Ruatoki Mission House.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XV, Issue 5, 1 November 1924, Page 459

Ruatoki Mission House.

Again we thank the Christchurch Diocese for their annual grant, towards our home for Maori grils. This has proved an exceptionally happy year with practically no sickness and the children have delighted those who were able to visit us m our far off home. All m their scarlet tunics with so much bush about the old people refer to them as "rata bios-, soms." - ■ • Our chapel has been beautified by several sacred pictures from England • — a gift from our Maori Colleges of Hukarere and Te Ante.*. Our fine acre section has been fenced arid 700 gums and pines planted to provide us with firing m years to come. t '■ Our Church m the Pa has been painted and there our faithful layreader conducts services Sunday after Sunday. We so urgently need a.resident priest that our younger layreader offered to read for Holy Orders and entered St. John's m March. Shortly afterwards pur churchwarden organist joined him, and now a third is studying m preparation for entering the Colleg next year. ' Ringatu surround us on every sitle> and when their sacred day— July Ist came this year, 500 visitors had arrived from all parts* of the North Island. No building could accommodate so many, so their service was held out of doors.. This sounds all right until one learns that it begins at sunset and continues untill daylight with the grass upon which they were sitting white with frost. ■*■.* : ■'■ ■"• ■'■'■ ■ -■■ •■■-.;..-■/ Eight decided to give up their Ringatu beliefs this year, four, were baptised, eight properly married, and the following day confirmed. It was a most impressive service.