RELIGIONS OF THE EMPIRE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16606, 9 December 1924, Page 4

RELIGIONS OF THE EMPIRE.

•MAORI BELIEFS,

LONDON, Oct. 13.—Among the many subjects which have, been-discussed in this notable year 'in their relation to the British Empire, we have that of the varied religions which shelter within its bounds. 'To-day "Primitive Religions" were discussed, and to this Archdeacon Williams contributed a paper on "Maori Beliefs."

The Archdeacon said the chief points of- the Maori religion were that Maoris had no conception of on© Supreme Being, but believed that the universe was ruled by innumerable spirits, who were, in the main, antagonistic'to man. They betlieved that these spirits controlled the actions' of man, to his great discomfort, and that whenever man had to deal, with matters with which one of these spirits was closely associated he had to be propitiated. It had been stated that the Maori worshipped- his ancestors, but though he did put them among the gods, his feeling for them was more fear tlian anything else. The close association between these gods and human activities had called forth numerous spells to avert their malevoltmt activities. Many of the spells were very sacred, and could only be pronounced by specially trained men. O'ut of this system grew tabu, which was very powerful.—Auckland Star correspondent.