Te Kōpara 2
Iti te Kōpara, kai takirikiri ana i runga i te Kahikatea.’
Although the bellbird is small he plucks at the kahikatea. [cf Nga Pepeha 908]
THE CENTENARY OF THE MAORI CHURCH
These few words follow those written by our friend, Peneti, in the last edition of our Bird, if you still remember the articles there. The object of those words, as we see it, was first to stir us up, we Maori, to begin to think about this very important matter, and secondly, to get our opinions as to what form our remembrance of this matter should take. We thank Peneti for raising this subject and laying it before us.
It is a proper subject, a very appropriate subject for us to consider. So, people, let us set about giving it some thought. Only by thinking about it can we focus our recollections and be zealous about looking for and seeking out the right and honourable ways to commemorate this great and notable occasion. Only by careful thought will we see and get to the depths of the aspects of this matter, bringing together the benefits we perceive it has brought and the many and great blessings that have come to fruition amongst us. By so doing our thoughts will be cast back to the time when the light shone dazzlingly upon us who have been set apart in the world of light, preparing us within to dwell in the peace prepared by our loving Heavenly Father.
It is a proper subject, a very appropriate subject for us to consider. So, people, let us set about giving it some thought. Only by thinking about it can we focus our recollections and be zealous about looking for and seeking out the right and honourable ways to commemorate this great and notable occasion. Only by careful thought will we see and get to the depths of the aspects of this matter, bringing together the benefits we perceive it has brought and the many and great blessings that have come to fruition amongst us. By so doing our thoughts will be cast back to the time when the light shone dazzlingly upon us who have been set apart in the world of light, preparing us within to dwell in the peace prepared by our loving Heavenly Father.
What are we to do? Shall we not now give any thought to this matter? Shall we not remember Mr Marsden, the man who brought these many blessings to us, the man who was subject to contempt for his efforts, but was impelled by the love of God within his so that we could enter into the blessings of the Gospel of Jesus? If we do not remember this important thing, my friends, we are being ungrateful – we are responding to that man’s goodness and great love with disdain.
[2]
There is not a single Maori living on these islands who is exempt from this because this was the source of the shining of the light on all these islands – Mr Marden’s bringing of the Gospel. Although a person may say that he belongs to a different denomination, and he is right to say so, but in the past you were of a different calling and you looked to Mr Marsden. You were pulled from the fire on your back, even the thoughtless people who regard the faith with suspicion. Sirs, you live comfortably in these days because of that event you despise, that thing you mock and laugh at.
However, these encouraging words are directed mainly to those who have been loyal to the Church from the time we were uncivilized. We have grown old in the faith and at Christmas time next year the Maori Church will be 100 years old. How are we going to commemorate this important event? Peneti has put forward the suggestion that we discuss his motion put forward at the Synod of the Diocese of Waiapu. His idea is that, now that the Maori Church has grown up, it is appropriate that it should follow the example of our Father, Mr Marsden, the ‘Father of the Maori Church’, and foster amongst us the longing (which he had) to preach the Gospel to the parts of the world still in darkness, in the same situation in which we were in the past. With this in mind it would be appropriate for Maori to send preachers to other parts of the world. Two could go to begin the work and those Maori could be supported by the Maori Church. What better idea could there be than this, an idea which would be warmly welcomed by Mr Marsden were he still alive? But, people, remember that it is for us to put this idea into action and make it happen. The time is drawing near when we will be remembering this centenary – Christmas next year. So let us draw near, let our hearts overflow. Think of the benefits you have received – think honestly and rightly and not with a low-born but with a chiefly heart. The low-born heart will not acknowledge the source of his blessings but the chiefly heart will. Give a tangible expression to the gratitude we experience and one way of doing this is to take up this proposal that has been put before us. The right tangible expression will be the provision of feathers to enable those preachers to fly and to live and work in distant lands
He ao te rangi ka uhia, he huruhuru te manu ka rere.
As clouds deck the heavens, so feathers enable the bird to fly. [cf Nga Pepeha 352].
So then, let us discipline ourselves, so that we have a fund to present to our Church for its business over Christmas ’14.
Nau te patu, na tetahi, na tetahi atu.
