : [tent village between, Wangaehu ana. Turakina, to see Ratana," the "Miracle Man;" at work among his, patients.- He went, out in a spirit of curiosity—he. returned fully convinced: of. thd marvellous powers of the. faith healers>"Ho is a wonderful man,," said the visitor, in describing his experiences to a,..Wanganui. Chronicle* representative. "Seeing is believing, and in this case the.evidence.of. my eyes .is enough lor me. 1 personally saw "and interrogated live people who blind and who ! now, enjoy the blessing of. sight." - . He | learned that during the .holiday season. !■ Ratana has treated 547 cases, of whom 1/ ; w.croj'totallv blind, and in every case—man, ! woman, or, child---a seemingly complete 1 euro'has been effected. Here is one typicu: instance,-of the bona-fides.of. which I have i.no reason to."doubt. .'A ! lessly crippled, was driven' out ni, a taxi. ! At-the.time of hor arrival Ratana, wasjxmi ducting service \\v his church. They tola ! him •ot her arrival and of. her sorry state, : and ihe said, "I will come to her, .when tho Service is over.',' "Jiut.slio is in terrible pain/' they plcaded._ "Go back 'to her," he ■ replied, "and you will see that the pain ha: passed away." They went, "and toundii," so, and later, when Ratana came, ho said, I'ftJome, child', walk with irieib the church.'' j Her friends, •smiling." through their tears, I told the hearer that .his command was vain, Las:thc poor girl could not'move hand oi foot,; much ,lefcs walk,; litit/Ratana- om> smiled—ho has a • rare ;and : winsome- smileand .turning to the girl, ho said, again, :,''Come, walk with me to the church.' I And to the amazement of: lier friends, Uu. .sutferer stepped out ot th*;taxi, walked, to tlio dhuroli, and'a .little latera-eturncd healeu and (in the full enjoyment of her limbs Tlio visitor spent some'hours at tho camp. ! chattiing.. among the assembled; j Maoris, o whom there were" fully 325H.ein residence n . tents, and from ..all with whom liq .. spok;. -he-gathered testimony to the wonder* fcnfcfj are daily being worked by Ratana.. At pre sent ,tho liealer, is.devotingrhis poweiis -,U tho benefit, of his poorer, brothers and, sjsteiv of hisown ,race,-;but the visitor;- learnedsOi" ttoo urgent European cases.., that had.boei• treated during-ihopagt •fown i (la.yif.. i :Ono -iwa, ■ {II9. crippled'girl above 'aye another a gentjemait■{rom'fGisborne, >h. arrived on' crutches, and' wiljiiii two horn wont-away without them- 8| cliiigj, Ml.tel ing the visitor about •memiqnet that as tho. joyful patient "left the" churci. ho quiotly deposited.a-.l!6o.:tiple..oir noarjtho healer. Just before thi> ;man go Out of itho building, Ratana saw the not ■ and exclaimed, "Friends, someone has..Je! sorrib; money.- 'Who is.it?" Turning bacU. the-happy Gisbornc man said, "I have bu .'left) you 'a small recompense, .for, the, grc;*; •£cod:you have done me.". "You must tali! it away," said Ratana, "for 1 cannot accej~ 'payment. My work is a labour of lov. ' vlu'iii I am but. doing my religious t ,duty. :fe conoludihg ! the'' accbuh t' of. his, 1 .miprC- 1 |ioiis, the Wellington visitor ; said that after .what, he harl seen: ahcWieard.he regardc-, Rataiia as a man whom it was- (in Jjonou to inee'b and a.pleasure to speak..to (& He ; ! so quiet,, so gentle, so j;( i withal ho has an impressive and commiiiKl ing personality. • * \ ,•- •'■■■'■■'...'