MAORIS AND THE CHURCH

Taranaki Daily News, 8 June 1932, Page 4

MAORIS AND THE CHURCH

ADVANCE in THE WAIKATO CHURCH DEDICATED AT PAEROA. FIRST OF ITS KIND IN DIOCESE. (From a Special Correspondent.) A very striking evidence of the forward movement in the religious life of the Maori people in the Waikato diocese was shown at Paeroa last week, when before a very large number of people, both Maori and pakeha, the first Maori church in the Waikato distuct was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. F A. Bennett, Bishop of Aotearoa, ana the 1U Rev. C. A. Cherrington, Bishop ot Waikato, assisted, by Archdeacon H. Haiti (Huntly), Canon K. Karaka (Morrinsville), Rev. K. T. Harawira Taranaki), Rex. M. Hikairo (Taumarunui), Rev. W- Maioha (Te Kuiti) Rev. E. Riwhi (Thames), Rev. W. G. H. Weadon (Paeroa), Rev. G. Palmer (Katikati)! Rev. C. W. Turner (Te Arolia), Rev. W. T. F. Skey (Raglan , and the Rev. J. R- Boyt (Frankton). There were also present the four lady workers of the diocese, Misses Smyth and Smith (Waikato), F- Heath and D Webster (Taranaki). Other guests included Princess te Puea and party and Mr. Te Tomo, member for the Western electorate. In a stirring address Bishop Bennett explained that for seventy years the Madris of Waikato had ignored a Christian teaching. It was therefore all the more creditable to those who had worked all those years against such opposition that at last some tangwle evidence of their perseverance had come to pass. He also paid a tribute to the Bishop of Waikato for the very keen interest he had shown in the Maori people of his diocese. There was no doubt in his own mind that the enthusiasm displayed by the bishop in his desire to better the conditions ot the people had caused clergy, workers and people together to rally round him, and a general advance everywhere was noticeable. ' A feature of the service wag the singiim of the hymns in both languages. Immediately following the dedication service there was a celebration of Holy Communion, at which Maori and pakeha knelt together, this part of the service beinrr conducted by Bishop Cherrington. Thus concluded a service, the first of its kind, which will go down in the history of the diocese. The building of the new church was made possible by the generosity of an old Maori lady, who gave the sum of £3OO together with the section for the site. . After the service, at the invitation of the local Maoris, everybody partook of a very substantial dinner characteristic of Maori hospitality. In the evening Bishop Bennett preached at a Maori service in the meeting-house, after which he introduced the lady workers to the people. On Friday morning another very important incident took place, a conference of all mission workers of the diocese. In all there are five clergy and four lady workers. This was also the first conference of its kind, and was presided over by the Maori bishop. The difficulties peculiar to each district were fully discussed and ways and means by which those difficulties might be overcome were devised. ' During the month the Maori bishop will be in the Taranaki district for a period of ten days. With the kind permission of the vicar of St. Mary s, New Plymouth, there will be a combined service in St. Mary’s on Wednesday night, June 22. A feature of the service will be the singing of some of the hymns • in Maori by the Waitara Maori choir. Pant of the service will be in Maori and part in English.