Te Kopara 43
[3] Te Kopara, Number 43, Gisborne, 15 May, 1917.
‘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 LIFE HEREAFTER
By W Tureia Puha, Uawa.
Chapter VI – ‘The Resurrection.’
The resurrection from Te Reinga of those who have died is one of the most important things for our hearts to consider and think about because it supports what has been pointed out in previous articles in Te Kopara, namely, that Te Reinga is not the ultimate destination for us, for our souls. If Te Reinga is our ultimate destination then what I’ve said is not right, but a resurrection is quite another thing.
Secondly, it validates this idea that the souls in Te Reinga are being prepared for the Kingdom of God. The Spirit of Christ went to preach to the souls in Te Reinga. If Te Reinga was the destination of a person’s life there was no purpose in his going to Te Reinga. But it is because there is a life beyond that his Spirit went to preach. However, you readers of these few words, recall the words that appeared in Te Kopara, that what we do in this world determines what things will be like for us in Te Reinga. If what we do in this world is good then our life in that world we be easy; if it is bad then our life will be difficult in that world. Therefore let us be careful what we do in the world and do what is right and true.
1. Christ is the Example for those who have died. ‘Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.’ (1 Corinthians 15.20) This tells us that all those who have died will at the right time be raised as Christ was raised from the dead. And we are clear about the resurrection of Christ. Accounts are in the four Gospels and in the 15th Chapter of the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians. There is no need for us to pursue the reliability and the truth of the resurrection of the Lord; that is something we are clear about. But rather I want
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to establish in our hearts the conviction that the dead will be raised as Christ was raised.
The Apostle Paul says (1 Corinthians 15.16), ‘If the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised.’ The Apostles strongly declares to us his conviction that resurrection awaits the dead. We know that Christ was raised therefore the dead will similarly we raised. We are clear that, yes, the dead will also be raised.
2. Our Lord also affirms that resurrection awaits those who have died. The Sadducees came – a group who do not believe that there is a resurrection – to test Christ and their question was about a woman who had seven husbands. She married the first who subsequently died leaving his wife to his younger brother; the same happened to the second right up to the seventh, and then the woman died. Then they asked, ‘In the resurrection, then, whose wife of the seven will she be?’ [Matthew 22.28] This is Christ’s reply: ‘You are wrong because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage,’ and so on. We see from this that Christ affirms the resurrection of those who die. So we understand that those who have fallen asleep will be rise again.
3. Will those who have fallen asleep have the same bodies we have now when they are raised? This is a question for us to consider. The answer is, no. Our bodies in this world are described as lowly bodies by Paul the Apostle. It is our spirits that give strength to our bodies. Our bodies are under the rules of this natural world, the laws of this world, besides the laws made by man. Our bodies are created by God as suitable for this world only. Our bodies do not have the ability to walk on water or to fly, or to do things that are not permitted by the laws of this universe. Therefore our bodies are under the natural laws of this world and they were created as a dwelling-place for our souls for this world alone. When someone dies they leave their body to this world and their spirit goes to the place appropriate for it, Te Reinga. When the appropriate time for the resurrection comes all those who have died will be raised.
Christ is the exemplar of the resurrection of the dead. When Christ rose, the Bible says that he carried the marks of his crucifixion on his body. Christ said to Thomas: ‘Stretch out your finger and see my hands; stretch out you hand and thrust it into my side.’ [John 20.27] The body of Christ then was like his body in
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this world. It is true that it was his body, but it was different, it was what Paul called ‘a spiritual body.’ ‘It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body.’ [1 Corinthians 15.44] This body has been brought under the authority and power of the Spirit, and the laws of this world have no authority over that body.
When Christ came to his disciples he appeared even though the door was shut. He did not knock for it to be opened for him but he came and stood in the middle of the room. (John 20.26) This is an indication of the nature of the spiritual body. The natural body is not like this. The walking of Christ on the lake was a different miracle; it was not something usual. See!
