Work of the Maori Mission

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6633, 21 August 1931, Page 11

Work of the Maori Mission

MISS LEE TALKS TO MOTHER’S UNION. Canon G. Y. Woodward presided over tho monthly meeting of the Mothers ’ Union,.held in All Saints' Girls' Club on Wednesday afternoon, there being a largo attendance of members. Introducing the speaker for the afternoon, Miss S. M. Lee, of the Maori Mission Station at Otuki, Canon Woodward said the members would bo interested to hear of tho wonderful work boing done for the Maoris and stressed tho , fact that everything possible should be . done for the Maoris, who were so near to us and in whose country wo lived. Paying tribute to tho work of the . Mothers' Union, Mias Leo said she considered it one of the most wonderful . organisations in tho church, and she ■ was glad of the opportunity of telling the mothers who had the training of the citizens of the future, something ! of the work of the Maori Mission. In these times, the speaker continued, one 1 became quite used to thinking of de- 1 prossion. People were being hit up 1 right and left and life was certainly ' very difficult. In the Maori Mission they had a depression of their own, 1 battling against two influences, one ! of which was the wave of materialism that was sweeping over tho world. The 1 Maoris were a very imitative people 1 and tho missionaries sometimes despair- 1 ed of making any headway. But look- * ing back over the history of tho mis- * sion there was much to be thankful ■ for, despite serious setbacks. Last ’ April, their own Maori Bishop had eon- . firmed in fifteen centres, candidates 1 prepared by their own Maori clergy. £ Forty years ago in this diocese, the £ speaker said, there had been only three' : centres where Maoris would tolerate a Christian service, now in sixty districts ' these were welcomed. It was very evi- 1 dent, looking back over seemingly 1 hopeless times, that God had guided 1 and strengthened the work. Detailing the work of the organisation, Miss Lee said in the North Island dioceses there were twelve mission ] centres with about twenty workers, ] mostly white people. Tho speaker then ] went on to give an outline of a week’s 1 work in the Otaki Mission, which, with j tho exception of a few circumstances 1 was typical of them all she said. Tho Sunday schools were being used primar- c

j ily as a training ground for church workers, the results being most encouraging. Referring to tho work of the colleges, Miss Lee said it was a curious fact that at all the colleges Maori boys and girls were being taught Maori by white people. English was the language of the young Maoris and to koep their own language, part of their training was always given in Maori. What was wanted in Otaki was a young j Maori clergyman equally at home in the two languages. Speaking of her district, which extended from Ohau to Wailcanae, Miss Lee said there was dosperate povorty particularly among tho Waikanaa Maoris. The Maori clergy, she said, had very large districts, mentioning that this district extended from Petone to Palfiierston North. Guiding had a great appeal to the Maoris and was being fostered in ail the Mission stations. With Tegard to the colleges, Miss Lee said it was claimed that the Boys’ College at Otaki was the first church school in tho Dominion. There were only two colleges for girls, Hukarere having been moved to Auckland until such time there were funds available to rebuild the school damaged in the earthquake. Tho first aim in the colleges was to give a steady religious training and tho girls were taught to cook, and to do all household duties, also to become expert needlewomen. Provided a girl was anything like a worker after two years at college, she would be a useful member of the community. Some went on to hospitals or office training and were keen to obtain situations. "Bit by bit,” said Miss Lee, "wo are trying to build up l Christian Maori nation and wo tell them over and over again that it lies in their own hands whether that nation shall bo lost or become a valuable part of the Empire.” In conclusion, Miss Lee made an earnest appeal to the Mothers’ Union, as a living part of tho Christian Church, to co-operate by Iheif prayers and sympathy, that funds might be available to continue this , most necessary work. Thanks to Miss Lee were conveyed by Mrs. Woodward. A letter was read to members by Mrs. Metcalfe (secretary) from Miss Hall, a worker in the China Mission Field in whom the Palmerston North branch takes special interest, and two pictures sent by Miss Hall to hang in the club room, were much admired. Afternoon tea was enjoyed, the hostesses being Mesdames Cameron, Far-

raher, Lemberg, Onley and Marsh. Apologies for absence were received from Mesdames L. A. Abraham, Dawick, We ekes and Gray.