Te Toa Takitini 24
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Te Toa Takitini
Registered at the GPO as a Newspaper.
(Maori Version at PapersPast.)
Number 24, Hastings, July 1, 1923.
[A Photograph of the Te Pakipaki Church]
The Stone Church at Te Pakipaki, which was consecrated by the Bishop of Waiapu and Bishop Azariah from India, on 16th June, 1923.
Published by the Rev F A Bennett. Printed by Cliff Press, Queen Street, Hastings, HB.
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TE TOA TAKITINI
Registered at the GPO as a Newspaper.
The Price of the Paper is 6/6 a year.
Letters should be addressed to ‘Te Toa Takitini,’ Box 300, Hastings.
Number 24, Hastings, July 1, 1923.
THE OPENING OF THE STONE CHURCH AT TE PAKIPAKI AND THE UNVEILING OF THE IRON GATES AND THE STONE WALL.
The first part of the great events at Te Pakipaki on 16th June was the opening of the iron gates of the stone wall and the unveiling of the pillars. This is the church fence. The stones came, some from Napier and some from Te Pakipaki, and are limestone. Peneti opened this part of the gathering with the hymn ‘Au e Ihu, tirohia’ [Jesus, look upon me – Maori Prayer Book 94] (the solders’ hymn) and the prayer. Then Mohi Te Atahikoia, the surviving Heretaunga elder, stood and unveiled one of the memorials. These were his words: Listen, elders, men, women and children! This stone fence is a sign of love for our Maori young men who died in the war. We Maori are the smallest people under the sun, but out of their strong desire to defeat wrongdoing and establish what is right, they went to shed their blood for us. The Pakeha are a numerous people and we can imagine them as the long end of the fence, the Maori are at the short end, but they are like the pillars to which are affixed the iron gates that keep out the enemy. They and their strength are like this stone wall. They did not go to the war just for themselves but they fought for the mana of God, of the King, and of our land so that it would not be overrun by the enemy. Therefore it is right that this stone wall represents them and that within the wall is the church, the symbol of God.’ Then the veil was removed from one of the pillars of the gate and the inscription on the stone was read out: ‘In memory of the young men, Maori and Pakeha, who gave up their lives for God, for King and for Country. 1914 to 1918. Erected on 16th June, 1923.’
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After Mohi, the President of the Hastings RSA, Colonel Holderness, stood. This is what he said: ‘I thank you for inviting me to take part in your ceremony today. In doing so you show great honour to your Pakeha friends. I congratulate you on this memorial that you have set up to the young men, Pakeha and Maori, who fell on the field of battle. You Maori are a compassionate people. An evidence of this is that you have dedicated the largest part of the wall as a memorial to the Pakeha and the smaller part to the Maori. It is right that you honour your young men. I am one of the officers who know the quality of your young men.
When the Maori Contingent first left they were under the command of Major Peacock. Major Peacock became ill in Australia and returned home. Colonel Herbert became their Commanding Officer. After the fighting at Gallipoli in August, 1915, the Maori were split up between the four Pakeha companies.
From 1916 the Maori were called the Pioneer Battalion. They were joined by other Polynesians – 125 from the island of Niue and 45 Rarotongans.
Their Commanding Officer at that time was Lt-Colonel G A King, DSO, NZSC. He was killed at Passchendaele in October, 1917.
After him came Lt-Colonel Saxby. He died of flu in London in 1918. One hundred Pioneers and nine officers carried him to his grave.
Lt-Colonel Ennis followed Saxby. In 1916 the Pioneers went to France and took part in the fighting at Armentieres.
In July, 1916, a company of eighty Maori stormed a German redoubt.
From August, 1916, at the Somme, the Pioneers began to be widely known for their skill and ability at building defences.
From July, 1917, the Pioneers and the Rifle Brigade were under the command of the French General. The French General Authoine was full of praise for the strength of your young men. The Pakeha companies were also grateful for the help of the y0ung Maori. The Maori Contingent was one of the leading companies of our Empire.
