Te Pipiwharauroa 2

Te Pipiwharauroa 2

No. 2

1898/04/01

(Maori Version at NZETC.)

[1] HE KUPU WHAKAMARAMA

[2] Number 2, Nelson (Whakatu), April 1898. Editor: F. Bennett.

AN AID TO THE WORK OF THE CHURCH.

As a result of Maori and Pakeha seeking a new way to assist the work of the Lord, a notice went out throughout the Nelson area that Maori should give some thought to this object. Wednesday, 30th March, was set down as the day for people to gather at Whakatu to present their offerings there.

Maori gifts were presented: piupiu [flax girdles], flax baskets, decorated calabashes, and other Maori artefacts. They also gathered together potatoes, chickens, eggs and other things to sustain the body. All these things were given out of a desire to further the work of the Church in proclaiming the Gospel in distant lands.

Many Pakeha came together to look and to purchase some things for themselves.

It was not Maori alone who did these things. People with an interest in the work of Bishop Wilson of Melanesia gathered to see the clubs, the spears, the ear ornaments and other treasured possessions of our brothers and sisters who live on the islands of the ocean.

That event was a good way of helping further the work of the faith. It was not arduous. Food was laid out for the visitors.

The sum raised by this effort was £40.

The committee is holding this money.

It will be divided between the work of the Maori section, the people of Melanesia, and propagating the Gospel in the land of the Chinese.

A HARVEST THANKSGIVING

Some of the Maori people of the districts of Motueka, Whakapuaka, and Takaka, have been reflecting how God has given the moisture to grow all the fruit of the earth to sustain people, and have concluded that it is right for them to set aside a Sunday to praise God for his blessings to them.

On 28th February people gathered at Te Ahurewa Church, Motueka. The church was decorated with all the produce of the land by which the people of those districts are sustained – oats, wheat, barley, hops, rye, potatoes, kumara, melons, apples, pears, plums, peaches and many other fruits. The church looked beautiful. Some Pakeha ladies, friends of the Maori, were responsible for putting each item of produce in place.

The Pakeha approved greatly of this event which happened amongst the Maori.

Immediately after Morning Prayer the Sacrament was celebrated.

After dinner the children of the Whakarewa Orphanage gathered together with the Maori children. The church was filled with children. This was a Pakeha service.

At seven, Evening Prayer was held for the Maori. Soon after this service all of us gathered in the old church to give thanks for the blessings and the love of God. The gathering agreed that the day’s collections and the amount raised by the sale of the produce used to decorate the church should be sent to help the Maori school soon to be established at Whangarae (Croixelles).

THE DEATH OF MAJOR KEEPA TE RANGIHIWINUI

Great sadness and distress spread amongst Maori and Pakeha friends [3] with the circulation by the newspapers of the news of the death of Major Keepa.

It is not possible to speak here of all the great achievements of that man, Because of his great love for his Maori people, he was widely extolled as a notable chief, a leader who inaugurated projects for the good of the people. The Pakeha newspapers spoke of him in this fashion: ‘A courageous man, a man who was loyal to his friends and gentle towards his enemies.’ The name of Major Keepa was widely known throughout these islands for his courage and fighting spirit in the time of the war. As he grew older, with the cessation of fighting and the descent of peace upon people, he sought the best ways for the betterment of the Maori side. His name was associated with all the activities of the Association. He helped a great deal in days gone by with the many projects of our Church.

Formerly it was said by the tribes coming to Whanganui that Putiki was the supporting post of the faith. Although because of the fighting and the troubles there has been a decline in faith, in recent years that saying has been true of Putiki, it is indeed the supporting post of the faith. Why? Because of the many ways that elder has commended the tenets of the faith. God has greatly blessed that man, his village and his people.

He was a chief who was committed to getting rid of all intoxicating drinks. During these many years past no strong drink has come near him, or onto the marae of his village. The Pakeha newspapers said that around 1500 Maori gathered for the funeral, and there was no evidence of drunkenness there.

