Mormonism Amongst the Maoris.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 6292, 12 August 1890, Page 3

Mormonism Amongst the Maoris.

Mormonism is shown by the report of the Government Native agents to be almost the only religion now professed by the natives of the Waikato and King Country, missionaries from the Salt Late City haying lived amongst the Maoris for several years. The objections raised against this sect in America and else* ■where do not, however, apply to New Zealand, for whatever was objectionable in their religion and practices has not been introduced here. The agent testifies that the results of tbeir teaching amongst the Maoris has been good. The reasons assigned why the missionaries and tbeir teachings hare found favour with the Maoris are these: their ofident sincerity, their humility, the cheerfulness with which they put up with hardships, and their readiness to adopt the Maori style of living. They never make collections nor ask for money neither do they seek to acquire land or mix themselves up in any matters which do not belong to their particular sphere. The theology of the Maoris does not represent the numerous phases that it does with Europeans, whose diversity of creed and sect they wonder at. But when they find anyone putting up with personal loss and discomfort, all for the purpose of doing them good, and that without the expectation of earthly fee or reward, they at first view him as a curiosity, and after that, if he proves to be genuine, they believe in him and become converts to his teachings. A considerable number of the Natives at the Thames and Te Aroba have also adopted the Mormon faith,— Star correspondent.