The number of Maori who went to the war 2227
The number of young men who died 283
The number who were wounded 577
People greatly appreciated this Pakeha’s speech.
At last we were clear about the amalgamation of our young Maori men, and about those who lie on the field of battle, as well as those who were wounded.
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THE WELCOME TO BISHOP AZARIAH.
When the ceremony of the opening of the gates was finished all the people gathered on the Houngsrea marae.
Shortly afterwards the Bishop of Waiapu, Bishop Azariah, and Archdeacon Simkins appeared. The women’s group stood with leaves in their hands to welcome the Indian Bishop with a welcome appropriate for a rare visitor. They sat and the men’s group stood. The earth resounded and people trembled. The chiefly customs of the old century are still alive.
When that was over, Mohi stood to greet the visitor and the surviving elders spoke well. After their greetings he was given a scroll with decorated borders containing these salutations:
‘To Bishop Azariah, LLD.
Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!
Welcome visitor from afar. Welcome white heron of a single flight.
Welcome, you who have crossed the Pacific Ocean over which our ancestors sailed.
Greetings, descendant of our ancestors who lived on the marae of distant Hawaiki. Welcome to you relations living here in Aotearoa.
We are delighted that you have been elevated to this lofty peak. By being made a Bishop you bring honour to the Maori People. Eventually we will follow in your footsteps.
Welcome to your Maori People. Sadly the chiefs who ought to have been welcoming you have departed.
We are the remnant. You have arrived here in time to see that this remnant has erected the stone church and by doing so are following the principles you honour.
Welcome and farewell. Return to your people, to your family, to Great Tawhiti, Long Tawhiti, Distant Tawhiti, to Te Hono i Wairua, the sacred marae where our ancestors lived. The Maori People send greetings to them.
Long life to you, and may our heavenly Father send down his blessing upon you that you may have many days to take up the matters which will grow the kingdom of our Lord in all the places to which you travel.’
After this, Mohi laid on the shoulders of the Bishop from Te Hono i Wairua the cloak of our ancestors, the korowai. Bishop Azariah wore that cloak until he departed.
The Bishop stood to reply to the greetings. (He spoke in English.)
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‘Greetings, Maori people. I am very grateful for your words, and for your welcome to me today. Love gushes up inside me today when I see your way of welcoming visitors. We both welcome visitors in the same way. The peoples of India have the same practices. We alone have these customs, not the Pakeha peoples.
There are 360,000,000 tribal people in India. The population of New Zealand is 1,250,000. These tribes have not yet heard the name of Jesus Christ. There are six million people in my Diocese, but only 100,000 Christians.
I thank you for clothing me in the chiefly cloak of your ancestors. I will never be parted from this cloak. When I reach my people in India, I shall wear your cloak when I preach to my people. I would say to you, if in the future a Maori is appointed Bishop, do arrange for him to wear a Maori cloak, Do not abandon the chiefly treasures of your ancestors.’
THE MONEY COLLECTED AT TE PAKIPAKI. JUNE 16TH, 1923.
