MISSION TO MAORIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21533, 3 July 1933, Page 11

MISSION TO MAORIS

ANGLICAN CHURCH'S WORK

BISHOP'S TOUR COMPLETED

SEPARATE DIOCESE SOUGHT

Gratification at tho progress made in tho work of the Church of England among the Maoris is expressed by Bishop F. A. Bennett, Bishop of Aotearoa, in an article in the current issue of the Church Gazette.

Bishop Bennett, who last month completed his fourth episcopal visitation of the Maori congregations in the Auckland diocese, said his tour occupied six weeks, and, although it meant a long and constant spiritual and mental strain, with long hours, tho interest and enthusiasm of the Maori people for things spiritual more than compensated for any feeling of weariness. "It was a wonderful tour from many points of view," said the bishop. '•Confirmation services were held in 16 different centres, tho. total number oi Maori confirmees on this tour reaching 1 257, bringing the total number for the North Island for the past four months to GOO. I do not think we have ever had so many for tho first six months of the year. Offers for Active Work "Then the number of men who have offered themselves for actifo work in the Church is most encouraging. Take the number of lay-readers who were licensed as an illustration: — Hokianga Pasto.ratc, 10; Ahipara, 12; Wainui, 6; I'aniapuria, 7; Peria, 3. This total of 38 does not moan all have offered during this tour. Many of them have been acting as lay-readers for many years past, but have never applied for a licence. Some are new and are suro to make good, as they are very keen. Again this year, as in each of tho past three years, wo have publicly received into tho Church some who had joined the Ha tana movement, and some who had come back from Mormonism.

"As an evidence of tho practical side of Maori Christianity, wo dedicated a church at Wainui, in tho Whangaroa district. Tho natives climbed tho high mountain range, cut down suitable kauri trees, hitched their bullocks to these logs and dragged them down to tho coast. There they made a raft of them and towed them by their own launches to the sawmill. Then when tho timber was seasoned they hauled them back to Wainui and built a beautiful little church with their own hands and mado all tho church furniturp themselves. And there the church stands, with everything complete, and all the work of the Maoris themselves. 1 dedicated the church on May 23 and named it 'The Good Shepherd.' North Auckland Prospects

"On the whole, tho work of the Church among tho Maori people in the Auckland Diocese is very encouraging, especially in tho North Auckland area. I am looking for great things from people in tho near future, both from tho material side as their lands become more and more developed and from the spiritual side as the seed now being planted begins to germinate and bear fruit. One must not make comparisons, but I would like to say the Ngapuhi are most loyal to tho Church and have provided more young men for the ministry than any other tribe in New Zealand."

Regarding tho future of tho Church among tho Maoris, Bishop Bennett said the following resolution was carried unanimously at many of the largo gatherings:—"The Maori members of tho Church of England desiro to express their gratification to tho Archbishop of New Zealand and tho Standing Committee of General Synod for the appointment of a commission to find out what steps should bo taken to bring tho Maori work into a compact unity by tho creation of a Maori diocese or in any other way. The Maori church peoplo desire to state that in their opinion such compact unity can bo best attained only by the creation of a Maori diocese."