RESULTS OF CHRISTIANITY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 209, 30 August 1873, Page 5

RESULTS OF CHRISTIANITY.

What did Christianity accomplish among the Maoris?- Did the Gospel ever reach their hearts? Did it sustain its character as God's instrument in turning men from darkness tolight, and from the power of Satan unto God ? TUib is sometimes questioned, and we are told the' New Zealand Mission lias been a failure. Let us see. What does the Gospel propose to achieve?. What should we expect in the way of results among such a people, were we now planning a Mission, and calculating; results ? W,e should expect, it would uproot the old system, supplant heathenism, abolish old superstitions, end barbarous customs, civilise the tribes, improve their social condition, plant the institutions of Christianity, and convert the people lo Christ. If these results were obtained, should we say we had failed ? I believe not. We should feel that success had crowned our efforts, that the Gospel had done its work. Then let us ascertain what the facts of the casehave lo say on the subject. ;■ 1. As to the old .sytte.nl.— Did not heathenism gradually retire ? The Prince of darkness very reluctantly relinquished his subjects, but he was compelled to unloose his hold. The early years of mission toil appeared to lie srent in vain, but the light gradually made its way, chasing' before it the darkness uf heathenism, and pulling down the strongholds of Satan's empire. The old gods were forsaken, being found to be false gdds, and the tribes throughout the land worshipped Jehovah as their God. Not that the renunciation of heathenism and the profession

of Christianity implied personal conversion from sin to holiness. In nil heathen nations there is double conversion,— the first implying merely a renunciation of the old system, and a formal embracing of the new. This is the first, the preparatory step, that which places a heathen people within reach of Gospel truth and in circumstances to learn and feel its saving power. That which places them in exactly the same relation to Christianity as a vast majority of Englishmen occupy; it makes them Christian by name and profession. Such was the first result in New Zealand; the people forsook the gods of 'heathendom, and worshipped the God of the Bible. 2. As to Native superstitions, they lost their hold of the Native mind. The spell of Native tapu was broken. A chief was no longer a sacred person; he could go where others went, and sit where others sat, and eat and drink like other men, and mingle in general life without 'danger of violating his tapu, or offending his gods. 3. The Priests lost their power; their craft Avas soon in danger, and they often raised a great cry ; they would often start objections, and propose curious questions to throw discredit on Bible teaching. <l You say your God created man," said one of these Priests to me ; " but your Bible does not tell how he did it ; where did he begin, at the head or the foot ? And your Bible says that he created the heavens before the earth ; then he began at the top first, and this contradicts all my experience. 1 see the trees grow upwards ; and I see men when they build a house begin at the foundation ; nobody begins at the roof and builds downwards.,. But the people ceased to believe in them to trust them. And it was often a great triumph to see some of those hoary priests brought for baptism ; to listen to their open renunciations of their former belief and practices, and their profession of faith in Christianity. I had once the pleasure of baptising; Te Atua Whera, the fire god and ventriloquist of Hokianga, who, in his time, was a man of great influence •, his powers of ventriloquism gained him ureat influence among the people and caused him to be greatly feared. He figured prominently in Hekes war in. 1845, Their belief in witchcraft was undermined by Gospel truth. They learned there was i\ God who governed all tilings ; that sorcery had not so much to do with suffering as they I ' had been taught to believe, though iaith in the black art seemed to retain its hold with great tenacity even after Christianity was professed. But then it was so in our own favored isles; in England and Ireland and Scotland. How many years is it since witches were burned, and in how many places in Christian England do people still believe in the craft ; can we wonder that it did not die out ut once in New Zealand. 4. As rryards barbarous customs, did not they die out as Christianity gained converts; infanticide ceased. The Christian New Zealand mother received her babe from God, pressed it to her bosom Aviih a now affection, and in due time presented it for Christian baptism, and, at a proper age, sent it to the Mission School to be instructed in Gospel truths.