£ s d
Waimarama (Morehu and Ngahina) 10 0 0
Pukekura Potaka 1 0 0
Ngati Raukawa 1 0 0
Riria Hapuku 1 0 0
Tamaki Arua 2 10 0
Ngati Pikiao 1 0 0
Oruanui 5 0 0
Timotu Waimarama 10 0 0
Komiti Tane, Wairoa 1 0 0
Wilson Tipene 1 0 0
Mokopuna a Amiria 5 0 0
Nuia Ratima (N’ Whiti) 1 0 0
Te Hauke (Whatu-i-apiti) 19 0 0
Tini Hitiri 1 0 0
Wairarapa ( per Maata Mahupuku) 24 0 0
Dr Boxer 1 0 0
Ohinemutu Church (per Wheoro Poni) 100 2 6
T Paerata 7 0 0
Mahia, Wairoa, Mohaka (H Huata) 54 0 0
Momona 1 0 0
Takapau 2 0 0
Moteo Parish 10 0 0
Kohupatiki and Opaka 25 0 0
Matariki (Korongata) 5 0 0
Kairakau (J Rapaea) 10 0 0
AHT, Hastings 1 0 0
A Turner Williams 1 0 0
Mr Douglas, Hastings 1 0 0
Rangi Riripotaka 1 0 0
Orakei (Paora Otene) 4 0 0
Tunuiarangi 1 0 0
Parish of Taupo (per Manihera) 14 0 0
Waipatu 22 3 0
Patangata (Whatu-i-apiti) 7 0 0
Collection 2 1 1
Gifts 3 7 6
W T Williams 20 0 0
Matatua (Tiaki Rewiri) 5 0 0
Kumeroa Kohu 7 0 0
Te Kihi 3 0 0
Children’s Committee (Wairoa) 1 0 0
Te Haroto 3 0 0
£414 4 1
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THE FUND FOR THE CHURCH
£ s d
Tangiora 750 0 0
Hall Committee 200 0 0
The Bishop 50 0 0
£1000 0 0
The church cost £1000 which has been paid.
THE MONEY FROM THE LOCAL PEOPLE.
£ s d
Te Karetu 10 10 0
Orikena Hohepa 10 10 0
Aniheta 10 10 0
Tiu Ratima 5 0 0
Te Akongo 10 10 0
Iraia 10 0 0
Mohi 10 10 0
B Chambers 5 0 0
M Chambers 5 0 0
Stall Money and Dance 60 0 0
Tangiora 30 0 0
Collected by Tangiora 15 0 0
Peti Te Wheoro 2 0 0
Bennett 1 0 0
From Eru 19 17 0
From the [?lard] 6 5 6
From tickets at Porangahau and petty cash. 3 13 0
£235 14 9
Amount from the Plate 414 4 1
£649 18 10
This money was expended:
£ s d
The stone wall and iron gates 150 0 0
Church furnishings 213 0 0
Hui expenses (approximately) 125 0 0
£488 0 0
The surplus money was £161 (more or less).
The surplus was given to the Minister’s Stipend Fund.
The gift from the Pakeha of Te Pakipaki was £49.
That money was used to provide some mats, chairs for the Bishop and the Minister, the brass cross, and the flower stands.
Congratulations to the people of Te Pakipaki. One of the finest hui, of importance to the country, has come to an end. In Bishop Azariah’s letter to me he wrote: “Of all the gatherings I attended in New Zealand, the one that moved me deeply and which I admired, was the Te Pakipaki gathering. I will never forget that gathering.”
Our deepest gratitude to our elders, Tangiora and Mohi, and their whole Committee, for this good news about the Maori People which our rare visitor, Bishop Azariah, will talk about on his travels.
Blessings on Tangiora, the woman who heard the voice of God commanding, ‘Build me a temple.’ You, Kui, were the foundation of this hui. Because of you we have seen this great man, Bishop Azariah, have heard his teaching and have been given these new seeds from God. You have completed this great work. What comes next? If you abandon the plough it will get rusty! Best wishes and may you thrive.
By the Editor.
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BISHOP AZARIAH AND THE AUCKLAND AREA SYNOD.
W H Panapa.
On Saturday, 23rd June, Bishop Azariah arrived here in Auckland. He stayed in the home of the Bishop. On Sunday 24th Wiremu Panapa and Pene Netana were ordained as Priests in St Mary’s Cathedral. Bishop Azariah preached at that service. He preached again at Evening Prayer in St Matthew’s Church.
On the Monday morning after the opening of Synod he came into the gathering and after the roll call he stood to speak. He had dinner at St John’s this day and afterwards went to the Pakeha at Otahuhu. On Tuesday at 10 o’clock he celebrated the Lord’s Supper at St Sepulchre’s Church. At 4 o’clock in the afternoon all the children of Auckland and their parents were at St Paul’s Church to hear him speak, and at night he was at All Saints’, Ponsonby. For his last speech on the Wednesday night the whole town gathered to hear him. At 6 o’clock Pakeha food was provided for those who came. All the ministers, Maori and Pakeha gathered, and we saw how eager people were to hear his last address. At 7.30 the speeches began, with the Bishop of Auckland in the Chair.
