Te Pipiwharauroa 8

Te Pipiwharauroa 8

No.8

1898/10/01

(Maori Version at NZETC)

[1] He Kupu Whakamarama

[2] He Kupu Whakamarama, Number 8, Nelson, October, 1898. Editor: Rev F A Bennett

A PRAYER FOR THE MEETINGS OF THE MAORI CHURCH

Almighty God, you have brought together all your chosen people as a body for your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. When your people gather in one place in your name, you are present. Direct your gracious thought to this part of your Church. Bless us, the Bishop, and the ministers and the representatives of the people, who have gathered here to make plans.

Pour out upon us the many gifts of your Holy Spirit, wisdom, knowledge, power, love and discernment, that we may seek in all our works your glory, advance the well-being of your people, and enlarge your kingdom. Let nothing be done amongst us out of contention or conceit or fear of men. Let nothing be wrongly done because of disobedient thoughts or human desires, but let everything be carefully laid down so that your Church will grow well in our midst. May we all do the work you have arranged for us to do. May we be drawn together in faith and love. May we be one in our thoughts and our speaking, to your glory. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

AN ACCOUNT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE SEVENTH HUI TOPU OF THE MAORI CHURCH IN THE DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND, HELD AT PARAWAI, HAURAKI.

The Hui Topu of the Maori Church of the Diocese of Auckland met at Holy Trinity Church at Parawai, Hauraki, on Wednesday and Thursday, 23rd, 24th March, 1898. The opening service was at 10 a.m. One hundred and thirty people were present and 68 took part in the Lord’s Holy Communion. The collection amounted to £2.6s.0p and was designated for the printing of the proceedings of the gathering. Soon after, the meeting convened with Rev. Matiu Kapa calling out the members’ names. After his prayer, the Chairman declared that the meeting was constituted according to law. Afterwards the Chairman spoke.

A summary of the Primate’s speech.

He paid tribute to Bishop John Richardson Selwyn and the Reverends Rapata Para and Wiremu Turipona, Church leaders who had died since the last Hui Topu in 1895.

He spoke of the gathering of Bishops in England. Those attending were all the bishops subscribing to the tenets of our Church. He spoke also of the actions of the General Synod of this Province which met in Christchurch in February. That synod made provision for Maori laymen to participate in Diocesan synods. He also expressed his sympathy to the Maori people on the loss of their islands. The reason for the rapid loss was the failure of the Maori people to look after themselves. He found fault with many bad Maori habits – the bad state of the houses, sleeping together, wearing wet clothing, and other bad things that hurt people. Then he spoke of the Maori clergy, of their impoverishment because of the small contributions to funds. Although a man may be prepared at the college at Turanga and be chosen for ordination, there is a chance that he will not agree because there will be no living wage for him should he become a minister. It is for you, the Maori Church, to find a way to make adequate provision for the livelihood of your ministers. You must stop looking to the Pakeha section; they have the job of supporting their own ministers. Maori wish to set up a girls’ school in the vicinity of Auckland. Boys have St Stephen’s School and it is right that the girls should want a school. What good is it educating only boys and not girls? Women have the task of raising children and if there are faults with the way they are fed, clothed and taught, then the people will not improve but [3] will still cling to the ignorant ways of the ancestors. Pakeha friends have begun to collect for that school. Similarly you must make every effort to be involved with setting up an institution in which coming generations will grow to be leaders and to be upright. Pakeha have no desire to see Maori disappear, or be the lowest in society, but rather they want you to enter with them into our worthwhile enterprises, and so they have asked you all not to be idle but to set up that school.

Greetings to Mother Selwyn

We, the members of the Hui Topu of the Maori Church in the Diocese of Auckland, assembled at Hauraki on 23rd March, 1898, express their sympathy to Mother Selwyn on the death of her son, John Richardson Selwyn, Bishop of Melanesia, and to his widow and their children. He has entered into his rest and his works follow him. The Maori still remember the elder Bishop Selwyn and the vigour of his work in the Church amongst Pakeha and Maori which extended to the peoples of the islands, and your son trod in the footsteps of his father. We remember that he was born at Waimate and how he flourished. Ngapuhi was his tribe.

Alas! What grief! The falling of John Richardson is like the falling of the shady rata. The Church is shaken.

So, we are praying that you may all find comfort in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Farewell Speech of Wiremu Turipona

To all of Ngati Maru, greetings. I have one intention, to hold up the torch of Hauraki. By the torch of Hauraki can be seen the good and the bad, the right, the way of calm, the way of love and grace. Hold to the precepts of Hauraki so that false teachings will not be permitted. Let not your facial decorations be washed off but hold on to the faith by which we shall enter into the glory of God.

So, may God protect you, may the Holy Spirit strengthen you, so that you will all be found in the presence of the Almighty.

From your father who is hidden from your eyes.

