Native Lay Readers' Meeting.

Waiapu Church Gazette, 1 September 1910, Page 41

Native Lay Readers' Meeting .

A meeting of special interest was held at Te Aute on July 20th. It has always been recognised that, without the help of the Native Lay Readers, the Maori services could not possibly be carried on with any regularity, owing to the number of centres of population m each Pastorate. For more than a year it has been felt that it would be a good thing to gather all these workers together for a special meeting, as a recognition of the good work they have been doing, and also m the hope that-it might help and encourage them to do even better work m the future. The difficulty of finding suitable accommodation was overcome by Mr. Thornton kindly placing at our disposal some of the rooms at the Te Aute College, during the boys' winter holidays. The Bishop of the Diocese very kindly con-

aented to come and hold a " quiet day " on July 20th, and to license those who had. proved themselves worthy by many years of faithful work. About forty, including the two native pastors, were invited to come on the 19th for two nights and the intermediate day, and about half that number attended. The gathering was a great success m every way. The College Chapel was used for the services; the Bishop gave an address on Tuesday evening, which gave the keynote for the whole meeting. His text was taken from St. Mark vi., 31: "Come ye yourselves apart and rest awhile." After evening prayer a formal welcome was given, according to Maori custom, to the -visitors. The "quiet day" began with a celebration of the Holy Communion at 9.30 a.m., with an address by the Bishop. This service was attended by a number of the English residents, and some College boys who were m residence, and there were twenty-nine communicants. Short services followed at 10.45 and 11.30. The Bishop gave three very helpful and inspiring addresses, taking as his text the first three petitions of the Lord's prayer, and, at the conclusion of the last service, he formally admitted 14 to the office of Lay Header, and handed his License to each of them Dinner ,vas served m the College' dining room for Europeans and Maoris together, to the mutual delight of both races. In the afternoon a Conference had been arranged, for the discussion of any question affecting the work of Lay Beaders. This resolved itself into a series of questions put to the Bishop t by various workers, with a view to getting definite instructions from him as to the vestments to be worn and the various services which Lay Readers are competent to take. The meeting was closed with the Benediction, about 5 p.m., as the Bishop had to return to Napier by the evening tr^in. After tea evening prayers were said, with a short suitable address by the Superintending Missionary summing up the lessons of the day. Then, according to Maori custom, we all again adjourned to the schoolroom to say farewell, as our visitors were to "leave by the early train ni'Xt morning. The Lay Renders apparently thoroughly appreciated and wnjoved this little recognition of their work, and attempt lo help them m their life and service. It was the first time, they said, m their memory, that

Maoris had been entertained m this way by Europeans, and they asked their hosts that this might be made an annual meeting, promising that we should have all the workers present next time. They were very pleased with tbe Bishop's straight answers to their questions, and with the series of addresses at the services, and expressed the hope that they might remember and carry out his words of exhortation. We trust that this small beginning may grow to greater things m the near future, here and, perhaps, elsewhere. ; '" Arthur F. Williams.