1814-1853 - The Missionary Register [Sections relating to New Zealand.] - 1844 - Wesleyan Missionary Society, p 449-452

       
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  1814-1853 - The Missionary Register [Sections relating to New Zealand.] - 1844 - Wesleyan Missionary Society, p 449-452
 
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Wesleyan Missionary Society.

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Australasia.

WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

NEW ZEALAND.

Distribution of Testaments.

The following particulars are taken from communications made by the Rev. John Whiteley, Chairman of the Southern Division of the New-Zealand District.

Of the ten thousand Testaments in the New-Zealand Language, so honourably supplied to our Mission by that noble Institution the British and Foreign Bible Society, the first portion (six thousand) reached us in January 1842. We had long been anxiously expecting them; and many of our people, in various parts of the island, had gone long distances to the Church Missionaries, or to their friends residing in the neighbourhood of the Church Mission Stations, in order to procure copies of the taonga nui, "great treasure." The Church Brethren, having received theirs much sooner than we,

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realized some advantages in price, and readiness in payment, which we did not. This fact, together with the circumstance of the Natives in the neighbourhood of some of their Stations having a considerable supply of money, will account for the greater amount of proceeds which they have been able to return, and also for that return being made so much sooner than ours.

The six thousand were contained in thirteen large cases, and these were distributed by our late General Superintendant.

Mode of Distribution.

The mode of distribution has been regulated partly by the differing circumstances of the people, and partly by the inclination of the Missionary.

The following method has, in some instances, been acted upon. The Missionary has gone round his circuit, and at every village taken down the names of all whom he considered to have a claim to a Testament. These claims have been ranged into three classes--the good, the middling, the doubtful; and the people have been told, that when the books arrive all shall be supplied, according to the merit of their claim, as far as the books will go. Thus the Missionary has been prepared with a statement of the number of books required in his circuit. This, at least in this section of the District, has in every instance exceeded the number which could be allowed him. Immediately on the arrival of the books a general assembly of the Natives from the different villages has taken place at the Mission Station; and after their national fashion of presenting an entertainment to their friends, the books have been piled up in order, in a conspicuous place (a glorious sight!) in front of the people. This has been called the Missionary's hakari, "feast;" a feast of fat things indeed! The number of books has been announced, as also the far greater number of applicants; and the number actually disposable for each of the different villages and sections of Tribes has been stated. They have been informed of the manner in which the books have been provided by the Bible Society, the origin and object of that Society, and the obligations under which they, by receiving this welcome boon, will be laid to love and support that Society. They have been reminded of their national custom of returning feast for feast, present for present, and love for love; and this has been responded to, and acted upon. The people of the respective villages have then been called to come forward, the number of books respectively apportioned have been distributed, and the interesting business, as it was begun, has been concluded with singing and prayer.

An undecided Chief rebuked.

After-claims, as might be expected, have been urged; and the Missionary, having previously secured a reserve for himself, has sometimes found it advantageous to meet such individual claims in an isolated way. The following is an instance. A powerful Chief, who had long halted between the two opinions of Protestantism and Popery, and who had been in company with a Popish party of Natives to settle some of their differences with a distant tribe, returned in time to witness the interesting scene. He took his seat just in front of the pile of books, and full in the face of the Missionary. Common civility seemed to require that the Missionary should notice him, and pay the usual compliment of "welcome home" after his journey, but he felt that it was a critical time, a moment too important for compliments: he carefully avoided his eye, and went through the whole business of distributing the books without noticing him. But his bowels yearned over him, and his heart went up to God in his behalf. The plan succeeded; and to God be all the praise! The business was concluded, the people were dispersing, and the humbled Chief felt that he was justly regarded as having neither part nor lot in the matter. He saw every one happy but himself, and every tribe honoured but his own; and he knew that no one would have been made more welcome than himself to those privileges which now were passing by him, but given to others. He sent for the Missionary; said that it was right that we should thus suppose that he wanted no Testaments, for he had long been despising the pukapuka, "book;" but now he was decided for Christianity and for us, he wished for books for himself and for his people. He said, he had returned from his former scenes of war and blood: every thing was settled amicably, and he should now give himself to us and to the cause of God. The Missionary furnished him with Testaments from his reserve. His son, who had long

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been hindered by the example and influence of his father, was shortly afterward baptized, and his whole tribe are now attached to the ordinances of Christianity, and seeking the salvation of that Gospel which has thus been providentially put into their hands.

A New Zealander's reproof of Europeans' Violence.

