Te Toa Takitini 87

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TE TOA TAKITINI

 

Number 87.

Hastings

1^st November, 1928

 

A PRAYER FOR OUR BISHOP

 

Almighty God, giver of all good things, who by thy Holy Spirit hast appointed divers orders of Ministers in thy Church: Mercifully behold this thy servant now called to the work and ministry of a Bishop; and replenish him with the truth of thy doctrine, and adorn him with innocency of life, that, both by word and deed, he may faithfully serve thee in this office, to the glory of thy name, and the edifying and well-governing of thy Church; through the merits of our Savious Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.

                                                            [Book of Common Prayer]

 

Published by the Rev F A Bennett and printed at 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 10/- a year.

Address letters to ‘Te Toa Takitini,’ Box 300, Hastings.

1^st November, 1928.

 

THE SERVICE FOR THE CONSECRATION OF THE BISHOP.

 

This is to notify you that the service for the consecration of our Bishop will take place on 2^nd December, in Napier Cathedral. The service begins at 11 a.m. All the New Zealand Bishops will attend the service. The preacher will be Herbert Williams and his sermon will be in both Maori and English.

 

Five hundred and fifty seats in the Cathedral will be reserved for Maori and an equal number for Pakeha. That is, half the building will be for Maori and half for Pakeha.

 

It has been decided that one will need a ticket to enter the Cathedral. The ticket does not cost anything but is necessary lest too many people, Maori or Pakeha, occupy the seats and there are none left for people coming from distant lands. We have been informed that all the ministers of the Dioceses of Waikato and Wellington will be coming. Some from Auckland are unable to attend. (We have been told that it will cost ministers travelling from south of Auckland to Napier around £7 to £8.)

 

These are in addition to the ministers of this Diocese of Waiapu who are all .attending.

 

Sir Apirana Ngata and the party  of Ngati Porou leaders will attend along with our chiefs from the Gisborne area as far as Te Wairoa.

 

We have also been informed that a party of 50 or more will be coming from Te Arawa.

 

The Marae. Te Pakipaki marae will be hosting the visitors. Hori Tupaea is the Chairman of the committee that manages the marae. You visitors should remember to bring your own warm clothes; there are no hot springs here to warm you.

 

The Trains. The Government has agreed to provide an express train to Te Pakipaki on Saturday, 1^st December, to deliver visitors there.

 

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On the Sunday, the special train will leave Te Pakipaki for Napier at 9.15 a.m. returning to Te Pakipaki after the service. The price of a ticket is 1/9 return.

 

Powhiri. There will be no formal welcome to each group of visitors, lest some be left out and it become a cause for sadness.

 

Therefore, anyone who values this treasure, come, come to celebrate this day when God looks upon us, the Maori People.

 

All the offerings on this day will be given for the work of the Church amongst the Maori People.

 

HELP THE MINISTERS.

 

My people,

 

Greetings to all of you. This is a plea to you, the people of the Church, to show your kindness to those ministers wishing to come to the Consecration of the Bishop of Aotearoa on 2^nd December. ‘Without feathers the bird can’t fly.’ [cf Nga Pepeha 1768]  I am not thinking of those in the Dioceses of Waiapu and Wellington, but of those in the Auckland and Waikato who have long distances to travel. Eight pounds would pay for a return ticket from Ngapuhi to Napier, and for four pounds people could come from Waikato. The ministers’ stipend is very small and they cannot afford the price of a ticket. Therefore, I am pleading with you who are well-off to provide some tickets for the ministers. It is appropriate that the ministers come on the occasion of the consecration of their Bishop. Please respond quickly to me in Hastings and I will send your contribution to the right place.

 

Frederick A Bennett.

 

ADVENT

 

Rev Ra Rangiaho

 

The King is coming. Not George V but the Almighty, the King of Kings, our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of all good, of important things, of exalted things.

 

Think of all the good things we have and also of the things to come. He is coming with all his blessings. Therefore, get up! Set things right! The King is coming!

 

‘What I say to you I say to all: Keep awake!’ [Mark 13.37]  These words tell us that must not miss out on that day, but that we should be prepared for it in every way, that we may stand befittingly in his presence.

 

This day is also the day in the Church year when we think about the two comings of Christ. Although the collect for the First Sunday in Advent reminds us to be prepared for the second coming – the day of judgement, it is good to also bear in mind the day of Christ’s birth, Christmas. Look up that prayer and use it every day until the dawn of Christmas.

