MAORIS AND RELIGION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19177, 17 November 1925, Page 11

MAORIS AND RELIGION.

EXPERIENCES OF PREACHERS

RUA AND HIS NEW DOCTRINE

A discussion regarding the spiritual condition of the Maoris in the Urevvera and Taupo districts took place at the session of the Presbyterian General Assembly in Dunedin last Friday. The Rev. J. G. Laughtou, Maungapohatu, said he came from one of the vastunoccupied lands in the Urewera. The Government was opening it up, and settlement would soon be commencing there. That made the work of the missionaries very urgent. Closer contact with the white race made the presentation of the Gospel very difficult. If there was any place in New Zealand where the Gospel of Christ ought t-o be preached it was in the Urewera country. In 1908 the prophet Rua set himself up as the Messiah and built the "New Jerusalem" at Maungapohatu. It would be an infinite shame if the Church of Christ sent no one to contradict that blasphemy. Rua was now teaching a new doctrine that he was the younger son of God, said Mr. Laughton, and that only through him could ,forgivenness be obtained. Now, day by day in the Bible classes that preceded the schools there, the truth was faithfully taught, and the lie given to such an error. Was there any fruit from their work ? He spoke of the school at Ruatahuna, where all the senior scholars had made profession of faith. He quoted other instances to show that with all the difficulties there was "something doing" worth while. Notwithstanding the shrinkage of funds he could not believe that they desired them to retire, from this great work. (Applause.) Sister Jessie, of Taupo, remarked that the Maori "fathers and brethren" always let her speak very straight to them. She told of her Maori chauffeur boy with whom all the girls fell in love until she had to send him home to his mother. (Laughter.) Her parish was 60 miles long and on most Sundays there were three preaching places for her. She told of a large bush settlement of Maoris and immigrants where the only church service was one she could give once a month. They greatly appreciated it, but she told them, "Hold on! I'll bring a man along one of these days!" (Laughter and applause.) It was" a man's job. Would thev leave her there alone to do their work among the whites ? She wanted to get to work among the Maoris. C The Maoris at Taupo. continued the speaker, were a splendid class. Lately they had become close followers of Ratana but she found it made no difference in their attitude to her. On the Sunday of the opening of the fishing season she saw numbers of people out fishing on the lake, and numbers of motor-cars about. Those were "white" tourists, the black sheep, but her own white sheep, the Maoris, were waiting at the church, 90 per cent, of the whole settlement being present to attend the service. The Maoris were a beautiful people to teach. They were so appreciative. She pointed out the difuculty and unfair position in which she was placed through not having the authority of the Church to baptise. (Appin use.) The Rev. James Hay referred to past neglect of the Maoris by the Church. They paid their Maori mission workers what was not really a living wage. The cost of living on the Maori field was almost double, that of the cost in Dunedin. Mr. Laughton received £250 to keep his wife and family, and that was not a credit to the Church. (Applause.) It was not the fault of the Maori Mission Committee.