People, observe this occurrence. This aspect of the funeral is seen as a matter of wonder by the thousands who came to Putiki. Pakeha leaders find drinking at funerals extremely disgusting. You Maori leaders, look to them as an example of the behaviour appropriate for leaders.

At Major Keepa’s burial it is said that nearly 11,000 people were at the graveside expressing their love.

So, farewell, Koro, farewell, farewell. Although you are lost to us, your work goes on and your words are remembered. Farewell, farewell. Evening came and you were delivered from the evil of this world. The heart still grieves for you. But here we have a man of faith, a servant of the Lord, and you have surely arrived in the world of light while we are left behind in this dark world. The seeds you have sown will bear fruit after you. Paul’s words apply to you: ‘Although he has died, he still speaks.’ (Hebrews 11.4).

THE BOOK OF MORMON.

Contributed by Mr Grace.

Where does that book come from? You can read the answer to this question below. You must understand that that thing is a fabrication, a human fraud.

Joseph Smith says that this book was discovered by him in the earth, a thing revealed to him by an angel on 22nd September 1823. Then, on 22nd September 1827, four years afterwards, he says that that book was placed in his hands by the angel.

However this is a true account of the doings of Joseph Smith. In 1809 that man lived with Solomon Spalding [or Spaulding], a minister at New Salem, Ohio, America. This man was a scholar. He decided to write a fictitious book saying that the Native Americans were the scattered and lost Ten Tribes of Israel. That man wrote his book. He worked on it for three years and, when it was finished he named it ‘Manuscript, Found’. There were two main characters in that fanciful book, Mormon and his son Moroni. In 1812 Solomon Spalding sent his fanciful book to Paterson to be printed. But before it was completed Solomon Spalding died and after him. Paterson. At this point the book was taken by Paterson’s worker, Sidney Rigdon, and with Joseph Smith he made up the story that the book was found in the earth. Now the wife, family and friends of Spalding have all testified to the deceitfulness of Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon.

We have the words of John Spalding, younger brother of Solomon Spalding, sworn on oath: ‘I have read the Book of Mormon. The stories and the names in it are all like those in the fictional book written by my brother. As I see it, the Book of Mormon is my brother, Solomon Spalding’s book. Only the religious matter has been added

Hear what Solomon Spalding’s widow said: ‘My husband and I lived at New Salem when he was writing his fictional book, which he called ‘Manuscript, Found.’ Because he was being frivolous the story inside is said to be by a man of Israel and written in ancient times and it has been discovered in the ground. That fictional story was published by Solomon Spalding for the entertainment of his wife. John Spalding also knew all the stories in it. Sidney Rigdon also knew all the stories in it [text illegible] and took the book for himself. In his time ‘The Book of Mormon’ was published. Now, when it was published the people of New Salem recognised it, with additions, as the fictional story of Solomon Spalding – and the people of New Salem ridiculed Joseph Smith’s fabrication. That happened in 1834. ‘When Doctor Huribut spoke to me of the fabrications of Joseph Smith, I was sad. I said that if my husband was till alive he would have been sad at Joseph Smith’s meddling with his fictitious story. Doctor Huribut was a leading person in the Mormon Church but when he discovered that it was untrue he left that Church.

(To be concluded.)

MONEY SENT TO SUPPORT OUR MAGAZINE.

The cost of printing the ‘Kupu Whakamarama’ is £24 a year.

If we feed our bird a great deal then it will grow quickly and increase in size.

Mr C Hunter-Brown, Nelson £1 0 0

Mr J Blyth, Nelson 1 1 0

Mr Hemi Matenga, Nelson 0 5 0

Rev F W Chatterton. Nelson 1 0 0

Mrs Pare Paaka, Motueka 0 10 0

Miss Minton, Napier 0 10 0

Mrs Duckworth, Blenheim 1 0 0

Per Rev A O Williams

Putiki Church Collection 0 10 0

Mrs Williams’ Sewing Class 0 10 0

Total 6 0 0

Bond, Finney, and Co. Printers, Waimea Street.