Cannibalism became obselele ; the Maori had become ashamed of it— nothing brought the blush to his cheek sooner than a reference to his former cannibal practices. But did they not return to it in the late war; no, not as a whole. The case of the murdered Volkner was shocking, and the conduct of Te Kooti is to be execrated; but we must not condemn a whole race for the acts of one or two individuals. Because there have been secret societies in Sheffield pursuing a regular system of murder, we don't say that Sheffield is a city of shags. Because there has arisen a society of Fenians that have sought their objects regardless of human life, we do not pronounce the Irish a race of murderers. Let the same rule be applied to the Maori, and do not Jet the race be doomed for the acts of a party. Let the conduct of the loyal and the good be remembered ; the conduct of the tribes who have fought our battles, assisted us to quell rebellion — Mackay's Report on Sullivan's murder, where the Rev. , W. Barton, a Wesleyan Missionary, and his son Andrew and others are spoken of as employing all their influence for good. 5. As regards the institutions of Christianity, these- were received and established in the land The Bible was translated into the Maori tongue, and was work of no ordinary magnitude. First the New Testament was translated by Bishop Williams, the pious and respected Bishop* of Waiapu, then the Old Testament by Dr. Maunsell, an accomplished linguist and a faithful, earnest, laborious Missionary. When the Dr. hud accomplished a part of his work, all his translations and books of references were destroyed by fire, the Mission house at_ Waiknto being burned down, and he- had all his work to begin again. These translations were revised by a Committee, as required by the ■■■British and Foreign Bible Society, comprising members o.f the Church and Wesleyan Missionary Societies. The Bishop of Waiapu, Archdeacon Kissling, Dr. Maunsell, and Rev. L. Williams represented the one, and the Revs. Hobbs, Reid, and Buddlcthe other. The work continued over thrte years, the Committee sitting five days a week during about three months in each year. The whole of that revised translation is now in print, published by the Bible Society. When the 'first edition of the New Testament was published it was eagerly sought and diligently read. It was often surprising to find with what ease and evident pleasure large portions were quoted, and it was oftsn puzzling to answer the questions asked on Biblical subjects. Old men and women learnt to read the word of God by dint of .application who would never have known letters at all but for the desire to read the word of life Te Ruitoto, an old chieftess of Waikato, embraced Christianity at a late period of life, and never after rested till she could read the New Testament for herself; it was her constant companion day and night. She was a person of great influence, and in rank on equality with Potatau himself. Her word in former days was sufficient to stir the tribes to war, and send them forth to seek revenge on ■offending parties, but the lioness became a lamb ; though very old and

feeble she generally spent her Sabbaths on the Mission Station, coming in the morning, dining at the Mission House, then taking her place in the Sabbath school, and returning to her home in the evening. The land received its Sabbath, and the Maoris had learned to value and honor the pearl of days. AH days had been alike to them; now they rested, preparing their food on Saturday. They took no journey, but employed the day in ■worshipping God and reading His word. Many a native village would have compared favorably with an English town as regards Sabbath observance, and many a Christian native paid far more regard to the sanctity of the ' Lord's day than many pakeha Christians. When Christian natives saw the latter shooting, pig-hunting, travelling, trading on the Sabbath dny, they often enquired what was the religion, and who was the god of these white men. A trader had engaged a party of Christian natives to carry some goods over to Kaipara. Sabbath came. The trader insisted on them pursuing the journey. They refused. ''It is our Sabbath,' they said, "we worship to-day." Ho insisted; they were firm. He proceeded alone. They followed on Monday, and delivered in safety their pikaus containing his property. He refused to pay them because they had delayed a day. They reasoned : " How could we travel on our Sabbath? We are Christians, and worship G0.1." "What have Ito do with, your Christianity ? " was his reply. " You have much to do with it," they said; "for it saves you from being plundered of all you have. But for our Christianity we should not have parleyed with you a moment, but paid ourselves by talcing your goods from you." Divine worship was established, and few Maori villages were found without a church— ti rude and simply building often, but a place where God's name was recorded, and where the people met to worship him, not only on. the Sabbath, but daily. The rising sun generally being followed by the bell for morning prayer, and the Evening Hymn, reading, and prayer closing the engagements of the day. It was often deeply interesting to see an entire community assembling for Divine worship at the sound of the bell, that bell perhaps an old musket barrel suspended from a tree, and struck with a stone or piece of iron. I have stood on the hill side and watched the tribes go up to the House of God with deep emotion, I have listened to their orderly responses as the Liturgy was read with solemn feeling, and I have preached to large and attentive congregations with great liberty and profit, while deep and Bolemn feeling has rested upon us, while not unfrequently the sob and tear indicated the presence of the Spirit of God at work in some hearts ; some of the happiest Sabbaths of my life have been spent in Maori worship. Then war ceased from the land. Christianity reconciled tribes thnt had been at enmity for generations ; and meetings, were often held for the purpose of reconciliation. It had been common for a dying Chief to bequeath his revenge with his weapons to his soil. So and so, ate