The case of Puaha, as connected with the melancholy tragedy at Wairau, deserves to be noticed. He is a respectable Chief, baptized by one of our Brethren, and called David King (Rawiri Kingi); and when he found that the Europeans were disposed to resort to arms, he ran forward with his Testament in his hand, and exclaimed, "See! see! this is my weapon -- the White Man's book! You sent us this book, and it tells us not to fight. You have got other weapons--weapons of blood: use them not: fight not, or my heathen relatives will fight too: remember your book! remember your book!" Alas, this advice was rejected, and the consequences were most disastrous to those who thus despised the Gospel as urged by a poor New Zealander.

He had this Testament from the British and Foreign Bible Society; and this fact, while it speaks volumes in favour of that Society, shews that the Bible has furnished the New Zealander with an argument and a motive for peace, of which our countrymen, however ignorant of it they may be, or however indisposed to appreciate and acknowledge if, will realize the benefit in a degree and to an extent not to be estimated or expressed.

Beneficial results, and call for further supplies.

Our Schools and Bible Classes are enjoying the benefit of this noble boon; and the widely-extended circles of Testament-readers, the fluency and rigid correctness with which the blessed book is read, and the remarkable instances of retentiveness of memory in treasuring up its precious truths, are so many proofs that the benefit is appreciated; and if these could be witnessed by the friends of the Bible Society in England, they would amply reward them for their Christian Liberality.

But we are still disposed to cry, "Give! give!" Some of our Stations are already without further supply. Every book of those sent last is bespoken, and the wants-- urgent, pressing, increasing wants--will in some places be only half supplied. After every book on one of our Stations had been distributed, four copies were received privately from another Station. Adam, a Christian Native, found out the secret by some means. He thought of his own wants, and he thought of his friends' wants; and after consulting with them on the subject, Adam determined to be the first man; and coming with two fine hogs, worth 2l., he urged that, for his proffered payment, all the books should be given to him.

At one village, where the Romish Priests have endeavoured to gain a footing, the visiting Missionary was requested to give them a Testament. He told them he had only one in the world, and that he had borrowed from mata ("mother"), the appellation given to all the Missionaries' Wives. "Well, he must leave that." He could not resist: he left it, and they gave it the name of "mother." Some months after, the two Chiefs of the village visited the Mission Station: they wished for more books, and the Missionary said, "Why do you want our books? you are embracing Popery." "O no: the Priest comes sometimes, but we do not care much about him: we have got mother in the box." Oh, may they not only have "mother" in the box, but may they feel "mother's" influence upon their hearts, and prove it to be the power of God unto their salvation!

We conclude with the hope that our remittance of 152l. 13s., as the part received of the proceeds of the Testaments, together with our hearty and unfeigned thanks, with those of our people, will be received by the Committee and Friends of the British and Foreign Bible Society; and that they will be induced, from a knowledge of our wants, again to favour us with their charitable assistance. And our prayer shall be that they may go on increasing in their prosperity and success, until every inhabitant of our world shall possess the Word of God, and all shall know Him from the least unto the greatest.

Distribution of Testaments at Waikowaiti.

The Rev. James Watkin writes--

This week I have been gladdened by the arrival of the long-looked-for, ardently, anxiously wished-for case of Testaments; for which I give thanks to God in the first place, and then to that truly Chris-

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tian Association, the British and Foreign Bible Society. The anxiety for books is intense. Some I have given, more I have sold; but as my people are very poor, and have little besides potatoes and fire-wood to offer, my circuit will make but a small contribution in money. I gave a young person a Testament, telling her that her tane ("man") must pay for it. "Oh," she said, "I will pay for it myself." She went, but soon returned with a perforated half-crown, which she had long prized, and worn as an ear-pendant, and which, I dare say, four times its value in money would hardly have tempted her to part with. Already I have had applicants from seven, ten, and thirty miles' distance; and the cry, "Let me have a book! let me have a book!" has almost stunned me, and seriously annoyed my poor sick wife. Some who cannot read have applied; and upon my intimating that a book in such cases would be of little use, I am met with the reply, "We will learn! we will learn!" and I believe they will. On Wednesday my English Service was better attended; on Thursday my Native one pretty well; this evening I have held an interesting conversation upon Scripture facts, characters, and doctrines. Later in the evening, I examined some Candidates for Baptism, to whom, God willing, I shall to-morrow administer that rite. Thankful am I to record the arrival of a few Magazines and other Periodicals.

18th --I had good Congregations yesterday, of both races, for this place. In the morning I baptized nine persons. May they have grace to be faithful! We want two more Missionaries for this coast.


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