During the short time Bishop Azariah was going around Auckland his reputation as a speaker and preacher increased and people wanted him to go on speaking and preaching. There was no limit to the Pakeha’s esteem for this man. This man with the very black skin was bringing them clear ideas and new teachings too in their own language. It was good to listen to the clear words coming from his mouth.
How did we Maori perceive this man? And what did we think of his speeches? Bishop Azariah said: ‘The person or the people who only seek their own good will not survive. But when a person or people find enlightenment then it is their work to share that light with others. From all the peoples of the world God chose the children of Israel, the Jews, as his own people. But the Jews forgot the purpose for which they were chosen – to bring the knowledge of God to all the people of the world. If the Faith is not making progress in a nation there is only one reason why this is so and that is that people are not fulfilling the our Lord’s word: “Go, make disciples of every nation, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.”’ [Matthew 28.19]
All these speeches are a challenge to us, the Maori Church. We have had the Faith for 109 years but we have yet to pass on this gift to the thousands living in darkness in Melanesia or to the 350 million living in India.
On Friday, 29th, Bishop Azariah boarded the ship to Australia and from there he goes to India.
Farewell, Bishop. Cross the Pacific Ocean to the great people living in India. Take with you your impressions of your Maori People in Aotearoa.
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THE SYNOD OF THE AUCKLAND DISTRICT.
On Monday, 25th June, the Synod met at the Bishop’s house. Besides the Bishop, the clergy present were Archdeacon Hawkins, Makewiremu, Keretene, Poata, Kerehoma,, Paerata, Kaipo, Hori Raiti, Hone Karaka, Karira Karaka, Paraonei Poihipi, Harawira, Taurau, Panapa, and Netana.
The lay representatives were Hemi Te Paa, Apetona, Waata, Henare Kingi, Peta Kingi, Piriniha Whareumu, Karipa Wi Patene.
The synod started at 9 o’clock. After the Bishop’s speech, Bishop Azariah came into the room. Wiremu Keretene stood to welcome the Bishop, followed by Henare Kingi for the laymen. Bishop Azariah stood to respond to the welcome and for more than an hour he spoke about the situation of the Faith among the many peoples of India. He said very strongly that Maori must hold on to their Maoritanga saying that it is the responsibility of all the peoples of the world to bring their cultures into the presence of God to glorify his name. Therefore, he said, it is for the Maori People to present to God their own culture.
The members of the synod were very grateful to Bishop Azariah for the relevance of what he said and for the teachings he gave to the Maori Church in his speech.
The Motions.
These are the important motions passed by the Synod:
1, That a tree for Ngatikahu be added to the staff of the Bishop of Auckland.
2. That one of the Maori clergy be made a Canon in remembrance of the visit of the Indian Bishop to Auckland.
3. That the Area Synods be done away with and that a Committee be set up to replace those Synods, the members being Keretene, Poata, Harawira, and Netana for the Clergy, and Peta Kingi, Piriniha Whareumu and Hore Tane for the Laity. That Committee is to sit for three years. The members have power to appoint a substitute if one of the members has difficulties during the three year term.
When this motion was passed the Bishop said, ‘My great desire is that you empower the Committee to seek ways of developing
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all the work of the Maori Church in this Diocese. You will have power to run things relating to the Maori side just as the Standing Committee does fo the Pakeha side. Therefore the Committee should be known as “The Standing Committee for the Maori Section.”’
The Synod broke up on the Tuesday morning and the hui thanked the Bsihop and his wife for holding the Synod in their home and for their kindness to the members all the time the Synod was sitting.
AN UNVEILING.
The Committee arranging the memorial stone for Peehi Te Rahui has decided that it will be unveiled on 25th July. It is on the marae at Waipahihi, Taupo. Tina Manihera and Peehi’s children will unveil the stone.