 

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This is the prayer to strengthen people during the days of Advent.

 

The Collect for the First Sunday in Advent.

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal, through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and for ever. Amen. [Book of Common Prayer]

 

Therefore, set things right for the Day of Judgement (which prophets and wise men say is near), and you will have a right grasp of Christmas Day. Likewise, all the services during this time are a preparati0n for the Second Coming.

 

People, Church, take part in this worship, pray these prayers, in holiness, in faith and in righteousness, and you will not be surprised should the Lord appear tomorrow because we all agree that the King is coming.

 

Come, let us go to Bethlehem, that sacred place. Let us lift up our eyes to him. Consider the time and its fruits, and know that this is the time to wake up. Listen to the voice which commands: ‘Behold, the Bridegroom is coming to his Church!’ He came, he humbled himself, was born of the Virgin. He will come again on the clouds with power and glory.

 

The Church sings one song of welcome to him, ‘Come!’ So let us lift up the same song to him with conviction and faith: ‘ Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!’

 

(N.B.) Remember on Christmas Day we meet our Lord Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Therefore it is not right to say, ‘Yes. Come Lord Jesus,’ if we neglect to partake in the Lord’s Supper on that day. Don’t neglect this, our main service of praise, and then our joy and our greetings will be genuine – Merry Christmas!

 

 

THE TE ARAWA BOARD

 

Te Arawa met to do the business of their Lakes Board. Sir Apirana Ngata was in Rotorua to explain the constitution to the Te Arawa hapu.

 

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The members appointed:

Members                               Hapu

 

Hemana Pokiha                    Kawatapuarangi

Hemi Te Uara                       Kawatapuarangi

Kiri Tapihana                        Uenukukopako

W K Wihapi                          Tuhourangi

Heketoro                               Uenuku

Tiakiawa                                Kawatapuarangi

Tamihana Gardner              Kawatapuarangi

Raureti Mokonuiarangi      Rangitihi

Kepa Ehau                             Tarawhai

H Tai Mitchell                      Uenukukopako

Wera Loffley                         Uenukukopako

Pini Haupapa                        Uenukukopako

Matina                                   Tuhourangi

Kereopa                                 Tuhourangi

Te Mapu Morehu                 Kawatapuarangi

 

‘HOLD ON TO THE TREASURE’

 

P[araire] H T[omoana]

 

My Brave Ones in every place, the time is drawing near when we must vote for our members of Parliament, and it is right that we weigh up choices and cast our votes  for the right member so that we do not waste this great treasure. It is for us to assess the value of each person and his thoughts, and who will bring lasting benefit. And that you do not waste your vote on someone just because he looks good or for a similar reason, among those who have been entered for the contest on the coming 13^th.

 

In the four electorates many names have been put forward, but Tau Henare of the Tai Tokerau, Sir A T Ngata of the Tairawhiti, Sir Maui Pomare of the Taihauauru, and Uru of Te Waipounamu, are all seeking re-election to Parliament.

 

As far as issues relating to Maori as a whole were concerned, those dealt with were not of comparable importance and seriousness to Maori matters dealt with by previous parliaments.  Although this is the case, [?e kore rawa hoki e taea te hone rawa ake na tenei ropu rawa i penei ai], but it is a flowering of the desires of the Old Century which were proclaimed in the Homes of Aotearoa and Te Waipounamu, and as far as the Chatham Islands.

 

Nevertheless it is right to say, ‘By the combined work of Sir Maui Pomare, Sir A T Ngata, Tau Henare and Uru, we have seen a rich harvest [Te Ngahuru-mai-rangi] in our days.’

 

Their voices – setting things out, explaining, soothing, stimulating, correcting – in matters relating to the body and the heart, together with that of our friend Te Raumoa [Balneavis], the Prime Minister’s mirror, who acted as go-between between them and

 

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the Honourable Coates and his Government, made important contributions.

 

Why do some of us mistakenly look to the words of religious people or of spokesmen to overturn the extensive, clear and mature thinking of elders, and to advise on the ‘certificates’ of your taxes, your rents, your titles and your grants, and the right payment for what you have done, whether good or bad? Be firm, be just, be clear. Our Members are not divided on these important matters relating to the people. Not at all! Their compassionate and understanding hearts unite them in matters relating to the Maori People. Why should we listen to the sound of the aeroplane on this matter?

