(Maori Version at Papers Past.)
[3] Te Kopara, Number 21, Gisborne, July, 1915.
‘Iti te Kopara, kai takirikiri ana i runga i te Kahikatea.’
Although the Bellbird is small, he plucks at the Kahikatea. [cf Nga Pepeha 908]
THE HOLY BIBLE (VI).
When you have obtained a Bible keep in mind the reason why this treasure was given to you. In it St Paul says that it is ‘the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation’ (Ephesians 1.13). According to St Peter it is the means whereby a person is born anew as a child of God (1 Peter 1.23). According to the Apostle James ‘it has power to save our souls’ (James 1.21). Here also are the stories given by God for people to believe, about the love of God who sent his Son to give eternal life to all who believe in him.
It is not only the means whereby a person comes to new birth, it is also the means whereby he grows and comes to maturity, as Peter says, ‘Like new-born infants long for the pure, spiritual milk of the word, so that by it you may grow’ (1 Peter 2.2). Paul also has it that ‘by Scripture that is able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus’ (2 Timothy 3.15).
The body of the newborn infant will not grow, the health of the elder will not be maintained, if they are not fed continually every day with suitable food; likewise a person will not grow, will not increase in strength, if one does not go on being fed each day with food suitable for the soul. It is clear from the above statements that the word of God to be found in the Bible is a means whereby the soul of a person will grow and come to maturity if one continually learns from it.
The body of a person is not content to wait for a week before taking food, rather he eats every day lest he stops growing and becomes weak; nor will the soul survive if it is not fed with suitable food each day. So Christ also instructed us to pray like this for ourselves to our heavenly Father, ‘Give us this day our daily bread’ (Matthew 6.11). The things we are praying for are the things which will sustain the soul along with the body. We are to pray this day for sustenance for this day; and let us pray at the same time that we may discover the treasures
[4]
in the Scriptures. As for us, it is as if we are coming from a place of deep darkness, we are unable to see the way clearly, and so we pray this prayer, ‘Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk’ (Psalm 143.8 AV); ‘Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path’ (Psalm 119.105). In this way we will know clearly the ‘good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them’ (Ephesians 2.10 AV).
Hold onto always the memory of God’s instruction to Joshua, ‘This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it’ (Joshua 1.8 NRSV).
The thing for which the people of Beroea were commended was that they ‘examined the scriptures every day to see whether these things were so’ (Acts 17.11)
Don’t let a day go by without learning the things in the Holy Bible.
THE DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.
The Bishop’s Address to the Tauwhare Hui.
My younger and elder brothers, Ministers and Lay Representatives, who have gathered here to seek ways of growing our Church amongst the Maori People, greetings.
1. The Movement of Clergy.
I am very happy that James McWilliams has returned amongst us to work with the Maori People. The Rev T Manuera has moved from Hauraki to Ahipara; the Rev Hone Karaka has moved from Kaitaia to Hauraki; and the Rev M P Kapa has moved from Te Paina to Te Kao for two years. Two men are studying at Te Rau College and it is my intention to ordain them as deacons this year. One of them will serve as a colleague of the Rev Hori Raiti in the Waikato, and one will help the Rev Wiki Te Paa in the Wairoa district.
2. Confirmation.
People should be thoroughly prepared for confirmation. I would prefer a few who have been well taught to many who have not been well prepared. Some people think that the Lord’s Supper is only for the elderly.
[Pages 5 & 6 are missing.]
[7]
THE WAR IN THE WEST.
Not many accounts have arrived of the fighting in the West. In the past we received news of how Germany was devoting its efforts to getting to Calais. That is still the case now; there is no new story. We think that because it is taking so long for Germany to get to Calais the English and French are holding them back. The plan would seem to be, because the two parties have been so long confronting one another and trying to throttle each other, that there will now be a battle between them, but not yet. Perhaps it will be a little while before we see a major battle, but it is not far off.
The Italians.
This major Austrian town is now surrounded by the Italians. The name of the town is Gorizia. The fighting in that place has been going on for six weeks and it is thought that it will not be long before it falls to the Italians. The Italians are a very brave people: indeed, in the fighting spoken of above a Colonel asked the army under him if some of them would go to dynamite the trenches of the enemy, and not one of them declined. The Colonel chose 49 to go.