MINISTER OF HEALTH.
Sir Maui Pomare has acceded to this lofty role in the administration of our Government. He will be responsible not just for Maori but for all the Pakeha of New Zealand as well. At last a Maori has this position of eminence. Friend, congratulations on achieving this honour. You are highly respected. That is good. Be strong, be firm!
LETTERS RECEIVED.
From Bishop Azariah.
June 18th, 1923.
To Bennett.
I have been delighted by the Maori People and have great affection for them.
I have been thinking about your words to me tonight. I have learned that the stipend of the doctor is the same as that on one of the parishes in the South Island.
The Board of Missions has told me that it wants to run the Ministry School for Indians in my Diocese. My own indigenous people may not like to help the Board of Missions set up that school for ministers. Do you think the Maori might find the stipend for the teacher for that college?
(1) The Church Missionary Society has said that it will provide the stipend for that man. Were the Maori Church to agree to pay the stipend of that man they would be paying off part of the debt the Maori People owe to the Church Missionary Society.
(2) If you were to provide the stipend for that man, he would then have an independent status in my Diocese and would not be beholden to the Church Missionary Society.
(3) Also, the Church Missionary Society would be happy if they heard that they were being helped by the Maori People.
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(4) Your help would be a way of linking my people and your people, the people who lived together in ancient times.
(5) The Maori Church would have a part in the important work that is being done in the provinces of India, and their help will be an encouragement to the works of the Faith amongst them.
(6) Your help would bring blessings on the Church and to the Maori People, too.
The stipend for the Teacher is £80 a year. If you could manage £100 that would cover the stipend and the housing for that person.
My hope is that this will be the beginning of great blessings upon the Maori People.
Give my love to the Maori People.
J S Dornakal,
Bishop.
Meetings have been held at Te Pakipaki, Te Hauke, and Kohupatiki about this matter. It was agreed that we do what Bishop Azariah has asked of us. These villages have consented to collect £100 a year from Maori throughout the Diocese of Waiapu. The villages of the parish of Te Waipatu have each agreed to give £5 a year. And our Bishop of Waiapu has given his blessing to this project to be undertaken by all the parishes.
Puanani, Carterton.
June 23rd, 1923.
To the Editor.
I salute you for our gathering at Te Pakipaki on the day when the gates in the stone wall were opened as a memorial to our young men who went to maintain the authority of the Empire, and of the King of England and the colonies under his rule.
Secondly, for the adherence of our young men to the teachings of Henare Wepiha, that his lads should not forget the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and for the clear way in which you, the ministers of the Church, called upon the Lord to provide our young men with the living water: my young men still speak to me of how they understood their father, Henare. Hence my heartfelt thanks that you have thought to recall our lads with the stone wall. Let me say this as I conclude my words. You have a harvest while we here have none. This was my word when I saw the stone church standing at Te Pakipaki. The word spoken during the welcome was true, ‘Welcome to the opening of the Temple,’ for I have seen a building of stone. This is my prayer, that life and enlightenment may increase in this centenary of the elders, men and women. I would really support the idea
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that we observe the 16th and 17th June as a day of celebration every year.
Thirdly, this was the day when the Bishop from India stood on the East Coast and spoke fragrant words to us, and on which we spread over Bishop Azariah from India to the north, Maori status.
I finish here. You may want to criticize me having heard my thoughts.
Major Tunuiarangi.