 

The matters that divide us most and the thing I wonder at is that we fail to see the great benefits we receive.  There are many blocks of land in the country. It is right under the law that heavy taxes fall there.

 

But in the whole country of nearly a million people it seems that these members and our friends are not working to ease this burden, and what will be our memorial?

 

There are many orphans and widows and poor people who have benefited. But we must also separate out those who will not see tomorrow and those who have been struck by tragedy. You, my friends, should not waste your vote on those vacuous words, ‘Sir, in two years you will see the flower.’

 

We have left this behind, we who belong to the New Century. You are one with us in your thinking and have started to ask our elders to take a back seat on these matters and to leave them to us to deal with. These are the years after 1900.

 

Those members are making many visits to their many marae where all of us are asking important questions about wrongful sales, confiscations, and other issues which in Maori eyes are being overlooked. Other issues are: improvements to our villages, farming and agriculture, respecting the people and the Maori language, and increasing the power of individuals and of the people under the rules of England and the Empire. All these issues occupy our friends who have been nominated. At this time are you going to waste your vote?

 

People, have an understanding heart when you vote.

 

 

THE ELECTION

 

Concerning the election of Maori Members, we point out that we of Porourangi have only one member, Sir Apirana Ngata. It would be better for him if we of Ngati Porou [e whaiwhaiā i te riro ke ma etahi iwi matou e pera.]

 

H P Paerata

Cook Hospital

 

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(There is no point in printing the whole of your letter because the Ratana Church has set up a candidate. You said that no other candidates were being nominated. – Editor.)

 

A Voice from Tuhoe.

 

To the tribes of the Tai Rawhiti and all Aotearoa. Do not bother to nominate members for the Tai Rawhiti, the Tai Hauauru, ot the Tai Tokerau. What is the point of you setting up some members for us? Sir Apirana Ngata, Sir Maui Pomare, and Tau Henare have policies to get back the parts of the country that have been wrongly taken. Half of the confiscated lands have been returned. What is the point in re-electing the person? For sixty years our elders have been contending with the Governor without success. It’s time to stop arguing.

 

Concerning the Bishop.

 

People of Heretaunga, let us come together, let us embrace one another. On 2^nd December the blessing of our Heavenly Father descends on our Bishop. It will be an important occasion to be observed by the whole Church. Ratana, return to support our Bishop. Mormons and Ringatu, Our separate status has been given back to us with the appointment of a Maori Bishop. Let us put an end to our divisions. Rather let us devote our strength to helping our Bishop.

 

I’ve said sufficient about that particular aspect. Let me pray for the Bishop of Aotearoa:

Lord, y0u have designated your servant to be our Bishop in holiness and love. Send your Holy Spirit to help, enlighten, and strengthen your servant. Drip down upon him the dew of your help, that the faith may grow and deepen amongst your Maori People. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

 

Best wishes to the tribes of the country.

 

Te Whetu Paerata

Ruatoki.

2/11/28

 

GREETINGS TO THE BISHOP

 

A Telegram from Makareti Papakura in England.

I give thanks that you are being made Bishop for the Maori People, Give my love to all the people.

From the Bishop of Wellington.

I am very happy that you have been appointed Bishop for the Church amongst the Maori People. The work of a Bishop is difficult and burdensome, and it may be that the difficulties on the Maori side will be greater than those on the Pakeha side. But may God help you to create a living faith amongst the Maori People. Our hope is that

 

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you will soon come and visit within the Diocese of Wellington. May God help and bless you who have been called to this sacred office.

From the Bishop of Christchurch.

May God’s blessing rest upon you in this great work that you have to do. May the Father give you physical and spiritual strength so that you can fulfil his ideas for the god of the Maori People. This is a day on which the prayers of the many people of New Zealand and England are crowned, and it brings joy to all who love the Maori People. We of Te Waipounamu await the time when you are free to come among us. May God help you.

From the Bishop of Waikato.

Since all the Standing Committees of the Dioceses of New Zealand have agreed to your becoming a Bishop for Aotearoa, I and the whole Diocese of Waikato greet you. May God guide, strengthen and help you. Come, when you are free, to this Diocese. You know its problems.

