CHURCH MISSIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14507, 22 October 1910, Page 9

CHURCH MISSIONS

APPEALS FOR HELP. The third public meeting in the Choral Hall, in connection with the Synod, was field last night, and was very largely attended. It opened with a briei organ recital by H. G. Dutton, and by the time the musical programme was concluded the hall was practically filled. Some highly interesting addresses were given relating to mission work. 'Die Rev. G. C. Cruickshank, speaking on the Home Mission, described in graphic terms the arduous duties of the clergymen who took part, in the work of sustaining Christianity in the back blocks of New Zealand. The Home Mission, he explained, cleared the ground and rendered it fit for the establishment of parochial districts and later of parishes. Mr. Cruickshank drew a picture d? human existence in the back blocks, and said the work was among the hardest missionary work in the world. More men were urgently needed for the work of the mission ; the areas at present allotted to one or two men were far too large to be worked properly ; and the mission also needed financial assistance to enable it to extend it operations. The Rev. P. T. Williams spoke on the Melanesian Mission, and referred regretfully to the failure of the Anglican Church to continue the. maintenance of many of its island mission stations, which had been taken over by other churches who had better supported and more fully manned missions. The Anglican Church, in respect to mission work, seemed to have a habit of retiring. He referred in sarcastic terms to the " missionary meeting disease," which periodically affected people, so that they allowed themselves to be roused to a spirit of appreciation of mission work, and then forgot all about it before they gave any assistance. lie held that the true social work for the Christian Church was to go amongst, the people of savage countries and lift them out of their degradation. If that were not done, the Church itself could not flourish The Hon. A. T. Ngata was to have delivered an address on the Maori Mission, but being prevented by his Parliamentary duties from leaving Wellington, forwarded a letter which was read to the meeting by the Rev. H. A. Hawkins. Mr. Ngata provided a comprehensive historical sketch of the progress of Christianity among the Maori race, dealing with the serious setback which resulted from the Maori wars, owing to the way in which the natives lost faith in the pakeha and in all his teachings. The present work of the Maori mission, he said, was aimed at restoring Christianity to its former hold among the Maoris. The natives did a great deal on their own account, financially and by personal work, to forward the work of the mission, but they needed help. One of the most essential alterations in the present system was that a scheme should be provided to enable the native preachers in the back country to have more intercourse with each other, so as to enable them to retain their efficiency, and it. was highly desirable that a fund should be established for ' the purpose of providing literature for tho use if the Maori workers, especially in their own language. Women workers to go amongst the Maoris as nurses were badly needed. The prevalence of consumption amongst the Maoris was largely responsible for the persistence of tohungaism, and that meant secession from the Church.

The commissary. Archdeacon Calder, who presided, finally addressed the meeting, emphasising several of the points in the preceding speeches.