PINCHED THE BABY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18711, 17 May 1924, Page 11

PINCHED THE BABY.

ARCHBISHOP'S CONFESSION. CHRISTENING A MAORI. Archbishop Julius was in good vein at Sumner the other day when he opened tho new St. Saviour's home for babies. "1 am very fond of babies," he told those present, " only," ho added, "I like them a little larger.". To prove that he was fond of babies the Archbishop told a story of what had happened some years ago. " I found myself," he said, " alone among a big Maori congregation in this diocese, and, before the service started a Maori came to me and asked me if I would baptise- an infant. I replied that I would, and asked what the child's name was to he The name was given to me on a piece of paper. It was atrociously written and consisted of three long Maori words. I could not read the writing, and knew that I would not have been able to pronounce the name if I could. And I knew that from Maori lips it would roll forth eloquently and I would never be able to understand it. I did not know what to do ' ■ "What is the name of this child I asked, and the reply came as I knew it would, in a long eloquent roll that I could not understand. And just then I remembered an experience that I had had as a curate many years .before. I pinched the baby hard. It sent up a wail to high heaven, and, under cover of the noise T christened it by the first name that came into my mind." "