It is for you to strike a blow, then someomne else, and yet another person,
[3]
Only in this way will the work of the Church be strengthened and grow so that it can be described as a living Church. Only so will it be strong to send those people we have envisaged to places which have not come under the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ. There are people ready to go but how can they go if there is no support? So then, each person, each member of the Church – women, men, elders, children, elderly women, elderly men – don’t just look are yourselves, your weaknesses, your poverty, and allow these things to overcome your desire to help, or to disparage your abilities, rather, picture the Mountain of the Idea and climb to the peak and look out over all parts of Aotearoa and Te Waipounamu and there, when you see you friends, you will say, ‘Yes, some of us are setting about this now.’ In this way you will know that you are not without helpers; you are not the only one with few possessions, you are not the only one who is weak, so now get up and do it. So gather together the fruits small though they be because of our poverty, and gather together our weaknesses and presently we will see that our poverty will have been transformed into something huge beyond our imagination now, and our weakness will have been transformed into strength. As our ancestors said:
Nau te patu, na tetahi, na tetahi atu ka whati te hoariri.
Your weapon, and that of another and yet another, will cause the enemy to flee.
People, put all your effort into this project; support it and give what help you can. Show forth the fruits of grateful hearts amongst us who have received the many blessings springing from this event. Build anew our faith; lay anew a foundation that cannot be shaken for generations to come to build upon. May God bless and strengthen us.
NEWS ITEMS
Four students of Te Rau College sat examinations during the past month. Tamati te Kanapu and Wiremu Tureia sat the Third Part of the Pakeha Examination and Wana and Henare Paraone sat the Second Part. This month they will learn whether or not they have passed.
One of the old students of Te Rau Kareti has arrived at Te Rau here from Whanganui, Diocese of Wellington. He has come for the Priests’ School. In December he will be ordained Priest along with Tame Katene.
[4]
JOHN THORNTON, ESQ.
(HONE TATANA)
We are very sad that it
has taken us so long to tell of the death of this great man, Mr Thornton. His
death coincided with the death of one of his gracious gifts to us, that of Te
Pipiwharauroa. The two of them departed
at the same time and so we had to put off telling of his death until the new
paper appeared. However, although it has been some time our ancestors had words
about such deaths – the death of a great man. They would say, ‘Although the
grass grows on the grave of the body of a great leader, the lamentations, the
farewells, and the tributes go on, and the distress and the heartfelt sorrow
for him do not soon end.’ It is the case that Mr Thornton’s body was indeed
that of a great chief. He was a chief first by descent; he was secondly a chief
in his profession as principal of Te Aute; he was thirdly a chief in his
concerns and aspirations of which the whole Maori People were aware; and
fourthly, and this was something more important than all these other things and
which truly raised him up and made him a great chief, he was a man of
conviction, committed to the Faith, a faith which was not shaken or disturbed
by the many testings of the world, the flesh and the devil, even the great test
of death which he [whakaweatia sic ?whakahaweatia – despised] because of
the great joy which lay before him for he knew that before long he would enter
upon his eternal rest in the hands of his heavenly Father. He was a Christian
chief, one the Pakeha speaks of as ‘a Christian gentleman’. That man is a truly
great man who has the epithet ‘gentleman’ applied to him, but notwithstanding,
the ultimate chiefliness of a man is when his Christianity is placed alongside
his chiefliness. That is the case with this elder, Mr Thornton.
Farewell, Sir, ‘Father of
the Maori People.’ Farewell, Father of the many young people who have emerged
from Te Aute! At this time our thoughts go back to the years during which you
cared for us, your children. You reared us, fed us with the milk of knowledge,
until we became adults, grew feathers and wings, and flew, each lad to his own
place. It is not possible to give a full account of your work and your
goodness; that can only be accomplished in our hearts. Farewell. Leave us to
ponder on the last words you addressed
to us in one of the editions of Te Pipi.
Go in contentment, since
you have fulfilled your calling, you have fought the good fight,
[5]
you have laid hold of
eternal life, leaving behind a beautiful and noble example for us, your
children, to follow, for your friends to follow, for the People to follow.
