HEALING BY FAITH

Northern Advocate, 29 March 1947, Page 3

HEALING BY FAITH

The godliness aspect of things emanates directly from the main point of the founder’s teaching—that, recognising the unconquerable power of Evil, one must not waste one’s energies fighting it but must step aside from it, out of it, leaving it to go on along its appointed path while mankind treads a parallel but pure path. “The light was in the darkness but was not of it.” Was that the wording of the quotation? Rapana himself was not sure but produced his little redcovered Bible to look it up, when the discussion took another turn No evil. That means from a community viewpoint as well as from an individual one. Thus there can be none of the community pursuits in which the welfare of others is endangered.

Gambling is first on the list of “outs.” Gambling in any form. Liquor brings shame and possibly trouble on others, so liquor is out. Tobacco—well, yes, tobacco will eventually be out also; that much is certain, but, at the moment, it is left to the individual to decide for himself whether it is injurious to him.

And during half a day spent at the settlement, the only two persons seen to roll an occasional cigarette were Rapana himself and his secretary, the Rev. Hemi Paora (Jimmy Paul). Doctors? Yes, doctors from any district would be welcomed in the area when need arose for them to make visits. If such need arose, they would be sent for.

But Rapana himself claims to have effected many cures with his divinelyinspired powers to heal by faith. In fact, it was by means of this that Te Tii-Mangonui first swam into his ken and pr&yed to be the place of his vision.

Fie had been healing by faith in Pukekohe for some time when the people of the Tii came to hear of him. Now they had with them a Mrs Arena Ngawati. who had been long an invalid with internal tioubles. She had spent a month in bed when she made the journey to Auckland. Rapana prayed, blessed, laid-on hands and performed a degree ol massage. In a week, Mrs Ngawati was walking. It was not until the second case went from the Tii to Auckland that Rapana heard the first casual mention of the locality. His interest was aroused and it proved indeed to be the envisaged site for his headquarters and temple. So it was that Te Tii-Mangonui became the mecca for an exodus of Maoris from the city and from other parts of Northland, an exodus that promises to become almost a hegira. For Rapana—the founder’s name has been associated by others with- the religion—is gaining much ground m the North. Already there are branches at Matauri Bay, Waitangi, Waimate North, Okaihau, Oromahoe, Tinopai and other places, even on the Great Barrier Island. Today there are only 200 adherents at the Tii, 800 being the possible total everywhere. It is hoped that 600 will be living there before next harvest season. ... The movement is registered tms was done purely, it was carefully explained, to allow of the legal performance of marriages, ordination of ministers, etc. But for that it was really unnecessary to l-egister or even name the church, it was claimed. Its own broad base of sidestepping evil and healing through the power .that God evinces by the Holy Ghost in the whole universe, would have been sufficient to ensure its success.