your sire, don't forget it. Kia toa Kia toa be brave were the last words of Honghi. In Christian times the legacy was peace. "I am going — lire in peace." Christianity taught tbem to pray for their enemies. Wm! Barton, a converted native teacher, who had a narrow escape from death when preaching to Kaitoke (wornieater) and his people, earnestly prayed for Kaitoke's conversion, and entreated God to give him a new heart, Kaitoke shot down William's two companions, and he received three bullets through his own blankets, but he could pray for the murderer, who had attempted hie life. Their social condition was improved, marriage was enforced, and no mean proof of sincerity was given when a Chief of influence gave up his numerous wives, and became the husband of one, it was one of the last things he would do. Slavery too was abolished. Much as a chief valued his slaves who made his garments, cultivated his kumeras, brought him fish, cooked his food, and attended to all his wishes, wheu he embraced the Gospel he set them free, and gave them liberty to return to their tribes and homes. But were there any real conversions to Christ ? Was there any proof of change of heart ? Any evidence of the saving power of the Gospel ? The day of eternity will answer this, and reveal how many Maoris were really turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. Yet we were not left without witness. A few instances may be given. Let me quote from the Rev Walter Lawry, who in 1846 wrote a description of what he had seen and heard to the Missionary Committee. "'No one," he says, " could have witnessed our lovefeast on the afternoon of last Sabbath without glorifying God in the converted New Zealanders. Wrri. Naylor spoke his Christian experience as follows: — "These are my recollections about the days of old. I knew nothing about God. I thought the devil was God, and served liim until the Missionaries came to us and preached the Word. Our work in olden times was to kill men. This was our delight, to cut them off, and finish them up. This took up all our thoughts. We knew not there was a God, and a Saviour that died for us, till the Missionaries arrived amongst us. They preached to us ; they taught us it was our duty to serve God; they prayed for us; and I was given to see that the path I walked in led to hell. I saw another path that led to heaven, and sought to -\Vcilk in it. I have not been true. I fell once, like my forefather David. I was in great darkness, and had no light. Nothing was straight for a long time. Then I was reminded of David getting up again, and becoming a straight man, and was enabled to return to God. I feel that Jesus Christ died for me, and redeemed me by his death; and my Avish is to give my heart and soul to God. The path to heaven is plain. lam walking along it. I never- intend to turn out of it all the days that lie before." Mr Lawry further wrote — "We are witnesses that even the New Zealander is heard bearing his testimony to the grace of God; his ignorance is instructed, his pride is humbled, and