This is the situation for the dead – they will all be raised on the day chosen by the creator of all things. After all these things we see the permanent dwelling of the faithful people, of which God says: ‘Come, you that are blessed … inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’ [Matthew 25.34]
The End.
THE HUI TOPU AT OMAAHU, HASTINGS.
On Sunday, 22nd April, the Bishop of Waiapu, Bishop Sedgwick, and the Archdeacon of Hawkes Bay came to Omaahu for the main morning service. Because a large number of people had gathered the service took place on the marae. Afterwards the Lord’s Supper was celebrated in the church and many also received the Sacrament.
In the afternoon the memorial stone to Hana Hinemanu and Roka Tukotahi Winiata was unveiled.
On the Monday at 10 a.m. the Hui Topu began. Twelve Maori ministers attended the hui along with the Bishop and the Archdeacon of Hawkes Bay.
On the Tuesday afternoon the business of the hui ended. The report of the hui has been printed.
The three Hawkes Bay parishes of Waipawa, Waipatu and Moteo, are collectiong for the stipend fund and aim to raise £7000 to provide for the support of the Hawkes Bay clergy. They have almost reached their total. Therefore, all the
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parishes within this Diocese, make every effort to support the faith and follow the example of Hawkes Bay.
Our hearts were touched and wondered at the excellent organisation of the hui and at the absence of any trouble on the marae. The local people made every effort to be hospitable to all those who came to the hui.
W Tureia Puha.
THE BISHOP’S ADDRESS.
My dear brothers, clergy and lay representatives. Greetings.
I welcome you in the name of Christ to our Hui Topu.
You know that in 1911 the Hui was held at Wai-o-matatini, in 1914 at Ohinemutu, and this year it is at Omaahu. The Hui has now been held in three parts of our Diocese.
I have made up my mind that our Hui Topu will return to Manutuke later. It was the place that had been arranged but because the church was burned down it was agreed to move the location.
There are good reasons why the Hui should move about to other places but remember that one main purpose of this Hui is to bring together all corners of the Diocese therefore we want a place that is central for all of us. This is the main reason why I have decided to convene the Hui at Manutuke in the future.
But the annual hui will be held in various places.
Hui Topu are the appropriate settings to deal with the important business affecting the whole Diocese.
Sometimes it is appropriate for us to deal with issues hindering the growth of the Kingdom of Christ. There is one matter that it is right that we clergy and lay representatives should consider carefully – the noxious weed that is liquor. As a result of the consuming of alcohol the Maori People have been afflicted in body, mind and spirit. Every person has a different remedy for this affliction (and it will be good if you share your thoughts on this matter) but all of us share the same view of this matter; we all agree that it is an evil thing and that all evil things are enemies of Christ, so let us be committed and strong and severe in our battle with this evil thing. We may get help from the laws and it is right that the Government should help us in this war of ours.
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The Laws.
You know that in this Diocese there are two kinds of district. There are the prohibition districts such as Horouta, and there are those where prohibition is not enforced.
It is difficult to tell which is the worse of these two districts, but perhaps it is the prohibition district.
Under the prohibition law Pākehā can be punished for supplying or selling alcohol to Māori in that region. But no matter how watchful the policeman is it is very difficult to arrest the Pakeha and the reason is that he has to see the alcohol being given to the Maori, and in addition even if the policeman brings that bottle to the court he may fail. Recently the judge rejected a case because, even though the policeman saw the bottle being handed over, the bottle was not brought to court.
The purpose of the Bill that was drafted was to guard Maori against drunkenness, and if this wasn’t the purpose then there was no reason for passing this law. What indeed are the fruits of this Bill? This law has been broken, and it has been continually broken no matter how watchful the police are. The fault lies not with the implementation but with the law itself. The law should be amended. The person who receives the alcohol should suffer the same penalty as the person who gave or sold it. The last synod set up a committee to advance this proposal. That committee set down a petition pointing out the bad effects and also asking for an amendment to the law along the lines set out above. Copies were sent to Minister of Police, the Minister of Law, the Minister for Maori Affairs, and the Minister for the Department of Health.
