BIOGRAPHY

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume IV, Issue 105, 30 December 1852, Page 3

BIOGRAPHY

TICKAWAIE TICO, THE NEW ZEALANDER. (Continued from our last.) In February, 1846. one Sabbath afternoon, at the close of the public service, he arose up and whispered to me, " 1 should like to eat the Lord's Supper." 1 told him to go up to the gallery and witness the ordinance, and call on me during the week, and steps would be taken to admit him as a member. When we met, he appeared full of humility and self-abasement on account of his sins, and confidence in Christ as a Saviour. His heart seemed to be melted with love to Jesus. I asked him to write his views and wishes. Among other things he wrote, " I feel the love of Jesus Christ in my heart, but my heart not near to God; but I hope I do not any harm to say I wish to be in beside you in the church of Jesus Christ, who came down from heaven to die for us, and gives the living waterand living bread. 1 believe in Jesus and wish to remember him." I showed this to Dr. Russell, our pastor, who was theu alive. He wished I him to write his views more fully to him, |

Which ho did, and the fir. was so satisfied willi his lc'lci and conversation, thai lis appointed m t And another of Hi'-' der.cons to converse with him and report to the church. We were both struck willi Hie extent of his knowledge. He was well acquainted witli the several places hold liv Vr.iher, Son, and Holy r.lsosi in I In* plan of salvation ; and when speaking of sanelificalion, lie gave ~sa heaiitiful illustration of it. We weresillii g at "a table covered with wax cloth of a black ground, lint having light figures painted on it. He pointed to the ground, s'hd said, "Myh"arl by nature, like lliat, all black ; when I come to Christ, then there are while spots like these on it; as I go on, these spots grow bigger and bigger; and when I die.il will be all white logoiher " After a very minute and interesting report to the church, lie was cordially received among our number, and enjoyed the confidence of the brethren till hi was taken to tho Church above. He. was baptized in Dr. Russell's parlour, on Saturday evening; a few friends were present. The fir. was deeply alTcctcd; he was solemn and interesting in the service. The New Zealander's heart \v::s full, and tears flowed down his sable cheeks. His native name was a little altered, to suit our language: the Christian name given him was John Tekore. Not long after this, he came to me, and said, " I wish to be a Sabbath-school teacher." "What would you teach ?" "All that I know." "Do you think the children will understand you ?" " I think they will." He received a class of twelve girls; t .iey became much attached to their teacher. He was never absent from his post. Tl:e Gospel history was his textbook. He made his scholars read a verse each round, and explained to all the class as he went along. I asked bin lo give me a sample of his mode of teaching. He said, " I tell them, when they go down to the ferry, lo cross the river, they must go into the steam-boat; so they cannot go lo heaven without going in Jesus Christ."

We have on annual Missionary meeting and toirer in llie school, when our teachers give short addresses to the children. John wrote an address, unci it was read at one of our meetings. Sonic extracts from it will show the frame of his mind : " How great the advantage yen enjoy, by being early taught to know God, and a crueilied Hedeeiner, bcsitlc the children of my country, who never heard of Jesus Christ, nor knew of their sinful state! My young friends, how earnest your prayers should be to Hod for your teachers, who are so kind as to make known to yon the way of salvation through a blessed Saviour; and how earnest you should pray God that he might encourage teachers to go and make known the way of life to our poor benighted brethren, who know not God and the Saviour Jesus Christ, hut fall down and worship slocks and stones, the work of men's hands .' Try and save one penny for the Missionary Box." Ho concludes thus : " Myyoung friends, Christ particularly invites you to come to him, when he says, 'Sufler the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of heaven;' and to you he lias left a promise, 'They that seek me early shall find me.' In the spring of 1848, tokens of declining health appeared: his lungs were atfected. On one occasion he fainted in the work-shop: when he recovered, a fellow workman said, j "Where would you have been if you bad died?" "I would have been with Jesus." "How do you know that?" "Because God .says, ' Whosoever lielieveth in Jesus shall be saved.'" This man derided his hope, and being a professing Christian, he was stumbled at it; but when he was reminded of the amount of profession without principle in our land, his mind was relieved. During the summer, bis cmployors kindly assisted him logo for :i change of air to Blairgowrie; this proved very beneficial. Till Uicu ho had not read much of llie Old a'cstajjient, but hero bo read a greet deal of it. When he came, to the htßtory of Sara«on,*e. smiled, and .said, "Surely Sanuon >fl tad man." In his Uiblo reading, .thcfiospelfcy' John appears to have been a greatilivourUe; far both his English and. New Zealand Testaments arc much thumbed there-, es-

oecially at the third and fourteenth chapters. lid experienced great spiritual enjoynii'iii while lii-re. When lie came to town, his 'leallh derlinrd very fast, He was soon eonlined to his little room. Every comfort was utiliislcred to him. He now wished to return to his native land, hut it was 100 hue. At limes he suffered much darkness, of mind, and was led to cry, "Oh that it Were wiih lite as in mouths "past!" In one of those seasons of darkness he gave way lo frcifuliless. I gently relinked him, and he fours*, into tears, aiid said, " I have heen a a had hoy, but God has heen very kind lo me." From that limn he appeared lo he delivered, and looked forward to his dissolution wilh composure. On Sabbath, Feb. 18, 1849, I entered his room after ihe morning service : he appeared to ho sinking fast, After handing me his watch, which ho had the loan of from a brother, lo return it lo him, he said, " I am going away to day." "Whereto?" "To God." " Have yon any thing lo say to your class to-night?"" "Tell lliem I am happy." These were his last words. The hells i had just ceased from calling the tribes of. Israel lo Iho afternoon worship J llielr! praises were asccndlngto theheavenly throne, when the happy spirit of the New Zoalander ; was carried upon angels' wings lo join ihe praises of the upper sanctuary. His funeral was attended by many Christian friends. The deacons of Ihe church were Ihe chief mourners, and laid his body in ihe grave. It now-lies stl the antipodes ol'his birthplace, and a weeping willow points out Ihe spol where it rests. Such a striking manifestation of Chris- ; tian feeling and conduct, in a stranger from ! a dist nt land, was no doubt intended by j God to stir up those who have enjoyed re--1 liginus instruction from their youth, lo lice \ to Jesus. One man said lome, " I ihink ; God has seal that man lo be an example lo me." And, oh ! that this may be Ihe solemn conclusion thai all may come to who read ihcse simple memorials ! | J. S.