From Wiremu Te Pea

The following amounts are the offerings for the support of ministry in the Archdeaconry of Waimate as at June 1st, 1898. Mangakaahia £300.4.8, Ahipara £149.0.0, Kaikohe £266.5.0, *Waiparera £100.0.0, Kaitaia £105.10.0, Waimate £161.13.0, Paihia £474.10.7, Parengarenga £277.1.6, *Hokianga £305.0.0, Whangarei £228.8.4, *Rarawa £200.0.0, Parapara £533.0.0, Whangaroa £80.8.0, Waimamaku £248.15.0, +Ripia £19.10.6, +Kapehua £38.0.0, +Parirauewha £21.0.0, +Taita £500.0.0.

*This money is from the parishes of Hokianga.

+This money is from the parishes of Te Wairoa, Kaipara.

THE MAORI TOHUNGA

‘The land remains while the people disappear.’[cf. Nga Pepeha 2130, 2131]

To the publisher of Te Kupu Whakamarama.

Friend, greetings to you who work this good work, sending light to the places of Aotearoa and Te Waipounamu which are dwelling in darkness. We congratulate you.

I have a few words that I would like heard by Maori people in all the places reached by your Kupu Whakamarama. They will determine the good or the bad, the right or the wrong of these words concerning the Maori Tohunga who work amongst us.

Although I am not a very old man I have heard much about and seen much of the work of the Maori Tohunga. The works I see are only bad.

I could tell the names of the tohunga I know of and tell about the things I have seen, but let them be forgotten. But their evil fruits will be exposed to view.

Many elders still possess the ancient knowledge and disapprove of the works of today’s tohunga and say that they are deceitful. And so I speak out, and it is not only I who say these things but [4] all people who condemn the misleading deeds of the tohunga.

However most Maori believe in the works of the tohunga.

This is something overthrown by the Scriptures and I wonder at the number of people in the Church who participate in these goings-on.

I know that many of the elders of the Church follow the ways of the tohunga. Perhaps this word to them may light up the understanding in their hearts and they will abandon those deceitful ways

I am someone who believed in the works of the tohunga when I was a child when I lived in darkness. For five years I lived with the Pakeha and believed in these things. During the sixth year an understanding of Christ entered my heart whereupon the darkness was cast out along with belief in the tohunga.

I achieved much knowledge of our people, the bad, the evil of these things, and lest I be obstructed I set them apart.

This Maori practice of ours makes a person unstable. Let us rather get to know the Pakeha treatments, and we will come out better equipped to do battle with deceitful incantations.

When I was a child that evil was of little significance. Now it is a thing of great strength. Therefore I speak out, friends, and warn that Satan keeps a watch on his boundary post amongst us, the Maori.

God will give understanding, so that we can see off these false prophets who sweep away a man and his spirit into darkness, the consequence of vicious deeds.

But, my friends, this not why I write these things; rather it is out of love and out of sadness for our Maori people, who are being confused. And understand also, if God wills, in these coming years I will undertake a battle against these tohunga, indeed, I will be the leader of those charging into battle.

So be it,

Taki-o-te-rangi,

The College, Te Aute,

Heretaunga.

THE DEATH OF THE REV HETA TARAWHITI

On 24th July Rev Hohua Moanaroa died. On 29th August his fellow-worker, Rev Heta Tarawhiti, also died. He died at Taupiri.

These two were the senior ministers in the Diocese of Auckland. They were made deacons on 4th March 1860 by Bishop Selwyn. In 1866 Heta was ordained priest, also by Bishop Selwyn.

His ancestors were of true chiefly descent, of the hapu of Te Ngaungau, of Ngatimahuta. He was baptised by Archdeacon Maunsell.

For twelve years Heta was a teacher. He it was who ran the school for girls at Taupiri. In 1858 he went to St Stephen’s School, Auckland, to train for the ministry. His teachers were Bishop Selwyn, Sir W Martin, and one of the Archdeacons, Archdeacon Kissling. His friends there were Hohua Moanaroa, Raniera Kawhia, Matiu Taupaki, and Pirimona Karari. Not one of these elders is still living. After his ordination Heta was appointed as minister for Taupiri. He stayed there during the time of the battle against the Pakeha, and he was diligent in promoting the things of the faith although much was destroyed in the troubles and in the fighting.

He suffered from rheumatism for three years and was not able to get about. In the last days of August he died.

‘Blessed are those who die in the Lord in the coming days! Indeed! According to the Spirit, they will rest from their labours and their works will follow them.’ (Revelation 14.13)

SINNER, THIS LETTER IS FOR YOU!

Its intention is that you may have hope, that your heart may know contentment, that you may have joy and peace.

It always pleases God to save the person who turns to him. So, pray to him. His word will never fail. Believe in Jesus Christ and you will live.

Remember, ‘The Lord is waiting to bless you.’ Now, do not attend to the things of Satan. He says that you should not think about what God has done, that your wickedness is great, and it will not be done away with. This is a lie, because, ‘the blood of his Son, Jesus Christ, cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1.17).’

 [5]

Do not be backwards.

Do not do your own will,

Rather dowhat he wills

And you will be aware of your failings.

In the time of sadness the silent prayer will bring light and peace to the heart. But persist in prayer.

The heart afflicted by sin, the chastened heart grieving its wrongdoing, crying out to be saved – these show that you are near to salvation. These are the things God desires.