Some members of the committee and their associates met with the Minister of Works and the Minister of Internal Affairs to explain the matter to them. Those Ministers approved of the proposal.
The matter was left by some of the Ministers for the Minister of the Police Department to deal with and on 16th October 1916 I received a letter from that Minister saying, ‘I understand that this matter cannot be dealt with under the Law for prosecuting the War. I know from the reports that I have received that Maori in some areas are drinking heavily and it is right that a law should be brought in to deal with that aspect, but in order to deal with that a law should be very carefully drafted. I did think, during the last Parliament, of bringing forward such a law in order to empower police with clear guidance, but when the Government gave instructions that only matters
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relating to the war should be brought forward, then the matter of liquor and the Maori had to be deferred to another time.’
In response to this letter the committee expressed its sadness that the matter was not to be dealt with under the regulations of the War Act and requested that a solution to this problem be quickly found.
On 22nd December 1916 the reply of the Honourable Minister of the Police Department was received. It said, ‘I am very grateful for the explanatory words of your letter and I will find a way for my Department to deal with the matter.’
One of the outcomes of that petition is that most of the policemen on the Tairawhiti – in prohibition areas and areas where there is not prohibition – are in a better situation now. But we are seeking to write a strong law covering this subject, a law which applies to both areas.
The Maori Councils.
But there are others ways (besides the law) in which we can tackle this matter. Recently a Maori elder said to me, ‘How are we to deal with this octopus? Even if we cut off one of its tentacles it lives on. But if we strike the stomach then it dies.’
Only one part of this saying is correct. In 1900 great power was given to you Maori with the passing of the ‘Maori Council Act.’ That was the time you could have slashed the stomach of that octopus. But you were not strong. The failure was the fault of the people you appointed to those Councils.
In places where strong people were appointed to those Councils many excellent fruits emerged.
Therefore it is true to say that the law is good but the fault lies in the use of the law.
Under the ‘Native Lands Amendment Act 1916’ a law was passed by the last Parliament permitting the abolition of the old Council and the appointment of new people to take their places.
Under the provisions of ‘Native Lands Amendment Act 1916’ power was given to the Governor to abolish and old Council and to put in place a new Council. Seven members were to do the work of the Council. It would be good were this new power to be used.
However, to end my explanations of this situation, I would remind you that it is no good relying only on the laws no matter how much support comes from the Government.
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This problem of alcohol can be dealt with by the determination of the people to stamp out this evil thing, and, in addition, by the strong power of the Holy Spirit.
So, for the moment, I leave this as a matter for us to discuss at this time (that is what I would like) and perhaps it will be the basis of a motion. But do not think that the passing of a motion will be the end of the matter. No. But go back to your districts, guide your people – tell them about the things done by this hui, about the serious nature of this evil which is blasting at us and about the ways we perceive of combating this sickness. You are to guide your people. Fight against this sickness which is destroying your men and women. Go and do the work in the strength of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Burial Practices [Lamenting over the Dead]
There is another thing I thought of to speak about and that is burial practices.
This is a matter that it would be appropriate for a major hui of all the tribes to discuss but I raise it here in he hope that this may begin a discussion of the subject and perhaps the time will come when a large hui of all the tribes of the Maori people will be held to find solutions to problems arising around this subject.
I know that this is an ancient custom dating back to the origins of the people. For hundreds of years it has been the Maori custom to express their sorrow over the dead. I know this and therefore I do not speak disparagingly. The people’s practice of giving expression to the sorrow they feel is one that is pleasing to their hearts and one that has been passed down to them from past times. But the enlightenment we have received from our faith has shown us that there are problems. Death is not the end, it is the doorway to real life, to boundless life. The statement in our Prayer Book is true, and the main statement about it in the Prayer Book is found in the Service for the Burial of the Dead – that it is an occasion for praise , for joy. It is right that we should seek to bring with us this heart full of praise when we stand by the grave of our beloved friend. Weeping should not be permitted there.