This is a résumé of the
story of Mr Thornton’s life. He was born in England. He spent two years at Highbury College and went to India in 1864 under the direction of the Church
Missionary Society. He spent eleven years in India doing the task he had been sent to do – teaching
the indigenous people of India. He mastered one of the many languages of the
indigenous peoples. In 1875 he came to New Zealand. Because New Zealand was so good for his wife, who was unwell, they
decided to stay here. That year he was appointed as a teacher at Oamaru Grammar School. In 1878 he was appointed Principal of Te Aute. He
taught here for 34 years until his death. Mr Thornton was a gifted speaker, a
person with a clear understanding of the language [English], someone who never
spoke unintelligibly. It is right that we should praise this man’s works after
him and that he should be remembered by his pupils when they return to their
tribes. There are many ways of commemorating him; at this time we are
considering two: the first, a Memorial Stone; the second, a Scholarship like
the McLean Scholarship. We think that were he able to share his thoughts about
these matters with us now, although he has departed he would perhaps opt for
the Scholarship as the better of the two. We think he would say that it would
be better to spend the money on a Scholarship
rather than on a stone which is only good for people to look at, whereas
the Scholarship will go to a child and will indeed support that child at Te
Aute until he leaves. If it is not possible to provide the Scholarship, the
interest from even a small amount of money would purchase something significant
as a gift to the brightest child at Te Aute. A committee could be carefully
chosen and that committee could decide upon a subject for a competition amongst
the pupils. The pupil who won that competition would get the prize, and if the
interest on that money was sufficient to provide second and third prizes as
well, the pupils who came second and third in the competition would receive
them. We think that this is the best proposal. So, Tribes and pupils of Te
Aute, what are your thoughts on this matter? If we are able to provide the
Scholarship that would be sufficient, but if that proves impossible then we can
be content with the above proposal, and if you have a better idea for a
memorial do tell us so that we can discuss it together.
[5]
THE COMING OF THE GOSPEL
A Brief Account
1793 Samuel Marsden was sent to Port Jackson as
minister for the convicts sent there from England.
1807 During this year Mr Marsden returned to England where he asked the Church Missionary Society to
send missionaries to New Zealand. His home had become a real home for Maori going
to Port Jackson on trading and whaling ships from the time he arrived there
until he went to England this year.
1810. During this year Mr Marsden arrive back with two
missionaries who were to go to New Zealand – William Hall, a carpenter, and John King, a
shoemaker. Mr Marsden was truly delighted to find Ruatara travelling on the
same ship with him and his companions.
1810-14. During these years Mr Kendall arrived at Port
Jackson having been sent by the Church Missionary Society.
1814. At the beginning of this year Mr Marsden sent
William Hall and John King. When they
returned to Port Jackson they spoke well of the Maori.
During this year, in the
month of December, Mr Marsden sailed with his missionary companions to New Zealand. The first place at which they landed was
Whangaroa, the place at which the people on board a ship had earlier been
killed. That killing was called ‘The Massacre of the Boyd’. The first thing Mr
Marsden did was to make peace between the peoples of Whangaroa and the Bay of Islands.
December
25, 1814. On this day of that year, 1814, he came with his
companions to the Bay of Islands, to Rangihoua, the home of Ruatara. That day was a
Sunday. It was on this day that the seeds of the Faith were sown amongst the
Maori People. Mr Marsden’s text was from the Gospel of Luke 2.10, ‘Behold, I
bring you tidings of great joy.’ Ruatara translated this sermon into Maori.
◊◊◊◊◊◊◊
On Saturday, 2nd
of this month, the Rev Father Rees arrived here in Gisborne. It is three years since he first came here
and to other New Zealand towns. He came with the party of English clergy
chosen to come to New Zealand to stir up the faith of this part of the Church.
Those who heard Father Rees will not forget his words, the power and depth of
his words, the sweetness of his delivery, and the deep feeling in his heart. On
the Saturday night he arrived and began his preaching in the new church in the
town of Gisborne. In the next edition of our bird we will print
some of his sermon.
[7]
On 31st
October, Maora Pani died. She was the mother of Tame Arapata, Mrs
Woodbine-Johnson, and Matewai Mataira. This elderly lady was born before the
coming of the Faith to New Zealand. She was growing up at the time Mr Marsden arrived
in 1814. In 1834 she married her first husband.
Tame Arapata was her fourteenth child, Matewai Mataira her fifteenth,
and Te Herewiwi her sixteenth. So when this elder died she was more than one
hundred years old. It was remarkable that she retained her memory right up to
the time of her death. This elderly lady’s best friend was her Bible. Shortly
before her death her son Tame said to her, ‘Kui, have you nothing to say at the
end?’ She replied, ‘I have nothing different to say. I shall end up saying what
I always say – hold to the Faith.’ Such
last words are rarely heard these days. This should be an important lesson for
us as we contemplate the long life of this elderly lady who lived from the time
of cannibalism right up to the time when Maori and Pakeha are being brought
together under the same law. She was right to say that it was the Creator who
carried her through to these days when she was able to enter into the ways of
the new world. So her grandchildren were distressed to learn of her death. Eru
Johnson is in England to see the leading doctors there for an operation
on one of his eyes to see if it can be healed. Maora Pani, her namesake, is
nursing in Whakatane where she is known by most people as Nurse Mataira. Johnny
Halbert is in Sydney where he is learning to play the violin. Dr
Pomare’s wife is one of her grandchildren as is the wife of Wi Paraire
Rangihuna. Most of her grandchildren who were nearby at the time of her death
came to be with her. Farewell, Kui. You have been relieved of the burdens of
this life. Go to your reward at the hands of your Creator who holds on to you.