The Bishop of Polynesia (Kempthorne)

We greet you with heartfelt gratitude that you have been called to the office of Bishop of Aotearoa. May God help you.

Bishop of Bendigo (Baker)

Since we grew up together in Nelson, it is right that I congratulate you. I greet you who have been called to this important and demanding office. May God guide you that you may fulfil his will.

From Bishop Azariah of India.

I was extremely grateful when I saw in our Indian papers that you have been appointed first Bishop to work with the Maori People. Greetings. I do not forget the welcome given to me by the Maori and their support of my hospital for the poor. It is indeed right that the Church has agreed to appoint a Bishop for the Maori People. My hope and my prayer is that the blessings of God may descend upon you and the Church amongst the Maori. infuentiaI am very happy that you are ascending to these influential positions. Give my love to the Maori People.

From Poihipi Kohere, Rangitukia.

This matter was spoken of and occupied our thoughts, and it is you who have brought to shore our vision. And now the mantle has fallen upon you. My friend, we have seen the difficulties, the extent, and the burden of the work to be done by the Maori Bishop. But do not let these things stay in your heart to oppress you. Let your heart be light and rejoice that God has called you to be head and guide and the main supporting-post of the Maori Church and the people. Almighty God has called you. His is the work, not yours.

 

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You are a tool in his hands. It is the Spirit who works. Eventually the time will come when God will share his vision for the growth and

advance of his Maori people spiritually and materially.

May peace and the Spirit of God rest upon you. Best wishes and many congratulations.

Motupipi, Nelson.

From Meri Rangiauahi, Morehu.

To Bishop Bennett, greetings. I shall not write at length in this letter to you. I am gratified and happy that you have been appointed to this office for, as a young man,  you brought life to the people, to our elderly ladies and our elders at Whakapuaka and Motueka and as far as these mountains at Takaka. They are departing along with the teaching they received. And we don’t know what is happening to their descendants who are growing up now. So I give thanks and praise for these blessings from our Lord, that you have been appointed a Bishop for us Maori People.

From the remnant in this part of Te Waipounamu.

From H W Kaipo

To the Editor of Te Toa Takitini, greetings. May God bless, guide and strengthen you as you share the news of the world to be seen by the people of the world.

My friend, please convey my congratulations to the Rev Frederick Augustus Bennett. My friend, greetings. I rejoice and give heartfelt thanks because the day is near when you will be consecrated – that will be the First Sunday in Advent. We will lift you up onto the lofty rock. That day will come very soon. May God bless and help you.

From S Carroll, Wairoa.

We of this nook of Ngati Kahungunu are very happy and give heartfelt thanks for the news that you are to be installed as Bishop of Aotearoa. It is a sign of the graciousness of our Father that he has chosen one of us. Although it is you who has been chosen it is all of us Maori who ar being honoured.

 

THANKS TO DOCTOR WI REPA.

 

I am very grateful to Doctor Wi Repa for his diligence in explaining the diseases that afflict Maori and how to combat them. It will only be laziness if people neglect his advice and suffer. Therefore, thank you Doctor Wi Repa.

 

H W Kaipo

 

It is right that Doctor Wi Repa is thanked. His explanations of the various diseases are a treasure for us. When he has completed his explanations we will put his advice into a booklet. – Editor.

 

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THE DEPARTURE PLACE OF SPIRITS

 

To the Editor of Te Toa Takitini.

 

Please permit the following article to be carried by the pet, Te Toa Takitini, to the marae to which it flies.

 

On Saturday, 22^nd September, 1928, The party led by Ratana, known as the Spokesman, left Pukepoto near Kaitaia, to travel to Te Rerenga Wairua [The Departure Place of Spirits] by way of the Long Beach of Tohee, called in these days the Ninety Mile Beach. The weather was dreadful on that day with strong winds and rain. Two lorries carried the party to the end of the beach at Kahokawa. There the remnant of the tribes were awaiting Ratana. There were many people there waiting for their Spokesman but not the local residents. There were perhaps two hundred people there. It was night when the Ratana party arrived. Some of his party fell ill there. On the Monday the party conveyed their Spokesman to the actual Te Rerenga Wairua. It was perhaps a twenty mile journey overland. When they reached Te Rerenga Wairua the Spokesman declared that when the spirits have completed their j0urney to Te Reinga they have gone straight to Heaven.* Now we must stop thinking of the spirits going to Te Reinga, rather that they are going to Heaven. My friends, which person who reads the Scriptures is ignorant of the fact that the spirit returns to God who gave it? What does the Preacher say in Ecclesiastes 12.7 [The spirit returns to God wh0 gave it] – and others in the Scriptures? It is said there that the spirit of man returns to Heaven, to the dwelling of God and our Saviour Christ – not simply to Heaven. This is the fourth attempt of the Spokesman to get to Te Rerenga Wairua and at last he has got there. But when a person has died then he can get there. En0ugh.