Remember that by yourself you can do nothing that will please God. But do not despair. God delights to give the Holy Spirit to the person who prays to him. To one whose spirit is seeking he will give a penitent and faithful heart, and a prayerful heart too. He will not withhold it.

Heading for Hell! But evil people and those who ignore God are heading rather for Hell (Psalm 9.17). How dreadful is this saying!

What are you to do, sinner, to escape from the fate of these wicked people?

‘Repent, believe in the Lord, even Jesus Christ, and you will live (Acts 16.31).’

‘Not one of the sins you have committed will be remembered against you (Ezekiel 33.16).’

Although it is eleven o’clock, the Lord will save you. His salvation is accomplished. Now don’t let your heart perish. Rather, accept salvation. Who is going to show mercy and give you life in heaven tomorrow?

The day of reckoning, of judgement is near.

Will things be well for you on that day? Will your fate be like that of the foolish people? Are you waiting for your spirit to be taken from you by death? Thousands, thousands have done this and are now in eternal suffering. Look! I’ve stood in the past beside the bed of a man like that. He had not thought before about death. Many words of exhortation were directed at him. However when death came his thoughts were not on heavenly things and he died without repenting. The time to deal with God is while one lives. At the time of death, at the very death bed, one can be saved if one repents – if one repents (Luke 24.47). But it is foolish to delay seeking salvation.

In the above verse you see the great love of God: he does not want a sinner to perish. (Ezekiel 33.11). He will not cast out anyone who comes to him with a crushed heart, a humbled heart, trusting in the works of his Son.

(To be concluded.)

THE COUNTRY OF THE CHINESE

It is said that there are 386,000,000 people in China. Their land covers 4,000,000 square miles.

If you could gather together all the people of China, then tell them to go one by one, and you set up a tallyman at a gate, and one person every second goes through the gate day and night, it will be seventeen years before that man will complete his counting because there are so many people.

If those Chinese who have embraced the faith were counted in the same way, after three days the counting would be finished. Look then, my friends, at the work facing the ministers stationed here. In three days one could count the Chinese who believe while it would take seventeen years to complete the count of those who do not have faith.

It is said by those from there who know that 1,400 people die every hour of every day. In one day more than 33,000 die. One fifth of all the people of the world are Chinese.

The ministers of our Church together with the women preaching in China number 230. They say that there are more than a million villages untrodden by the feet of those who preach the Good News.

The ministers of our Church have been very effective.

In the year 1842 only six Chinese took the Sacrament. This year there are more than 70,000.

Since August 1896 many more Chinese have sought the teachings of our faith. For 36 years Archdeacon Wolfe [6] has been preaching in that land. He says that then the Chinese began to listen carefully to the word proclaimed to them. He says that sometimes a thousand people come to listen to the sermons. Many have been baptized. Those Chinese who believe are very zealous to set up opportunities for their families and their people to seek to discover salvation for themselves in our Lord.

One bad custom of that people is the binding of the feet of their children to keep them small – so that they don’t grow and become big. Common people have large feet. During the past year the Chinese Government has issued a proclamation that this practice should cease. It was our ministers who began the assault on that foolish custom. Now people agree with what they say.

The education in their schools includes the writing by the children of lively stories about Noah and his family, the generations of people following the Flood.

Some big schools have been opened in China for men and women. All the ethos of these schools is based on the principles of the faith.

LAST WORDS

1. The artists in Christchurch are designing the name [masthead] for our paper.

2. There is no space in this paper to answer the two questions that have arrived. In the November edition we will answer them and also the letters.

3. At the beginning of March a big event will be held at the home of Mrs Hunter-Brown in Nelson. It will sell artifacts. All the money raised by the sale of those objects will be sent to carry the Good News to distant places. O peoples and hapu of all these places, take note of what the Pakeha are doing. This is a summons to all of you to support this work. Set about fashioning Maori things – flax kits, fibre bags, mats, poi, carvings – such Maori things as will be purchased by the Pakeha. The fruit of such things is to facilitate the spread of the Gospel in your districts. They will also be supporting the Chinese, the Africans, the people of India, and those who live in the islands of the Melanesia.

4. Our bird is also singing out for some seeds to help it survive. Send your tokens of affection.

SEPTEMBER’S SEEDS FOR THE FEEDING OF OUR BIRD

Rev. Ranapia M Hape, Parawai, Thames 0.5.0

Rewiti Kohere, Christchurch 0.2.0

Rev Hoeta Te Hata, Taupo 0.3.0

Rev Matiu Kapa 0.4.0

Herepete Papihana, Kaitaia, Mangonui 0.2.6

Mohi Te Ataihikoia, Waimarama, Hastings 0.2.6

Heni McDonnell, Putiki, Whanganui 0.10.0

We are grateful to you for your concern. We make no charge for our bird. But by the generosity of people our bird will live long.

Do send articles you have seen for the edification of the people, also your articles about the Church, and your questions.

May God bless you all.

From Rev. P Peneti,

Nelson.

Bond, Finney & Co, Printers, Nelson.