MAORI FAITH HEALER

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160811, 19 November 1920, Page 9

MAORI FAITH HEALER

EXCITEMENT AT RATANA.

a 'New miracle man;

REPORTED CURES OF SICK AND_ AFFLICTED. BLIND'MEN MADE TO SEE. SUBJECTS OF PRAYER AND FAITH. It is well known that hundreds of pilgrims make their way to the grotto of Lourdes each year for the purpose of being cured of whatever bodily ailment or affliction they may be suffering from. A certain percentage claim to have been cured, whilst others go away feeling disappointed that the curative properties of the mineral waters have not had the desired effect upon them. Lourdes, however, is not tfie only plzJce to which pilgrims wend their way for healing in mind and' body. In the Wanganui district there is a Maori village called Ratana, situated on the northern or _Wanganui side of Turakina, and to this village sick and afflicted Maoris from all parts of the North Island have for months past been arriving in large numbers for the purpose of coming in contact with their “miracle man," Tahu Ratana, and it is said that not one of the number , has “drawn a blank.” They Lave all been cured more or less of the diseases 1 or wounds with which they have been afflicted, and have retarded to their bapus happy in their faith in the firm belief that Tabu Ratana is an ambassador of God, endowed with the power of performing wonderful miracles. Maoris, like all native rac.es, are .'a naturally superstitious people, and it is not to be wondered at that as Tahn 9 fame as a miracle worker spread among the various tribes of the North Island, the trains from north, south, east and 1 west, wherever Maori communities exist, have been made good use of in the transport of the sick and afflicted to the Ratana sanctuary, a fine large house, set on some broad acres opposite the Ratana railway station. Hearing that about sixty natives of both sexes had left yesterday for their respective homes, some for Dannevirke, some for Hawke’s Bay districts,, and some for Te Kuiti and Otohoronga, in the knowledge that had been well; rewarded, the travelling reporter o.f the “Herald” journeyed to Ratana this morning to investigate matters. Making his way to the large residence, he found Tahu, the “Miracle Man,” as ha is. known among his followers, to be a kindly dispositioned, well groomed Maori, of stodgy build, black hair andmoustache, a spirituelle-looking face, and apparently possessing a strong charUpon declaring the object of his mission, the pressman was speedily disillusioned as to any pretence upon the part of Tahu of being a prophet, such as Ti Whiti; Eua, and others who, in their turn, have played upon the easily ini* pressioned mind of the Maori for some ulterior motive or other. While claiming a large of success in the removal of bodily affliction, he took no credit to himself other than, as ho put it “bein gtheir humble instrument in God’s hands of curing the sick by prayer and faith in the Holy Ghost!” Tahu. who firmly believes that faith will remove mountains, told his story somewhat as follows; —I am of Presbyterian faith, and I have always been a student of the Holy Scriptures. As 1 delved more and more into the Old Book; I became obsessed with the desire to heal the sick. I knew that many op my people believed in Tobungaism,, and the Maori Taipo. They believe in certain gods, and I knew that in worshipping these idols and false gods they were doing* themselves fend their race harm. I opened mv heart to God, and 1 became strong!v influenced. by John, 14th chapter- o£ the Bible, in which it is written, •‘Yeril.i; > I s ay unto you, he that Pf. u; » Me, that Ido shall he do also greater works than these shall he do*”because I go unto my Father. And whatever ye shall ask in My name that will I do. that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My Name I will do it.” These passages became firmly fi x ®d in my mind and heart, and then the Light came. I found that God was'using me, and for the past twelve’months I have been instrumental in God’s hands of fending over 1000 Maoris back to their homes cured of the ailments with which they came here. The sick have come largely from Taranaki, Wairarapa, Hawke’s Bay. Wanganui, Te Kuiti, Otorohonga, and other districts as far north as Pukek°Askcd as to his methods of treatment, Tahu smiled and said I have no method except knee drill. When my poor people come, I tell them that they must put all other gods aside and worship the only true God. I read, the scriptures and pray with them, and it is marvellous how ■when we plc&d at t-ho Throne of Gra.ce, the troubles disappear.. What are the nature of the diseases cure’d was a 1 question put to Him. All kinds,” Tahu replied. “Rheumatic fever, blindness, heart palpitation, bad legs paralysis, and almost” everything you .can think of. The power of God can remove; all things, and it certainly heals the shvr and removes bodily ailments if people will only believe.” “Come with me,” and I will show you something.” „ Our reporter accompanied the Miracle Mai” to a very large meeting- house, inst inside the door of which was an illustrated text, “The Lord is my Shepherd.” On the walls were hung many text cards evidently with’ the idea of keeping the sick people’s minds fixed on the one spiritual theme. “Now,” 'Said Tahu, ’look at these, and he pointed to dozens of crutches, smoked glasses, spectacles, walkingsticks, a. cane chair, eta., which patients had hi ought and had left behind as a testimony of the healing power received Scores of bottles of medicine were also on the shelf, the. discarded bottles having been prescribed by doctors and chemists without achieving any results. The cane chair, Tahu and several followers explained, had been used by a Maori from Taumaiupui. This sick man had been paralysed, and, was quite helpless. As a matter of fact, he slept in the chair. In a couple of days he was able to return bom© and leave his chair behind. An old woman, who was obliged to smoke a pipe to giy e relief from asthma, also left her big pipe behind as a testimony to, the fapt that she no longer required it, her faith in the Holy Ghost prpving supreme. One important witness present who

gave personal testimony was Ngarangi Kslitia Broughton, who contpsted the Wester*i Maori seat and. was defeated by Dr. Pomare. Mr Broughton informed the pressman that he had suffered practically eye blindness. He had been a Hau Hau, and a great believer in Te'Whiti. He realised, however, that was only one God, and through his faith and belief he had been cured of his blindness, through the supplication of Tahu Ratana, who was a good 'man and made no pretence of being anything else but a humble instrument in God's hands for healing the sick and wounded. If Mr Broughton had been practically blind before he tested the faith represented by Tahu, he was certainly able to see quite well to-day, and accompanied our repo!%r to the railway station/ where another aged Maori was sitting. This old map had been blind for 28 years, and was well known in the Ratana district. He had been not being able to get about without assistance. “1 had not seen a moon or sun for all that time,” he said, “and yet by faith I had my eyesight restored, and, as you see, I now carry the mail-bags.” The above incidents were related as showing that Tahu Ratana had been doing a wonderful work, and they are given without comment. It is absolutely certain that the Maoris have implicit faith in Tahu, who is the son of an old chief of the district. He formerly went in for cropping, and then took to dairying. He recently relinquished that, and is now devoting all his time and wealth—and he appears to have plenty of . this world's goods, to the alleviation of the sick and suffering. who coma to him. His wbrk is gratutioue,' and he accepts no money for his hospitality. His big residence and the meeting-house are spotlessly clean apd we 1 1... ventilated, with a powerful acetylene gas plant for the lighting of all the buildings. Tahu is now erecting,- at his own expense, a fine church capable of seating about 400 people, and this he hopes to opep on Christmas Day, when Pakeha and Maori will -he welcomed.