I am sending these few words to be published in Te Toa Takitini to correct the article in the May edition about the greenstone patu called ‘Tawatahi.’ This patu belonged to Paengahuru. In the battle against Te Tarata when Te Okawhare was taken, Hamaiwaho seized that patu, Tawatahi. Tiakitai married Heneiaurutia whose baptismal name was Te Ruihi. When Tiakitai came to Maungarake this patu, Tawatahi, descended to him. Te Teira Tiakitai took a woman from Ngati Kahungnunu and Tawatahi came to Te Teira as a dowry. Then Maori and Pakeha were engaged in fighting against Te Kooti. When the Maori and Pakeha army arrived at Te Kooti’s camp the occupants had fled. This patu, Tawatahi, was found lying there. It was taken by the Pakeha and given to Mr McLean. Mr McLean was a minister in the government. Karaitiana Takamoana was elected as a member of Parliament. Karaitiana asked Mr McLean to give him this relic of his forebears and he would pay for it. Mr McLean said, ‘Kara, [ko taku ano - ?ko kahu ano – you may give me a cloak] as payment. I think I am only giving you what is yours.’ Karatiana agreed. A Maori cloak was given and Karaitiana received Tawatahi [i te tau o te Maehe] of the people of the Wairarapa. The people of the Wairarapa came to Matahiwi to lament. Te Meihana handed over Tawatahi for Ngaitahu to see. The people the Wairarapa lamented. It was when the lamentation was completed that word came to Te Meihana to hand over Tawatahi so that Ngaitahu could see it. When Karaitiana heard that the patu had been returned he said, ‘Why was it brought here? If Andrew and his brothers wish to hold it that is alright. He will return it.’ Those were his words.
I want to clarify the position of Tiakitai. Tiakitai died, and afterwards Te Tatere thought that Tawatahi was lying [hapa] on Tiakitai. Te Tatere paid four Maori cloaks to Ngaitahu. When the time came Tamaihikoia took these cloaks. Tamaihikoia went to Pitone to the home of Wi Tako at Te Puni. Tamaihikoia spread out the cloaks and those chiefs gave him in payment the greenstone patu, Kahotea. Ngaitahu received the greenstone patu as payment for the four cloaks. The patu was given the name ‘Tawatahi Tuarua.’ This patu remains with us up to this day.
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Here I end my explanations of this patu, ‘Tawatahi Tuatahi.’ The greenstone is of the kind called ‘kahurangi.’ Tawatahi Tuarua has translucent stone amongst the green and the [namunamu]. It is called ‘Kahotea.’
Major Tunuiarangi.
Pukehou, HB,
June 25th, 1923.
To the Editor,
Te Toa Takitini,
Hastings.
My friend, greetings. Here is a piece for printing in the July edition.
We, all the members of the Committee running the Healing Mission in this Diocese, think it important that Maori know of this important work of the Church, and that Maori who are sick know of the coming of J M Hickson, unless they do not want to be healed. The Bishop wants this publicized to his Maori people throughout the Diocese. Hence these words to you for Te Toa Takitini to carry to the Maori People.
Yours sincerely,
Arthur Williams.
THE HEALING MISSION – JAMES MOORE HICKSON.
A person is coming here this year to advance an important part of the teaching of Christ amongst us, namely, praying for the sick. This was an established part of the work of the Church of Christ from the beginning of the Gospel and during the three centuries after the Apostles. Afterwards the practice decreased but did not completely disappear. In these days it is being revived and one sees and hears of wonderful works being done through the healing power of Christ.
Mr Hickson is coming here for two reasons.
(1) He wants to stir up the Church and remind it of the clear instruction of Christ to ‘heal the sick.’ He wants to ensure that we hear that command and that we believe that Christ still lives and that we can access his power to heal today.
(2) He wants to bring healing to the sick who gather for worship. He does so by laying his hands upon them and praying to Jesus Christ for their healing. Many people are being healed; it comes about by genuine faith on the part of the sick person.
Mt Hickson has real power to bring healing like that which
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Paul spoke of to the people of Corinth (1 Corinthians 12.9); but he says that it is not his power alone, rather he knows that Christ is working with him, his healing power is experienced in him when he lays hands on the sick.
What he does is a sign, the laying on of hands in the name of Jesus and praying that the sick may be healed by Christ.
Mr Hickson is a man who has been set apart for this great and sacred work. When he was a child his sister became ill and he was moved to lay his hands on her and pray to God for her, and she was healed. When his mother saw what happened she said that he must offer himself and his great power to God to bring glory to God.
