MAORIS AND CHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19932, 28 April 1928, Page 12

MAORIS AND CHURCH.

THE PLEA FOR A BISHOP. SPIRITED ADDRESS TO SYNOD. BISHOP SEDGEWICK'S VIEWS. * [BY TEI.EGE.VPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Friday. "Wo may fail, but it will be a splendid failure," said the Bishop of Waiapu, Dr. W. W. Sedgewick, when replying in the General Synod to-day to criticism voiced by members of synod during the committee debate on the proposal to appoint a Maori assistant bishop to exercise episcopal suervision over the Maoris. "I feel very, very sorry for the Maori race," he said, "and for some of tha remarks that their only reresentative at this General Synod, the Rev. F. A. Bennett, had to listen to." The bishop said that it had been stated by Canon Fancourt that the Maoris had had a great opportunity for self-€ixpression in the person of the native clergy and had failed to make use of it. Bishop Sedgewick said that thdy had failed where the native clergy had not been fully trained, because some of the Maoris had not a real grip of what the Church was, and because of the influence of lower-class p.ikehas. Re felt sure that if members of synod could move among the Maoris in their own district and .remove from the natives the influence of the lower-class •pakehas they would become convinced of the real desires of the natives. The Maoris still wanted what they asked for at first—a diocese with a Maori bishop—• but realising that they could not get that they asked for what they could get.

The Powers ol Sentimont. "We were told not tc> be moved by sentiment," said Bishop Sedgewick. "Well, i am moved by sentiment. (Applause.) Sentiment is this greatest thing in the world, and it has inspired all the greatest deeds in the history of the Empire. lam moved by sentiment. What is an Anzac Day celebration but the outcome of sentiment ? What was the motive power that sent men to the front but sentiment? I am out for sentiment, and so are the Maoris. I don't mean sentimentality. It was sentiment that gathered around Nelson when ho hoisted his famous signal at Trafalgar. It was sentiment that caused us to gather around the Cross of Christ. Why should we debar a man from be:ing ordained by a bishop of his own race ? The Maori asked to be ordained by his own bishop. That is sentiment. We may fail, but it is going to be a splendid failure. I hope to see a great forward movement with a Maori bishop, not only for the Maoris, but for both Maoris and white people." (Applause.)

Introduction of a Bill. The following resolution was carried by an almost overwhelming majority:—"That a statute be framed under which it may be competent for the bishops of' the North Island dioceses or a majority of them to appoint a Maori, assistant bishop to. exercise episcopal supervision over and perform episcopal acts for the Maori in their respective dioceses." The effect of this resolution is that a bill providing for episcopal supervision for the Maoris will come before synod. This bill has already been circulated among members, and the <jliscussion on it lias been set down on the order paper for Monday.

The following amendment, moved in committee, found little support among synodsmen when the vote was taken in .open synod:—"That, in order to prenare the way for the consecration of a Maori bishop in the near future, one or more Maori archdeacons shall be* appointed to co-operate and unify the Maori mission work in the Dominion. "