1814-1853 - The Missionary Register [Sections relating to New Zealand.] - 1843 - New Zealand, p 346-350

IN reviewing the events of the past year, connected with this Station, there is much for which to be thankful; although perhaps, on the whole, the Gospel has not made that progress which the opening of the year portended. Toward the close of the spring, a dispute took place between two Tribes in the larger Pa, who had nominally joined the Roman-Catholic party. It ended in a general skirmish, in which a few were wounded--two dangerously. The affair for some time wore a serious aspect, and gave much disquietude to the people generally. It is just here to notice the conduct of those who had made a profession of the Gospel at this time. They used every endeavour to reconcile the contending Tribes, by throwing themselves between them, unarmed, during the heat of the contest: indeed, this nearly cost one of them his life. The matter, however, at last terminated peaceably; and many, who before had professed Romanism, joined us.

The Schools generally have been irregular; and during the spring and summer have been altogether neglected, owing to the close attention given by the Natives to their cultivations. They are, however, beginning to attend again; and I hope that in the course of another year education will be regarded as more worthy of their attention than hitherto. The Natives of Wakatane have lately erected a good spacious chapel, and I think are the most promising Tribe under my care.

I have to regret, that in consequence of my being alone, added to much indisposition during the last nine months, my visits to this and the other outposts have been less frequent than I could have wished, and of short duration. This is the more to be regretted, because, as I have already stated, there is much for which to be thankful relative to this extensive Bay. I here allude to that general spirit of inquiry which is everywhere manifested, and which, in the crippled state of this Station, it is impossible to meet. But, notwithstanding, Divine Light makes progress. ----- (Mr. J. A. Wilson.

Mr. Wilson is going on successfully at his Station. By means of his attention to some wounded Natives, the Lord has raised him in the estimation of the people.

The Romish Bishop and Priests visited the place some time ago, and met with a very cool reception, in consequence of a quarrel which took place between people in the same village professing Romanism. They fought, end four were dangerously wounded. But for the interference of one of the Natives of Mr. Wilson's congregation, the conflict would have been dreadful. This peacemaker nearly lost his life in his generous efforts to save others: he was deliberately fired at; but, through the goodness of God, the ball did not take effect. This affair has opened the eyes of many of the Natives; who have openly declared, that as Popery leaves them under the full bondage of their native habits and tempers, they utterly renounce it. Mr. Wilson sadly feels the want, of Clerical Assistance: his present labours are beyond his strength.

Lord's Day--I baptized sixteen adults, in the presence of an attentive congregation of 270 Natives. In the afternoon, 246 attended school, 72 of whom read the Scriptures. In the evening, about 300 assembled for Divine Service, when I baptized sixteen children.

Lord's Day -- Two of the leading Chiefs, Matamata and Tiwa, who took a very prominent part during the hottest part of the Southern War, have lately joined the Christian Pa. I do not speak of them as decided Christians, but as inquirers after Truth. Their sincerity has been in a measure tested, by their refusal to take any further part in the war; by renouncing their native tapus and ritengas; by living in the Christian Pa, and conforming to its rules; and by their attending the Public Services and Schools. It was to me an interesting sight, to find them taking their places in a circulating class, and betraying neither mortification nor anger in having to give precedence, on their making a mistake, sometimes to a slave, and at other times to a child.

Of the 150 men and boys who were at school, more than half read in different parts of the Testament. The Girls' School consisted of 110; but I could not stop long with them, being engaged to administer the Lord's Supper to four of the Christian Teachers.

In the evening I again addressed the Natives -- 300 were present--and baptized 6 children.

Roman Catholicism seems to be almost at a stand in the Heathen Pa. The Natives do not even assemble for Prayers. One of the party had a medal hung round his neck, with the inscription, "O Marie concue sans peche, priez pour nous, qui avons recours a vous!" He seemed to look upon it as a charm; observing, that he was told not to part with the medal, and then, should he be seized with any illness, he would recover.

--At night I addressed a congregation of Natives in their noble Chapel. It is 85 feet long by 45 wide, accurately proportioned throughout, and would contain 1000 Natives. I look upon this freewill offering of the Natives to the Service of God--for their heavy labour in its erection has been gratuitous--as no slight proof of the sincerity of their profession.

--There were 550 Natives assembled at the Settlement this morning. Of this number, 400, belonging to seven Schools in Tauranga, were arranged in eighteen classes, and went through their usual routine of school-duties. Eighty read several chapters in the New Testament. The whole examination was highly creditable to the Christian Teachers, upon whom so large a

share of the religious instruction of their countrymen devolves. The examination was followed by a large feast of pork, potatoes, kumera, pumpkins, &c.; to which we added a mess of boiled flour. The party separated apparently much pleased with the day's proceedings.