A major strike began in Wellington last month. The reason for this strike is not very
clear to those of us who live here. But from what we have picked up from the
explanations in the newspapers the origin of the dispute was the refusal of the
labourers on the wharf in Wellington to start work at the time they were supposed to start work. Instead,
at that time they held a meeting without telling their bosses about it. When the bosses saw that they were not
working they employed other men for their jobs. This was the start of the
strike. When those people returned from their meeting they demanded the return
of their jobs but the bosses did not agree. This has become a major strike
because anger has flamed up in all the large towns in New Zealand. According to the Federation of
[8]
Labour they will not stop
the fight but will lay down their lives for it. If this matter is not dealt
with then all parts of New Zealand will be fighting. The Government is seeking to
suppress this and have instructed the soldiers to be ready at all times and
more people have joined the police force.
Perhaps this is the first
time Maori have really understood what a strike is like; perhaps this is the
first time they have been confronted with it. It is indeed the case that we are
always getting news of this kind of happening at all times and in all parts of
the world. However it is only the news that reaches Maori and Maori have not
had to look at the significance of this kind of thing. When Pakeha say to Maori
that the price of a certain thing has gone up, Maori ask why. The Pakeha says that it is because of a
strike to which the Maori replies that he is telling fibs and is stealing. Now
Maori are indeed seeing that that is what happens because of the strike that
began in Wellington. People in the shop are not giving bags of sugar
to each person but are selling it by the pound. Many Maori have experienced
this kind of thing – they are really feeling the effects of the strike,
something they have not known before.
A PRAYER OF THE ELECTION
OF A BISHOP FOR THE DIOCESE OF WAIAPU.
Almighty and eternal God,
who governs all things in heaven and on earth, graciously hear the prayers of
your servants, and give us a Bishop whose teaching and whose works accord with
your will, someone who is watchful and is committed to bring life to the human
soul and to magnifying your Name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty God, we pray
that you will give the members of the Synod hearts that are aware of you so
that they may make a careful choice of a true Shepherd for this part of your
Church. Keep far from them envy, anger, and wrong thoughts, lest they fail to
choose the man you would have for this work of ministry, through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
These are the prayers set
by Bishop Averill to be used by the whole Diocese from now until the time the
Synod is held to choose the new Bishop. Other Dioceses are not discouraged from
helping in this matter and therefore these prayers have been made widely
available.
[9]
RULES
OF THE PAPER.
1. Te Kopara is published monthly.
2.
The subscription for the paper is
five shillings (5/-) a year paid by postal note or stamps.
3. Anyone wishing to take Te Kopara should
send the money with the covering letter.
4. Articles are welcome from all parts of
the country, but the Editor reserves the right to decide on what to print.
Write clearly.
5. Address all letters to:
Te Kopara,
Te Rau,
Gisborne.
A
NOTICE
To
those wanting a Prayer Book or Hymn Book. I now have plenty of books. The
prices are:
Large,
soft cover 2/6
Large,
red cover 3/-
Large,
hard cover 4/-
Large,
superior cover 5/6
Small,
soft cover 1/-
Small,
red cover 1/6
Small,
hard cover 2/6
Small,
superior cover 3/6
Prayer
Book with Hymns, soft cover 1/6
Prayer
Book with Hymns, red cover 1/-
Prayer
Book with Hymns, hard cover 3/-
Prayer
Book with Hymns, superior cover 4/-
Hymns
-/6
Words
for the Prayerful Heart 3d
I
will pay the postage to send the books to you
H
W Williams,
Te
Rau, Gisborne
People
wanting a Bible or a New Testament should apply to the Bible Depository Sunday
School Union, Auckland.
Bible,
2/6, 3/6, 4/6. Enclose a postage stamp for 1/-.
New
Testament with explanatory headings 2/6, 3/-, 4/6. Enclose a postage stamp for
3d.
Small
New Testament with Psalms 2/-, 2/6, 3/-, 3/6, 4/-. Enclose a postage stamp for
3d.
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