 

H W Kaipo

 

[*The straightforward translation of this sentence is: The Spokesman said that the spirits have stopped travelling to Te Reinga, rather they go straight to Heaven. My conjectural translation above is an attempt to clarify H W Kaipo’s intentions. – Barry Olsen.]

 

VERSES OF SCRIPTURE.

 

These are some verses of Scripture written out by Miss Williams as words of guidance for her children wherever they are.

 

Jesus said: Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a person is born of water and the Spirit they cannot enter the kingdom of God. John 3.5

 

Paul says: Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. Romans 8.9

 

If you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.  Romans 8.13.

 

Jesus also said: If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to thse whp ask him.  Luke 11.13

 

Ask and it will be given to you. Matthew 7.7

 

45 Mortimer Terrace,

Wellington,

New Zealand

 

For nearly 2000 years it was lost under the waves of the sea and hidden behind the clouds of the sky. But now on this day of your resurrection what was dead has been disinterred and what was lost is revealed; it has been snatched up by the ‘Time’ to publish ‘His’ flowering in Aotearoa when for the first time the designation of this sacred title of ‘Bishop’ has been conferred on your Maori People. This voice does not belong to the earth but is from above, from the clouds. You have drawn back the curtain of the skies and the name of your ancestor, ‘Puhaorangi,’ [A chief on Te Arawa canoe] descended upon you.

 

Best wishes to you and your wife [mokai] and all your family who are enveloped in the calling of your ancestor, ‘Te Heketanga-a-Rangi.’ 

 

Dear lady, Rangi, let me grasp the word of your ancestor, ‘Irihapeti,’ [sic ‘Mary’] to be pondered on frequently in your heart and give joy to our distant relatives:

 

‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

My spirit rejoices in God my Saviour’

For he has looked with favour on his lowly servant;

From this day all generations will call me blessed.’   [Luke 1.46-47]

 

You have been taken in the shadow of your chief and guided with him to this sacred throne, to this sacred mound [Tuaahu] set apart as a peak for the Ruanuku. Dwell in the carved houses set apart as dwelling-places for those who are chosen. May the Creator, the Heavenly One,  bless, and keep and guide you two, your family, and your household, in the light, so that the two of you can win the battle and do the work required in the palisaded pa. In the strong name of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

From Henare Ruru,

Te Karaka, Gisborne.

 

Congratulations on the great honour that has been conferred on the Maori People. Greetings to you, the first Bishop. May you guide the people well. And may you perceive the best ways of using the funds given by the elders to the Church for the spiritual and material benefit of the people. Best wishes to you always.

 

From Tutepuaki Piti, Gisborne.

 

We salute you, the first person to occupy the position of Bishop for the Maori People. May the way be cleared as the people journey on. Although many benefits come to the people from the work of the members of Parliament, you are in a superior position and our hope is that great benefits will come to the people from your calling as a Bishop. Look widely to the well-being of all the people and not only to the Church.

 

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From L Symonds, Wellington.

 

I am delighted that you have been appointed as first Bishop of Aotearoa. You are the very best person for that eminent position – an honourable and chiefly office. Nothing better could happen to facilitate the uniting of the two peoples. I hope yu will be Bishop for the Maori for many years. May God help and strengthen you to guide the Maori People to growth in the teachings of the Christian Church. That’s all I need to say. Long live the Bishop.

 

Te Puke,

August 18^th, 1928

 

To Bennett,

Father, greetings to you and your wife and family. Father, I have seen that you have been made the Bishop for Aotearoa. That is, there is you and over you is your ancestral canoe of people supporting y0u. Praise God above who has given strength and insight to those who were chosen to make this important decision and who have conferred this honour on you. Therefore, ‘Glory and Honour and Peace on earth, and goodwill to mankind.’ [Luke 2.14] May justice increase on earth. May faith look down from Heaven. Greetings, and may you know the many blessings of God above.

