THE MAORI CHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11198, 19 October 1899, Page 3

THE MAORI CHURCH.

ADMISSION OF THREE DEACONS TO PRIEST'S ORDERS.

There was a very interesting and impressive service at St. Mary's Cathedral. Parnell, yesterday, when three deacons— Revs. Tiopira Paerata, Timoti Kiriwi, and H. M. Ruarangi—were admitted to priest's orders. They were made deacons in 1896, and Ine Rev. Paerata has been labouring at Padua, Ray of Islands; the Rev. ICiriwi at Waimate North; and the Rev. Euarangi at Kaipara South. There was a moderate congregation, among the -lumber being the boys of St. Stephens' Native School. The Most Rev. the Primate (Bishop Cowie) was attended by the Rev. E. M. Cowie, chaplain, and a number of the clergy took part in the service. The Ten. Archdeacon Clarke, in addressin? the congregation, referred to the civilisation of the native race, and reminded th. people that three generations ago the lorefathers of the Maoris were cannibals-were reckoned as being members of the most bloouthirsty race under the sun. ow ' ir "®.i God's grace, their descendants had renounced their customs, and come forward, until at the present time in the Auckland diocese the work of the Maori Church was being entirely carried out by the Maori clergy. He tr - ask the sympathy and prayers of Church people, and would beg them to remen b.r what a terribly isolated position was that of the native clergy, scattered far "»<*«' ' over the diocese. They seldom si " r , another, and seldom saw an English ?• man. Even if there were in some a lurKing regard for their old customs, wo must not forget that it was only two generations ago that they embraced Christianity. The ' ' deacon also drew attention to the lac the Maori clergymen were miserably paia. Their stipends were not those of ordinary workmen. Then, again, the support y had been receiving from the Church eionary Society would be withdrawn m so he would ask Church people to bear the fact in mind and deal liberally- ,i »e o * mon was preached by the Rev. al( " • Hapimana in the native tongue. tie as his text Ezekiel iii. 17, "Son of man, l have made thee a watchman unto the f of Israel; therefore hear the word a i y mciith. and give them warning from me. , The deacons were presented to the lr • by the Veil. Archdeacon Clarke, anuuw Lcrdsliip was assisted in the laying hands by the Arohdeacon, Canons " ou 1? Nelson, and the Revs. MacMurrajy > and E. M. Cowie. , • , „„j The newly-made priests, the ] er ?J' T , a number of the congregation toot po v Communion, which was administered by » Lordship, assisted by Ven. Archdeacon Clarke and Canons Gould and |SeJaon. The music was supplied by a ver y. • choir, and Mr. R. Leslie Hunt presided at the orsan. _