Lord's Day--I addressed the Natives, of whom nearly 500 were crowded into the small chapel. They displayed much interest throughout the Service, and especially in the admission of 82 adults to the outward and visible Church of Christ by the sacred Ordinance of Baptism. These form the first-fruits of the Missionary harvest in the Rotorua District. It was in troublous times that the precious seed was sown. Our friends here might literally have been said to sow in tears: now they are permitted to reap in joy.

--In travelling over the level but barren plains which separate Tarewera from Taupo, we met two small parties: one consisted of a few dirty miserable-looking Natives, returning from a fight; and the other was an interesting little band of twenty persons sitting on the banks of the Waikato. They are in a very isolated spot, but are in the habit of assembling for Morning and Evening Prayers. They did not possess a Testament until Mr. Chapman left one with them. I was as much surprised as pleased at the readiness with which one of the men read from different Tracts which we placed in his hands. Several of the party joined our train, in order to be present at the examination of the Baptismal Candidates at Taupo.

--We pursued our journey to Tongoriro, a magnificent snow-capped volcano, probably 6000 feet high. At its base is a pretty lake, on the banks of which a small party of Natives are residing. As in all other parts of this region, there are boiling springs at the mountain's base. The mountain itself has still an unextinguished crater, and, as observed above, its splendid peak is covered with eternal snows.

Matthew, and a few other Natives, went off to preach to a party in the woods, and are to join us again to-morrow. Mr. Chapman pitched his tent, with a small party, by the lake, while I remained in an adjoining wood with the old Chief of the Tribe and his small party. I assembled thirty-seven at Evening Service; and afterward engaged in conversation with the old man, and examined a class of professed believers. Their knowledge was small; but the wonder is, that, placed in so remote a part of the island, it should be so great. One of the party is to accompany us to Taupo, to see if he can pass examination for Baptism with a class there.

I found here the same earnest desire to possess books and Native Teachers that has been manifested throughout our journey. The strong desire of the Natives to possess the Testament has just been shewn in a striking manner. Captain Symonds and his party were very anxious to ascend the mountain; but the Natives opposed it, on the ground of its having been made sacred by their forefathers; and because, if the tapu were violated, some evil would befal them. "They offered us gold," remarked the old Chief to me: "had they brought some Testaments, we would have consented to their going up the mountain. Tell the strangers, when you see them again, that if they return in the summer, and bring Testaments with them, the tapu shall be removed from the mountain."

Late at night, the old Chief's party kindled a fire in front of my tent; and having made a screen of sticks and fern to shelter them from the inclement wind, they sat up till nearly day-break, asking questions on religious subjects of a Christian Native Teacher who had accompanied me from Tauranga.

We were accompanied on this trip by William Marsh. When he last visited Taupo it was with a fight: on this occasion, he went as a messenger of peace--a Teacher of the Gospel, of which he was then ignorant. Taramarakitaki was also of our party. This Chief was leader of the sacred fight, which some of my Brethren and myself encountered a few years since in the forest between Rotorua and Tauranga: he is now a Candidate for Baptism. Two other Natives, who were in the same party, I baptized on the 9th instant; and the remaining few of that sacred fight are all professing Christianity. Thus, labours made in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling, have been crowned with an abundant blessing.

The opposers of the Truth are now, from the very spirit of opposition, in many places giving the Papists encouragement; alleging, that this new religion is very acceptable to them, because it is just like their own. They allude to the laxity, the juggling, and the non-observance of the Lord's Day. In a discussion which I had with the Popish Priest of this district the other day, I asked him, among other questions, how he knew that the Virgin Mary could hear him, when he prayed to her. "Oh," said he, "what's this?" turning to Dives and Lazarus. "Wheugh," said a sharp lad of mine, before I could speak, "a spirit to a spirit! What, are you a spirit, then?" Catching the idea, for it was new to me, I added, "From hell to heaven? Is this hell then?" He looked confused; and, turning round, began addressing his party, fighting off. --I asked him why he left out the Second Commandment. "I have not left it out: the First includes it."--"Are you wiser than God, then? He thought it necessary." "Is not the Fourth abrogated?" said he; "and why not the Second?"--"Have you the authority of the first Church for abrogating the Second Commandment?" I said: "And does not Christ expressly declare--? see Matt. v. 17, 18." To this he replied, "You had better tell me the names of the Bishops of your Church from the time of the Apostles."--I then related to the Natives, Augustine's coming to England. and the unfavourable reception which our own Bishops gave him, with the probable reason. Then he would interrupt me by reading, in a pompous manner, the names of some of their earliest Bishops. He repeated this so many times, continually telling the Natives that Elizabeth was a very wicked woman, using no very delicate words, that I was at last constrained to remind him not to forget Pope Joan. Indeed I may say, that, after seven hours, all I could get from him was, "Who were the Bishops of your Church after the Apostles?" I charged his Church with fifteen errors, such as the Natives could understand; adding, that there were almost as many more, which they could not: but he would not go into these, continually interrupting me. I then took out my watch, and said, "Let this regulate us." To this he would not consent, unless I would allow him the first three hours; he had so much to say about the Apostolic Order of his Church. I wished for half an hour to each, and no interruption. To this he would not agree, unless he might stop me if I said any thing which HE thought was wrong, and explain. So you see he was Jesuit in every thing.

