THE RATANA MOVEMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 23 July 1925, Page 4

THE RATANA MOVEMENT

CAUSING CONCERN

Al t K LAN D. July 21. A good deal ol anxiety is being caused tn the Anglican Church aul Imrities by the development of the I’alana movement as a schismatic organisation, the “ Church of .Katana,” :s being formed. At a conference of representatives ol three North Island dime-os ol tlm ( hmvli of England held at Rotorua recently. it was stated that the Katana ): e„ple had called upon ministers ol all denominations to baptise 1 " Dm name of the father and ol the .’on and of ilie Holy Ghost and the true angels.” They further demanded that whenever the Trinity was mentioned in the service there should lie added the words, “ the true angels.” although they asserted they did not worship the angels. Should a clergyman refuse to comply with these demands Katana had instructed his followers that they were to leave that minister and start a branch of the ••Church of Katana.’ As a result of the conference the three North Island bishops have issued c. pastoral letter to Maori clergy and laitv. The letter states:—The facts seem to he that it has been decided, appnreitly with Ra.tan.a’s approval, that bis' followers should withdraw from their respective churches, while

emissaries were going about eudeai,mring tn induce the Maori- to sign all undertaking tn do Diis and to declare their adherence to what was being styled "the Church of Katana." A fundamental formula of this so-called

ejmrcli was one in which ” the true -Is ■' were associated with the I’er-

snns of llm Moiv Trinity. It was being insisted that this formula ■ should lie used in the administration ol the

rite of baptism, contrary to the command of our Lord himself, and the invariable practice of every branch of Hie Holv Catholic Church. In many

places acceptance of the n .inislraiion of rUu-gv was living made conditional upon their use of the objectionable formula in baptism and other services. The three North Island bishops. Archbishop Ave*rill, Bishop Spruit, ol Wellington, and Bishop Sedgwick, of Waiapii, have therefore issued instructions to the clergy and people of the Mauii race. The instruct ions state thaL

who signs 1 lio covenant MOW nut Ini'll) I■ V TSiltSlllll S nllli'.Kil I ios is taking Lhe very serious step »f °' ; - r.', in mu ii leu Ii nu him wit I ruin the blnn eh of cliiist. It is mil In\vlH! lor the cl'- r*cv to ",iv '■ such :i person the ministrations of the ( lunch. Holy Communion, marriage or burial. iho petfurnmmo of h:\ptism hv a minister or njjont sot up liv Katana oininot lit* that. It is performed otherwise than us ordained by our I .Orel, when lie said • vo tlioroloro and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and ot the I Inly ftliost.” The ill'll 1 1 I ions pi on to state that a bile it is to bo desired (In,l persons übo bare aetod in this mi senidod way should be won bal k to fellowship of the f hnreh the clergy must not take upon themselves the reeeption of those who wish to return, hut refer to their bishop for definite instructions. In the ease oT any person who has previously not received C hrisLian baptism the instruction ot the bishop te.ust lie sought before baptism is administered. Any lay reader who joins Katana's organisation thereby forfeits Ills lit eie.e and must return bis bailee of otliee. Such lay reader is not permitted to officiate in any way. Finally the letter states that all faith fill members ot the C tmreh should at nine sign the deelaration provided I)v (ieneral Synod for ( hnreh members. Moreover, definite instructions should be given hy the clergy upon the doetrine and sacraments of the Church for the purpose of strengthening tlie faithful and rendering them immune from danger of Icing led astray hy talse and plausible leadline; which contradicts, the teaching of the New Testament. In issuing those instructions the bishops state they are confident that the clergy and people will carry them out loyally ami so remain true to the faith once delivered to the saints, which had done so much for the uplift of the Maori race.