 

From Hoani Retimana, and all of us.

 

Maketu,

August 27^th, 1928

From Hemana Pokiha, Maketu.

 

Tama ra e!  Tama ra koe.  You are there! It is you!

‘He was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ [Luke 15.24]

Stand in awe beyond the peak of the shadowy mountains beyond Hawaiki at Te Pae-ki-Tawhiti. Raise up the image of your ancestor, ‘Puhaorangi,’ who named your coming into this world, ‘Te Heketanga-a-Rangi.’

 

THE AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

 

We have received news from America that Hoover has become President of America. He defeated his opponent, Smith. These men put themselves up for the office of President following the resignation of Coolidge.

 

Hoover and Smith are leaders of the main political parties in America, the ‘Republicans’ and the ‘Democrats.’

 

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Hoover stood for the side that advocates the outlawing of alcohol, while Smith wanted the easing of the prohibition laws.

 

The electors voted in favour of outlawing alcohol, and we know now that most of the accounts we heard which said that the Americans wanted to do away with the laws against alcohol were false. It is said that people were not inclined to elect as President someone with a liking for booze. That sort of man was not acceptable to Americans. The Americans are firmly in favour of prohibition.

 

When will we in New Zealand follow that example?

 

When will we Maori ask for the stopping of the sale of alcoholic drink to us? What good does such drink do for us?

 

Tahupotiki. Our friend Tahupotiki [Haddon] was travelling in Hawkes Bay. But the Maori were not told and we were not able to invite him to turn aside to the villages here in Hastings. But it was good that his Pakeha people were able to welcome him to various marae and villages. He stirred people up …..  [The sentence and article ends here.]

NOT WORKING

 

The amount spent on alcoholic drinks in this Dominion in 1927 was £8,831,531. Were this money to be spent on worthwhile projects it would provide jobs for 8000 people. The Labour Party laments the lack of jobs to provide for people at this time, that is, the many ‘unemployed.’ Were the selling of alcohol to be prevented, there would be available nearly nine million pounds to provide a good living for those  eight thousand people designated as unemployed, that is those who are unable to get work to support themselves.

 

A WAR PARTY CANOE SONG EXPLAINED.

 

Ihaia Hutana, Waipawa

 

(The printer misplaced some of the lines of Ihaia’s letter. One of the lines was moved down. We have printed the corrected passage below. – Editor)

 

They were asleep on the sea, avoiding the waves of the world, the glow of the [?ko], the tattered net and the lack of food.

 

Since there was no food in this canoe, they were hungry. At sea they cast lots. The  lot fell on the tohunga who dedicated themselves to God. God sent what they prayed for. They ate manna from heaven, and fish, and birds which flew over the ocean. It was as if they were Israel eating the manna sent down from God to Moses on earth.

 

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When they landed on this beautiful land, they spread abroad their sacred possessions, the powers, the chants, the faith, arranged their songs and performed the symbolic rites.

 

Comes along the Gospel of Jesus Christ; it is joined to the sacred culture of your ancestors. I had not comprehended the variety of your ancestors – their breadth and depth. But then you look at the various Churches that came on the ships of later times and don’t comprehend them. What you see is a lack of unity in the plunging of the paddles and in the singing of their songs.

When they landed on this beautiful land, they spread abroad their sacred possessions, the powers, the chants, the faith, arranged their songs and performed the symbolic rites.

 

Comes along the Gospel of Jesus Christ; it is joined to the sacred culture of your ancestors. I had not comprehended the variety of your ancestors – their breadth and depth. But then you look at the various Churches that came on the ships of later times and don’t comprehend them. What you see is a lack of unity in the plunging of the paddles and in the singing of their songs.

 

THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON  

 

[Morning Prayer – October 29^th]

 

Chapter 2  vv 1-24

 

1 They reasoned unsoundly, saying to themselves.

‘Short and sorrowful is our life,

and there is no remedy when a life comes to its end.

and no-one has been known to return from Hades.

2 For we were born by mere chance,

and hereafter we shall be as though we had never been,

for the breath in our nostrils is smoke,

and reason is a spark kindled by the beating of our hearts.

3 When it is extinguished the body will turn to ashes,

and the spirit will dissolve like empty air.

