MISSIONS TO THE HEATHEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2106, 5 July 1894, Page 35

MISSIONS TO THE HEATHEN.

A PASTORAL LETTER.

The following pastoral letter, issued by the bishops of the New Zealand Church, was read in most of the Anglican churches on Sunday : —

To the Clergy'and the Lay Members of the Province of New Zealand. — Greetings iv the Lord, — The bishops of Australia and Tasmania —with whom were associated three bishops of this province — resolvwd at their meeting in Hobart, to appeal to the churches under their direction for much more liberal and general support of missions to th<s heathen, and to those who are as yet but partially instructed in the faith. We, your own chosen leaders in the work of the Lord, are deeply sensible of our responsibility in this matter, and desirous of demonstrating our unity in labours and faith with our brethren in the neighbouring province. Accordingly we do affectionately call upon you to regard the week now recognised throughout our communion as a time for special intercessions on behalf of missions — namely, from November 25 to December 2, as a suitable time for making such special gifts in support of the same as will enable the church more efficiently to discharge her ta&k. We purpose to make suiUble arrangements for the in-gathering of your devotional offerings, and that the sum 6O accumulated may be administered by the General Synod, or some body acting utider its authority. We recommend that the following be recognised as missions, for the oiore adequate Fupporl of which this c-ffort should be made, viz :— The Melauesian Mission, the New Guinea Mission, the Maori Mission, and we would call your attention to some circumstances with regard to each of these, which appear to call for responsive effucts at the present time. Our auxielies with reference to the position of Ihe Melanefaian Mission have been difsipaltd iv a manner wtiea would be marvellous, were it not that we knew that God is the hearer and the answerer of pr^ers. Ihis our letter is signed by one whom God has pent to strengthen and revive that work. We are also enabled to ir-form you that the oppresMvo load of dc-bfc whif--h seemed for a mouieijt too Iwavy i'oc us to bear has becu removed. I'ho minion is, tLorctore, not only ruuiy to purrut! with renewed vigour its ordinary work, but even, iv the merciful provideuco of God, prepared to occupy such new

opening's as circ'unUstandes may present. We think we discern already the Call of such circumstance in' the fact that thousands of our Melauesiang , are flow isSboiiring in Queensland and Fiji. God seenla fiere to have opifned for us' two' new doors to the islduda, by which our lo^o to out Master and gratitude for the past bid Us fed enter. It may be, thought that we in New Zealand have nothing to do ,with the vast heathen population of New CJuinetf, yet while we recognise that the administrative pai't of thfs mission rests rather with the churches of Australia, as that of Melanesia doe 3 with us, we remember with brotherly gratitude that the church people of Australia and Tasmania have not selfishly left us to accomplish unaided the task we took upon ourselves in the islands, bu"t hav6 freely and liberally helped us in our Melanesian wort. We wish to reciprocate this recognition of out oneness, and, to'contribute to their New Guinea work, '/hen again the rtiartyr heroes of the church are our common example and bosety and as we thank God for Maclaren we must enter iufco his labours by seeing that they be not in vain. Laatly we have included the mission to the natives of these islands in our list, not only because the more perfect instruction of them in our holy faith is our first responsibility, but because there are indications of the almost; immediate occurrence of opportunities of reaching Maori tribes who cannot as yet be said to be holders of the Christian faith at all. These are some of our grounds for earnestly urging you to offer at some time during tho week from November 25 to Uecembef 2, even eelf-sacriflcingly, to the Sissionary work of our portion of Christ's oly ChUrch; and we are, beloved iv the Lord, yorir oervants" for Christ's sake. — W. G. Auckland ; S. T. Dunedin ; O. Christchurch ; Charles O. Nelson ; Cecil Wilson,- Missionary Bishop. Auckland, June 12, 1894.