REFRESHER COURSE AT RUATOKI.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 31, Issue 2, 1 April 1940, Page 9

REFRESHER COURSE AT RUATOKI.

INSPIRING DISCUSSIONS. A refresher course for the Maori clergy of the Waiapu Diocese was held at the Mission House, Ruatoki, from Monday evening, March 11th, till the morning of Friday, 15th. The house and surroundings are ideal for a retreat, situated as they are high up on the hillside overlooking the Buatoki Valley. There is a beautiful little chapel m the Mission House; the front portion of the verandah formed a healthy dormitory for the seventeen Maori clergy who were present. The daily programme was a celebration at 7.15, matins at 10, with an address on the daily life of a priest by the Rev. S. G. Caultoh, vicar of Whakatane; at 11.15 a talk on the Catechism by Canon W. G. Williams; intercessions at 12.30; at 4 o'clock an address by the Bishop of Waiapu on the Church, its teachings and sacraments; evensong at 7.30, followed by a talk on teaching by the headmaster of the Ruatoki School the first day, a talk on the priest and his finances by a bank manager from Whakatane the second day, and on the closing evening a pastoral address by the Bishop of Aotearoa. Compline at 9.30 brought the day to a close.

At suppertime on the last evening the Bishop of Waiapu expressed the warm thanks of all who had taken part m the refresher course for the splendid hospitality of the Maoris and to Nurse Bartrum and her helpers for their untiring attention to the physical comfort of the party. Books were presented to Mr. Caulton, to Nurse Bartrum and Miss Morgan, and a pair of brass candlesticks was presented to the Ruatoki Church as a permanent reminder to all of a very happy and profitable time. Before leaving on Friday morning the Bishops and clergy were invited to a reception on the Marae, where farewell speeches were delivered on both sides m proper Maori style. It was the unanimous verdict that the time of fellowship together, the courses of addresses on such varied subjects and the opportunities for full and frank discussions had been most profitable and inspiring. The Bishop of Aotearoa expressed the gratitude of all to the Bishop of Waiapu for the care and thought he had given to the planning and arranging of the course, and the time he had devoted to his own participation m it, m addition to the many pressing demands which his military duties were making upon him.

INTERNAL AFFAIRS Vestries are our' "local y bodies," and must influence all local politics. Synods represent electorates, and must influence all elections. General Synod represents Parliament, and must influence all legislation. The Lambeth Conference, or something bigger, is our League of Nations. FOREIGN POLICY To establish the Church m every nation. DAILY ACT OF FAITH I believe the Kingdom of God is come. In my baptism I was made an inheritor of it. Its prosperity and progress rest with me. God is our guide. ■ . It sounds very simple, does it not? If, and when we all put our whole energy into it, it will succeed. There will be peace m earth.