The Need of the Maori.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue XX, 14 November 1903, Page 56

The Need of the Maori.

BVANGELISATION OF THE RACE. MASS MEETING OF ANGLICANS. Tlie need for the evangelisation of the Maori race was the special subject impressed upon the publie mind by a large meeting in the Choral Hall on Nov. 4, over which Bishop Neligan presided. With him on the platform were Mrs Neligan, Mrs Seth Smith, Miss Burdette, and a large number of native and English clergymen. Behind the speakers and their supporters sat the Maori boys from St. Stephen’s College and the girls from the Queen Victoria School for Maori Girls. Bishop Neligan explained that the meeting had a two-fold object—first, to tell those who had done so much noble work for the Maori in time past that they did not regard their lives and efforts as being of no value. The Synod of the diocese was determined that the work should not cease, and had tried to convince those of the present day that the work demanded intelligent interest and prayerful sympathy. (Applause.) Canon Mac Murray, after an eloquent reference to the Christianising mission of the British nation, referred with enthusiasm to the past efforts of missionary heroes in New Zealand, and said that i’o the Church of England belonged the honour of being the first to teach the Gospel to the Maori. The outcome of the. great war begun at Waitara was the wrecking of the faith of a large portion of the Christian Maoris, and if it was true that it was caused by the wrong-doing and stupid blundering of British officials, surely it became an additional reason that they should do all that in them lay to restore the faith which raised them from savagery. He was in a good position to speak on the subject, and he would say that if the Church of England was not able to win the lapsed Maoris of the King Country and Taranaki to Christianity, then there was no other Christian body able to do The Rev. F. A. Bennett (Taranaki) produced a chart, which strikingly showed the progress of religion among the Maoris from its introduction in 18'25. Tn 1885 practically the whole race bad been converted. Then there were misunderstandings between the two races, and the numbers of Christian Maoris fell off rapidly. T'ntil 1900 hardly any interest was taken in the Maori by the pakeha, and six years ago the whole sum sub scribed in the whole colony for Christian work among (he Maori amounted to £9. It had. however, increased in simply wonderful fashion, over £lOOO having been subscribed last year. The Maori schools were an indication of the interest now taken in the Maori people, and now had sprung up the Young Maori Tarty, which was composed of members who intended to go forth and improve the social, moral and spiritual welfare of the Maori people. There were 40 missionaries labouring in the cause. It was true that a terrible state of things existed, but if they knew the difficulties, criticism would be uttered in a voice which would inspire hope and not despondency. There were GOOO natives Win, were Hau Haus and Ringel us, and 7000 who were neither these, but who could be called heathen. There was a large population in Taranaki not yet reached. Many of the white settlers in tlie back-blocks had forgotten the sacredness of the Sabbath, and the Bishop’s proposal to reach these would —ns a wheel within wheels*—have a good influence in the evangelisation of the Maoris. His Lordship, again referring to the subject of the meeting, said that although the mission they had been speaking of was an Anglican one. they did not wish to omit noticing the fact that other great laidies were nt work amongst the Maori people of the colony. So far as his Maori clergy were concerned they should never willingly upset the sphere of influence of other Christian bodies. The diocese was wide awake to the need ami hoped to take the lead in the work. The Maori children sang two translations of popular hymns during the evening, and a collection in aid of the funds of the Maori 'Hssion realised £3O 12/.