And, since then he has given himself, his life and his gift, totally to the Lord in an effort to renew the work of bringing healing to the sick within the Church.
For a long time he worked in London under the Bishop there. In 1919 he began to
go about preaching to the great peoples of the world that the saving work of Christ was directed not just to the soul alone but to the body and the soul. In recent years he has visited America, India, China, Japan, Africa and other places. He is working in Australia now at the request of the Bishops there, and he has been much praised when they have seen what he has achieved and the ordered worship, as well as the sick who have been healed of their illnesses – illnesses of the spirit, illnesses of the mind, and illnesses of the body. People have been healed of blindness, deafness, dumbness, paralysis, being crippled, asthma, epilepsy, and other illnesses. Demons have been cast out.
All the New Zealand Bishops invited him to come over here and he begins his work in Auckland, October 1-5; then Hamilton, 8-12; Gisborne, 16-19; Napier, 22-26; Palmerston, 29 – November 2; Wellington, November 5-9. Then he crosses to Te Waipounamu.
By getting tickets the sick can attend the Healing Services. Those Maori who are ill and wish to attend should speak soon to their carers or their Maori ministers who will refer them to those organizing the missions.
For the Mission in Gisborne contact Archdeacon Herbert Williams soon; for that in Napier contact me.
If the Maori ministers of the Diocese of Waiapu want pamphlets explaining this ministry they should contact one of us or Archdeacon Chatterton.
Archdeacon Hawkins and the Rev W G Williams are managing arrangements for Maori of the Dioceses of Auckland and Wellington respectively.
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Pray to God for this important event, for Mr Hickson and for those who are ill. Don’t delay.
E tata mate, e roa taihoa.
‘Death is near; by-and-by is far off.’ [cf Nga Pepeha 243]
Arthur F Williams, Pukehou, HB.
Secretary for the Healing Mission.
A PRAYER.
Almighty Father, you sent your only Son to show people your great love and your healing power; guide us by your Holy Spirit so that we may rightly put into practice everything relating to the healing of the sick in your Church so that the ill may be healed.
May those seeking healing be genuinely penitent, and may they have great faith, love and hope in their hearts. May you blessing rest abundantly on your servant, James Moore Hickson, so that many of your children may be healed in soul and body, and give themselves to doing what you would have done. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
CALENDAR FOR JULY AND AUGUST.
July 8th Sixth Sunday after Trinity
2 Samuel 1, Acts 14
2 Samuel 12.1-24, Matthew 3
July 15th Seventh Sunday after Trinity
1 Chronicles 21, Acts 18.24 – 19.21
1 Chronicles 22, Matthew 7.1-7
July 22nd Eighth Sunday after Trinity
1 Chronicles 29.9-29, Acts 22.23 – 23.12
2 Chronicles 1, Matthew 11
July 25th James, Apostle
July 29th Ninth Sunday after Trinity
1 Kings 10.1-25, Acts 28.1-17
1 Kings 11.1-15, Matthew 15.1-21
August 5th Tenth Sunday after Trinity
1 Kings 12, Romans 5
1 Kings 13, Matthew 19.3-27
August 12th Eleventh Sunday after Trinity
1 Kings 18, Romans 10
1 Kings 19, Matthew 22.41 – 23.13
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THE SERMON PREACHED BY BISHOP AZARIAH AT TE PAKIPAKI, JUNE 16TH , 1923.
‘Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit?’ – 1 Corinthians 6.19
The meaning of the word ‘Church’ is the people, not the building. If the Holy Spirit lives in the hearts of the people, and if those people gather together in the church building, then we can call that gathering a ‘Church.’ It is the holiness of the hearts of the people who enter that church building that makes that building a sacred place. It is now more than one hundred years since the first preachers of the Gospel came to the Maori People. At that time your ancestors lived in darkness. God sent his servants to spread light amongst you – Mr Marsden, the Williamses, Bishop Selwyn and others. They left their homes and families so that the Maori People could hear the words of the Faith. You have grown up in the Faith. The time has come when it is appropriate for you to repay your debt. When you were living in darkness God sent his messengers to bring you the light. Now this light was not given to you for you just to keep it to yourselves, but for you to pass on to other peoples who are living in darkness. Send your light to shine in Melanesia, in India, and other parts of the world. This is the way in which you can repay your debt.
