THE MAORI RACE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16374, 23 June 1927, Page 9

THE MAORI RACE

WILL ATTAIN ITS OWN DESTINY A MISSIONARY'S VIEWS The Rev. J. G. Laughton, one of the Presbyterian missionaries at work amongst the Maoris stated at Wellington : "When the Master's commission regarding the propagation of the Gospel of His kingdom was first given His command' was that His disciples should commence their work at Jerusalem, their home centre, and thence extend outwards till it had reached the ends of the , earth. The spirit of the commission remains unchangod, and therefore, although the Maoris are a small people, being the people at our own door, we regard them as one of our first missionary responsibilities. "The history of missionary work among the Maoris has been a long one. One might say that, if ever the Maoris were going to bo Christianised, this should have been accomplished long ere now: but, when we recall the tremendous difficulties of a primitive race Ibeing plunged, unprepared, into the maelstrom ,of our complex , civilation, we can understand why missionaiji effort among tho Maori people has been long, and at times disappointing. The impact of the two races, threatened to extirpate the weaker one. The last census indicated that the decline of the race had , been arrested. This is, undoubtedly an indication that tho race is becoming naturalised to its new environments, and that the people are laying hold of the principles of hygiene and morality, and those other spiritual life principles in which their salvation undoubtedly lies. This is certainly the fruit of missionary labor. In using the term 'missionary,' I use it in the widest sense. I mean our native school teachers and district nurses union.,; the Maoris, not less than the representatives of the Churches who are laboring among.them, tine could not speak too highly of the magnificent work done by the two first-named branches of our State service for the enlightenment and elevation of tho native race. Education, filled with the spirit and power of the Great Teacher himself, is, we are assured, the great avenue to the salvation of our I native race. We believe that the night is already over and gone, and that the day is is at hand, and the decendants of that noble race' who sailed the michartered ' Moana Nui a Kiwa ' in their j frail outrigger canoes are not doomed Ito go clown into ignominy, hut that they will attain their own destiny, and contribute their part to the commonwealth of God."—Dominion.