4 Our name will be forgotten in time,

and no one will remember our works;

our life will pass away like the traces of a cloud

and be scattered like mist

that is chased by the rays of the sun

and overcome by its heat.

5 For our allotted time is the passing of a shadow

and there is no return from our death,

because it is sealed up and no one turns back.

6 Come, therefore, let us enjoy the good things that exist,

and make use of the creation to the full as in youth.

7 Let us take our fill of costly wine and perfume,

and let no flower of spring pass us by.

8 Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds before they wither.

9 Let none of us fail to share in our revelry;

everywhere let us leave signs of our enjoyment,

because this is our portion and this is our lot.

10 Let us oppress the righteous poor man;

let us not spare the widow

or regard the grey hairs of the aged.

11. But let our might be our law of right,

for what is weak proves itself to be useless.

 

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12 Let us lie in wait for the righteous man,

because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions;

he reproaches us for sins against the law,

and accuses us of sins against our training.

13 He professes to have knowledge of God,

and calls himself a child of the Lord.

14 He became to us a reproof of our thoughts;

15 the very sight of him is a burden to us,

because his manner of life is unlike that of others,

and his ways are strange.

16 We are considered by him as something base,

and he avoids our ways as unclean;

he calls the last end of the righteous happy,

and boasts that God is his father.

17 Let us see if his words are true,

and let us test what will happen at the end of his life;

18 for is the righteous man is God’s child he will help him

and will deliver him from the hand of his adversaries.

19 Let us test him with insult and torture so that we may find out how gentle he is, and make trial of his forbearance.

20 Let us condemn him to a shameful death,

for, according to what he says he will be protected.’

21 Thus they reasoned, but they were led astray,

for their wickedness blinded them,

22 and they did not know the secret purposes of God,

nor hoped for the wages of holiness,

nor discerned the prize for blameless souls;

23 for God created us for incorruption, 

and made us in the image of his own eternity,

24 but through the devil’s envy death entered the world,

and those who belong to his company experience it.

 

Morning Prayer

 

Chapter 3, vv 1-9   All Saints

 

1 But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God,
and no torment will ever touch them.
² In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died,
and their departure was thought to be a disaster,
³ and their going from us to be their destruction;
but they are at peace.
⁴ For though in the sight of others they were punished,
their hope is full of immortality.
⁵ Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good,
because God tested them and found them worthy of himself;
⁶ like gold in the furnace he tried them,
and like a sacrificial burnt-offering he accepted them.
⁷ In the time of their visitation they will shine forth,
and will run like sparks through the stubble.
⁸ They will govern nations and rule over peoples,
and the Lord will reign over them for ever.
⁹ Those who trust in him will understand truth,
and the faithful will abide with him in love,
because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones,
and he watches over his elect.

October 29, Evening Prayer

Chapter 4.7-20

⁷ But the righteous, though they die early, will be at rest.
⁸ For old age is not honoured for length of time,
or measured by number of years;
⁹ but understanding is grey hair for anyone,
and a blameless life is ripe old age.

¹⁰ There were some who pleased God and were loved by him,
and while living among sinners were taken up.
¹¹ They were caught up so that evil might not change their understanding
or guile deceive their souls.
¹² For the fascination of wickedness obscures what is good,
and roving desire perverts the innocent mind.
¹³ Being perfected in a short time, they fulfilled long years;
¹⁴ for their souls were pleasing to the Lord,
therefore he took them quickly from the midst of wickedness.
¹⁵ Yet the peoples saw and did not understand,
or take such a thing to heart,
that God’s grace and mercy are with his elect,
and that he watches over his holy ones.

¹⁶ The righteous who have died will condemn the ungodly who are living,
and youth that is quickly perfected will condemn the prolonged old age of the unrighteous.
¹⁷ For they will see the end of the wise,
and will not understand what the Lord purposed for them,
and for what he kept them safe.
¹⁸ The unrighteous will see, and will have contempt for them,
but the Lord will laugh them to scorn.
After this they will become dishonoured corpses,
and an outrage among the dead for ever;
¹⁹ because he will dash them speechless to the ground,
and shake them from the foundations;
they will be left utterly dry and barren,
and they will suffer anguish,
and the memory of them will perish.
²⁰ They will come with dread when their sins are reckoned up,
and their lawless deeds will convict them to their face.

(To be continued.)

[The above Bible Texts are from the New Revised Standard Version.]