When they reached them the 49 dynamited the heaped-up barbed wire defences and then plunged into the enemies water trenches. A very large number of the enemy fell. Of this party, most of them suffered no injuries.
Gallipoli.
No new major battle has taken place at Gallipoli in the Dardanelles. But it is now thought that it will not be long before the men of New Zealand and Australia reach Constantinople. Russia has taken over most of the Black Sea, and the growing dominance of the Allies at sea in the Dardanelles is seen as a sign that Turkey is facing defeat. Many New Zealand soldiers have received medals for bravery.
Although Germany is devoting its efforts to getting to Warsaw, Russia is strongly preventing this. There is fierce fighting between the two sides at present.
[8]
The Maori Contingent.
On 22nd May, Tawhai Kohere wrote his letter to his brothers, the Revs Reweti Kohere and Poihipi Kohere, and Henare. After the commiserations and other matters, he wrote of how the Governor of Malta, Lord Methuen, visited them. When the Governor made his first visit to them they pleaded with him to send them to the fighting. The Governor said to them that he did not have the authority but to leave it to him to speak with Lord Kitchener. On the Governor’s second visit to see them he told them that the New Zealand Government had agreed with Lord Kitchener that they could go to fight in France or in the Dardanelles. But the choice lay with the individual; if he wished to stay then he could. Then the Governor said to them, ‘Those of you who do not wish to go to the front, shoulder arms’; the Governor’s actual words were, ‘Slope arms!’ Not one of the more than 400 moved. People were amazed at this behaviour on the part of the Maori soldiers and it made the headlines in all the Pakeha papers.
Lord Kitchener’s Troops.
We English have been critical of our commanding General, Lord Kitchener. But there have been words of praise from the enemy, the Germans, for the insight of this man, Lord Kitchener, in the way he has deployed his troops from the beginning of the war until now. The most remarkable thing is the way those soldiers have been trained in a very short time and their training equals that of the German soldiers.
OTHER ITEMS.
It appears from the news items that the Maori Contingent has arrived at the battle front in the Dardanelles as we have seen the name of a Maori soldier in the list of names of those who have been honoured as having been wounded or killed in the fighting. Their names are published every day. The Maori soldier mentioned was wounded in the shoulder. His name, his Maori name, was not clear.
[9]
‘Rangi’ was the only decipherable part. His name was the first entry in the roll of honour.
There was a disaster in America this week. A ship capsized and 1,300 people died in the water. These people were going to a picnic. When the ship sailed from the wharf it tilted. With the ship tilting all the people fell to the same side. The weight of the people meant that the ship overbalanced and filled with water. Most of the people fell into the water; some died in the cabins of the ship when they filled with water. Very few of the people survived; the many mentioned above died.
THE WAR IN AFRICA.
General Botha is being praised in these days, but there will surely be more praise for him in the future. General Botha’s skill in moving his soldiers meant that the Germans were quickly defeated and there will be a quick end to the war in Africa. Thousands of telegrams have arrived for General Botha praising his efforts. One of the telegrams he received came from the King. General Botha is a Boer but is loyal to the English. He is the Prime Minister of the South African Government, the part under English rule. He left his position as Prime Minister to be General in command of the English soldiers.
MAORI SOLDIERS WHO HAVE BEEN WOUNDED.
It is certain that the Maori have arrived in the war. These are the names of those who have been wounded:
G R REWA wounded in the leg.
H R KENETI wounded in the thigh.
T TE WHARE wounded in the thigh.
T MIHAERE wounded in the knee.
FOOD FOR TE KOPARA.
C P Davies, 11/-; Rangi Ngahiraki, Rangi Rautahi, Lipa Anaru, Rev W T Praser, Rewi Tamihana, Tihi Whaanga, Huri Korimete, 5/- each; Waaka Paweherua, 10/;
Rev W G Williams, £1; Rev Ahipene Rangi, 10/-.
[10]
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/-
Prayer Book, New Testament and Hymns, red cover, 3/6
Prayer Book, New Testament and Hymns, superior cover, 5/6
Hymns 6d
Words for the Prayerful Heart 3d
I will pay the postage to send the books to you
H W Williams,
Naurea, 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 the Psalms. 2/-, 2/6, 3/-, 3/6, 4/-. Enclose a postage stamp for 3d.
No comments:
Post a Comment