ORDINATION SERVICE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19880, 6 March 1939, Page 4

ORDINATION SERVICE

REV. J. T. TAMAHORI BISHOP VISITS TIKITIKI MANY MEMORIES AROUSED The ordination service held 1 in St. Mary's Memorial Church, Tikitiki, and conducted by the Bishop of Waiapu, me Rit. Rev. G. V. Gerard, was a most interesting one. The candidate for ordination was John Thornton Tamahori, second son of the late Rev. Pine Tamahori, parochially of Hikaurangi hut tribally of Ngatiporou, East Coast. Although the service was held on' a week day and could not be attended) by the vounger labouring majority, yet the crowd which attended was encouraging. Nearly all the elders of the Waiapu pastorate were present, including Messrs. Kereama TJliema, Panikena Kaa, Hone Ngata, Iharaira Pokiha of Rangitukia, Totorewa Green, Tarnibana Pakaihau, Hamana Mahuika, Tete Goldsmith, CharlesGoldsmith, James Collier, Renata Ngata, Hirini Heeki and Pine Waipapa, of Tikitiki; and Messrs. Hon Kingi Parapara, Henare Ahunri, Am Kane Roki, Rina Korimete and Dr. Wi Repa, Te Araroa. Mrs. Tamahori, mother of the candidate, was present. The news of the ordination of the particular candidate was the occasion for arousing the dormant sentiment and memory of regard and affection, for his late father, who was deeplyloved by the people. Many Te Aute bovs attended for the sake of the Rev. Pine Tamahori, a distinguished product of their Alma Mater. His son John was also an old boy of the same , college. Impressive Service Beside the special sentiment, the chiefs present regarded the ceremony a 9 a tribal event of the first magnitude and so they attended to endow the occasion with the mana of the tribe. The visit of the new bishop, forced the oldest present to draw upon a memory which goes back to William Williams, to Edward Craig Stuart, to William Leonard Williams, and to Herbert Williams, a procession of noble shades, who once filled the episcopal throne of "Waiapu, but now translated to a higher see. On this occasion the Ngatiporou people were proud to honour the new spiritual rangatira, Bishop Gerard, of the see which bears the name of their , district. They honoured him by their presence, by their eloquence and by their homage. The words addressed to His Lordship, on behalf of the tribe by Chief Kerema Tihema, bore . adequate expression of the sympathetic interest of the Ngatiporou in his work of administering the diocese.

A large crowd, of European settlers attended the ceremony, amongst them being Misses Biddle, Hopley.and Darrell, voluntary missionary workers at Te Araroa. The last-named presided at the organ New Spiritual Rangatira The bishop was attended at the ceremony by Canon H. Pahewa, Te Kaha, the Rev. Pohipi Kohere, Waiapu/Tunoa Wanoa, Hikurangi,.. Wiremu Turei, Tokomaru Bay, Canon Wilfred Williams, and the Rev. A. R. H. Morris, vicar of Waipiro Bay. The last-mentioned acted as chaplain. The Rev. W. Tureia preached the sermon, and Canon Pahewa presented the candidate. The service which was very impressive concluded with Holy communion.

After the service, the bishop, clergy and congregation adjourned to Tawhiwhirangi," the beautiful tribal dining room, where lunch was served in the liberal Ngatiporou fashion.

The addresses of welcome to the bishop were given after the luncheon. His Lordship replied in. a happy speech, and his tactful reference to the sad mission wnich brought the Bay of Plenty party to the village and his sincere expression of sympathy with them, betrayed a truly human touch in his nature, and helped to open a way for him into the hearts of the people. Next to the bishop the other guest of honour was the Rev. John Thornton Tamahori, the ordained one. The speeches of the elders of his tribe led by Mr. Hone Ngata and Dr. Wi Repa were eloquent, impressive and kind. Touching references were made by all the speakers to his late father. The Rev. John Tamahori will help the Rev. Hemi Huata, Wairoa, and will continue to receive instruction from Archdeacon Butterfield, who resides iti Wairoa.