In my Diocese there is a total of six million people. But only one hundred thousand are Christians. Some ten thousand people are joining the Church each year. There would be more if there were more preachers. At one baptism we baptized more than 400 people in a single day; they were baptized by being immersed in the river. This is evidence that many in India are seeking the light of Christ.
God is calling all the nations of the earth into his Church. He calls a people with all its culture. You must bring what is precious to you and consecrate it to God. I am amazed at the Altar, the Holy Table, with its carvings and other wonderful traditional work. Hold on to the noble treasures of your forebears. Consecrate them to God. My wish is that the Church grows strongly amongst you. If you keep to yourselves the light of God, you will die. If you put all your effort into sharing the Gospel with other peoples who live in darkness, it will result in the work of God growing amongst the Maori People. Remember God’s love for you at the time when you were living in darkness. Therefore my word to you is, ‘Pay your debt to God.’
[16]
THE LOVE OF RANGI-NUI FOR PAPA-TUA-NUKU.
For the month of July, that is, the lunar month of Te Rua-o-Takurua, 1923.
Procyon [Puangahori] is the star which ushers in cold, rain and snow at this time. These are the predictions for good and bad over these 31 days. Between the 6th and the 14th days there will be snow and rain. Between the 14th and the 21st there will again be snow and rain. Between the 21st and the 28th there will be cold rain and snow.
(The forecast is for a cold month with much rain.)
1 Sunday Fifth Sunday after Trinity.
2 Monday Korekore-te-whiwhia – A bad day.
3 Tuesday Korekore-te-rawea - A bad day.
4 Wednesday Korekore-hahani – A pleasant day.
5 Thursday Korekore-piri-ki-tangaroa – Good from mid-day until sunset.
6 Friday Tangaroa-a-mua – The fish are biting today.
7 Saturday Tangaroa-a-roto - The fish are biting. Use a line.
8 Sunday Sixth Sunday after Trinity.
9 Monday Otane - Tempt the eels this night.
10 Tuesday Orongonui - A good day.
11 Wednesday Mauri - Now it is dark. Good in the morning.
12 Thursday Omutu – A bad day.
13 Friday Muruwhenua - A very bad day. The moon has gone. Shellfish.
14 Saturday Whiro – A new moon. A bad day. Tide at low ebb at noon.
15 Sunday Seventh Sunday after Trinity.
16 Monday Hoata - A good day. The moon clearly visible. Shellfish.
17 Tuesday Ouenuku – Get people working. Day good for a short time.
18 Wednesday Okoro - Good from noon until sunset.
19 Thursday Tamatea-ngana – A bad day. The sea very rough.
20 Friday Tamatea-kai-ariki – A pleasant day.
21 Saturday Huna - Food unavailable today.
22 Sunday The Eighth Sunday after Trinity.
23 Monday Mauri - Good from morning until evening.
24 Tuesday Mawharu - Net crayfish at this time.
25 Wednesday Ohua - Still a good day for netting.
26 Thursday Hotu - The sea has become rough.
27 Friday Atua – An unproductive day for food. But shellfish on shore.
28 Saturday Turu - Overflowing tide morning and evening. Food on the seaside.
29 Sunday Ninth Sunday after Trinity.
30 Monday Rakaumatohi - A good day. The moon is waning. Shellfish on the shore.
31 Tuesday Takirau - Good from morning to noon.
We must be on the look-out. From the beginning of May until the end of this month it is said to be the Winter season, and during that time up until the present it is the Pleiades [Matariki] that tells the character of Spring until the coming year, that is, if there will be much or little food during that time. It is the star Procyon which forecast how cold it will be this month. What does the appearing of Orion’s Belt [Te Kahui o Tautoru] tell us?
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