On the 14th, we reached Pukemapau. The Natives here are much opposed to the Papists. We then proceeded to Mania, at which place we arrived at 11 o'clock at night. The Natives here are lukewarm, and, I think, would not he proof against the gifts of Pikopo.

On the 15th, we reached Wakatumutumu. A great number of the Natives were absent at a Hahunga, i. e. weeping over the bones of their friends. Toward evening, I was much rejoiced to see a party belonging to the Pa, who had just returned from Taranake, a week's journey from this place. In the evening, I had a congregation of 100 Natives. This Pa has lately joined us, hitherto having been heathen. Three Natives were baptized by the Rev. R. Maunsell when he was here. I trust there is a little life among them.

On Lord's Day, Jan. 16th, I had a congregation of 150 Natives. At a neighbouring Pa all the Natives had joined the Papists, with the exception of one man, his wife, and family. He came to me for a Prayer-book, which I gave him, and promised him a New Testament when he should have learnt to read. The Natives here were much rejoiced to receive a few New Testaments--some of those sent by the Bible Society. They told me the Testament was their great treasure, better

than all the riches of Pikopo (the Roman-Catholic Bishop). After two Services, and an Infant and Adult School, I closed the day with a reading class. Wakatumutumu is surrounded by Pas which have joined the Roman Catholics.

On Monday the 17 th I reached Paripare, one of the strongholds of Popery in this neighbourhood. The Natives behaved kindly to us, gave food to my Natives, and invited us to stay all night. After my tent was put up, I said, "I shall ring the bell, and all of you come and listen to the Word of God." They said, "We will have our karakia first, and then come." As it would have been in vain to oppose, my Natives and I retired to a short distance. They commenced by crossing themselves; and among their prayers was one to the Virgin Mary, which I subjoin. I send it, that it may be seen that Popery is the same everywhere:--

"We run to the shadow of Thy strength, O Holy Mother of Jesus Christ our God! Incline thine ears to our prayers, because of our wants; but rather for thy powerful intercession to Jesus Christ, that we may be saved henceforth from all our fears, O glorious and blessed Virgin! Amen."

After they had finished, I said to them, "Do you know that you have been worshipping a woman?" They laughed, and said, "We are very ignorant."--I said, "Is it right to worship you know not what?" They replied, "When our Pakeha, the Priest, comes, he will teach us out of his big book."--I said, "Why does your Pakeha keep from you the Word of God, that inestimable treasure? Of what use will the perishable things which your Pakeha has promised you be when you die?" The reply was, "We know not: we will ask him for the Scriptures." -- I said, "I am sure he will not give them to you, for he knows that, you would then see the errors of Popery." I then pointed out some of these errors. 1 having finished, one of my Natives from Otawao got up, and said, "When we sow our kumeras, the end that is rotten we throw away. Do the same with your karakia: cast away that part which is rotten." The principal Chief, Unmy, jumped up in anger, and said, "What! do you call our karakia rotten? You are the only person who ever dared to do this." After he had been making an angry speech for half an hour, I interrupted, and said, "We are strangers, invited by you to stay all night; and you also said that you would listen to my words. Your being so angry is a sign that yours is a bad cause." He acknowledged it; and concluded by saying, "Although it is a wicked worship, I will stick to it, even though I should perish everlastingly." I returned to my tent very much depressed by the awful obstinacy of some of these people. The Monitor appointed by the Priest followed me to the tent. I had two hours conversation with him on the errors of Popery.

On the 19th we reached Rangitoto. One of the principal Chiefs, Ngatuna, although he had joined Pikopo, seemed glad to see me. All the Papists, with the exception of two or three, attended the Service; but one troublesome fellow, while I was speaking, struck their bell for the Roman Catholics to leave me, and begin their Service. I was glad to find that they did not do so. In the evening, Ngatuna came to me, to say that he was so angry with the Native who had endeavoured to interrupt prayers, that he would not join the worship of Pikopo that evening; but had come to my tent with the Monitor appointed by the Priest. After talking till midnight, some of the Papists said to their Monitor, "You have no foundation for what you say: it is a waste of words: you have no argument to bring forward." The poor Monitor was much humbled; and Ngatuna said to me, "I have not yet quite joined Pikopo: perhaps I may join your Church." There appeared to be so much sincerity about him, that, as he could read, I left him a Testament, after marking several passages on the errors of Popery.

On the 20th we returned to Otawao.