But it is the things that follow the tangi that I wish to speak about. It is in this area that there are things that need some correction. There are some evil things that happen alongside these customs. Let me take issue here with those evils.
1. There is the financial burden that is laid upon (a) the family and relations of the deceased (b) those people who travel long distances to the tangi.
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2. The lengthening of the time the tangi goes on which means: (a) a greater financial burden; (b) people’s work is interfered with; (c) the children experience problems on being separated from their parents or they are withdrawn from school; (d) it makes for problems for many, and it transgresses the law which states that a body should not be left unburied for more that three days. Soldered coffins are used as an excuse to disobey this law, but most coffins are not soldered. I have had an experience of this. The body lay unburied for two weeks. The coffin was soldered but it was not well done. The person had died in an accident, but had he died of fever that would have been loathsome for it may have been a cause of death to the living. (e) The length of the tangi can be used as an excuse for people drink alcohol, because we are aware of having seen heavy consumption of alcohol at tangi.
Here is a question for us to answer. Is it right for believers to weep for those who have died when we believe in our hearts that they have gone to Christ, to Paradise? This much is clear, that we have seen these evils with our own eyes, they are not something we have imagined, and it is right that they are remedied. The remedies we see are these:
1. Teaching to make clear the Christian understanding of death.
2. Choosing just a few people to express the love of the people over the deceased.
3. Banishing alcohol from marae and having the law do away with alcohol whether in prohibition areas or free areas.
4. Burying the body within the time laid down by law.
These are the two important matters that I lay before you to discuss. I ask you to concentrate your thinking on these two matters, both of which are very important. And may the Holy Spirit guide our thinking as to how we should further these matters. I think it will be very clear to you that it is not out of a desire to find faults with your customs that I have spoken to you in this fashion but out of love for the Maori People.
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In conclusion I would say some things about the war and the things being done in it by my young Maori brothers.
1. I have great admiration for those who have undertaken to fight for justice and truth. The many who have gone to fight far exceeds the number that would be appropriate for the Maori People. The strength and the bravery of the young men who are fighting in the war has been observed and they are in no way inferior to other soldiers. This observation was made to me in a letter from England. These are the words of that letter: ‘Our Maori soldiers are warriors in the war, highly esteemed everywhere.’
Here I praise the work being done by the Rev Henare Wepiha Te Wainohu. He is a father to his lads who are fighting there, and he is devoting his abilities to helping his children in spiritual matters, fulfilling the wishes of his Lord.
2. I also salute the strong spirit of the people at home who are helping the war effort. Since the beginning you have been assiduous in sending money to assist in the war, and now you are collecting a large amount for the soldiers returning from the fighting. I have heard that the amount has reached £13,000, and for this I thank you sincerely. May God spare them and bring most of them back to enjoy the blessings of their homeland and to remember the ways God has guided them.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TE KOPARA.
Your Committee was set up to discuss issues around Te Kopara. This was the conclusion the Committee came to. (1) Concerning the Editor of the paper. This should be referred to the Heretaunga Committee as it is along with the proposal given in the Rev Peneti’s motion. The thinking of the Committee is that it will be good to try out this proposal if the paper does not grow strongly. But this meeting should arrange for Rev Tamati Te Kanapu to be assistant editor of the paper at Te Rau. His work would be to oversee the work of printing the paper. (2) Concerning the cost. The Committee’s thinking was that this should not be discussed given the transfer of the burden of the editorial work to the Heretaunga Committee. (3) Concerning the name of the paper. Your Committee thought that it would be very good to resume using Te Pipiwharauroa as a name for this paper. But the ultimate decision on this matter lies with Archdeacon Williams alone. Therefore your Committee thinks that this Hui should ask Archdeacon Williams to agree to the Hui’s wish.
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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:
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Small, hard cover 2/6
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Hymns 6d
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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.
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