he is seen earnestly seeking Christ in prayer with devout contrition and a broken spirit. The mighty work of the Spirit is not confined to one or two, but many are as clear as ourselves in the evidences of Christ's work in their hearts which is shown in their holy lives." He mi Nihoniho found peace with God at midnight, and came directly to tell me. Hearing ■a tapping at ray room window, I asked " Who is there ? " "It is I," replied a voice choked with sobs. •' What is the matter ?" I asked. " You know," said Hemi, " I have been in great concern about my soul /or some time, and to-night my distress became so great that I could not go to bed with my fellow students (he was a student in our Native Institution at Auckland), and I have been praying till now, and just now a great light broke into my soul, brighter than the sun, and filled me with joy that I cannot describe. I am come that you may explain it to me." I arose at once, and found him rejoicing in the forgiveness of sin, and the assurance of the love and favor of God." We have witnessed conversions; seen indisputable evidences of it in Christian life, and rejoiced over the triumphs of death as we have seen them die in peace, full of immortal hope, and full of love to God and man. " Don't ask the Lord to keep me here any longer," said HaimonaPita to Mr Turner. "I have taken leave of my people and children; my heart is a heaven and glory, to depart and go there. Such was the closing scene of one formerly a terrible warrior and an awful cannibal. (See 'Turner's Life,' p. 205.) ". Wetere Te Paid, Chief of the Ngaungau," says his biographer, the Rev. Mr. Ashwell, "'was formerly a great native priest, and one of the most eloquent speakers in Waikato. He was taken ill on Ids way home from Auckland, and on arriving at Motutara, he thus addressed his tribe,— 'My children, hold fast the Gospel, and be of one mind. The merits of Christ alone cau save us.' " At an interview subsequently with some neighboring Chiefs, he gave expression to his sentiments in the following song ; — " ; — -0 this agitation ! It rends me like the tumult of a robber's Breast, when captured with his spoils. My sentiments Were uttered, and re-echoed by the waving Trees at Tarua. The cloud will linger In the quiet sky whilst I am by the current borne along, passing in quick succession Tidal streams. . . Why preys the malady Soslowly on this frame when death is 'Coveted ? But lo ! this death is here, it comes apace." When visited by Mr. Ashwell, he remarked, " I am indeed glad to see you. lam very ill, but Christ is my salvation, and my heart is light." A short time previous to his dissolution he exhorted his son and other relatives to make sure work for eternity, and quoted several passages of Holy Writ applicable to his own state. When about to enter the dark " valley of the 'shadow of death " the whole of the tribe gathered round him to witness the last struggle. His spirit seemed tranquilised, while he breathed

Ills desire to heaven in the following appropriate manner :— "0 Christ ! take care of me. 1 Strengthen me by Thy Holy Spirit, for Thou art iny — ." The conclusion of the sentence was uttered in the eternal world, where we trust he is adoring that Saviour he honored while on earth. "He was ahvays present," continues Mr. Ashwell, " at our Missionary Meetings, and Ins consistent conduct and desire to spread the Gospel was a cause of much joy. He was baptised about ten years ago by the llev. 11. Maunsell, and was confirmed by the Bishop of New Zealand in 1845." But Christianity civilises, and in this respect has failed amongst the New Zealanders. We grant the first, but deny the second. Gfranted, the Gospel is the pioneer of civilization; and we have no faith in any system of civilizing that is not grounded on Christianity. What has Mahometanism done for the benefit of mankind? and it is perhaps the "least revolting and most rational of heathen creeds. How has it affected the social condition of nations that once took the lead in literature, science, and art? Let the waste, howling wilderness beside the Euphrates, the starving villagers on the banks of the Nile, the ruined towns and neglected agriculture of Asia Minor, the robberinfested plaius between the Indus and the Caspian answer the query. The sword of Mahomet has been like a destroying angel, carrying ruin and desolation in its path. The i conquests were rapid and awful as a tropical tornado, but they left behind them the stillness of moral death. It is said that the fruits of civilisation were not seen among the Maoris. What are the factß? were not the natives previous to the war fast progressing in the arts and comforts of civilised life, adopting European clothing, building better houses, and becoming large producers of some of the necessaries of life ? They were fencing and ploughing their land ; fast adopting our modes of agriculture ; sending large quantities of grain to our markets ; just before the war £60,000 worth of wheat was exported from Auckland. Flour mills were rising on the banks of many rivers, and a large amount of flour, grown and ground by natives, was brought to market They were owners of horses; cattle, and sheep, and were growing wool ; they had a very large fleet of small vessels that brought their produce to our markets, and took back our English wares. They had regular passenger vessels. Hemi Tauri first built a small boat, sold it, built a larger one, sold that, built a schooner, which he sailed regularly between Auckland and the Bay of Islands, and was a favorite captain, especially with the ladies. His family lived in European style at the Bay of Islands ; he was brought up at one of the Mission Stations. Can not a majority read and write, and some of them in English. It has often been said that the Missionaries did not teach them English, but this is a mistake. Engjish was taught in all the mission schools at the North, and the result may be found in one native youth, Andrew Burton, now acting as clerk and interpreter in the Resident Magistrate's Court, at Waikato, and his sister

Martha teaching a mission school, and teaching English at Karakariki, and in many other rising young men, Proofs of progress in civilisation are to be found in the houses of legislature, where intelligent natives are found taking part in parliamentary debates. The fact is we have expected too much, we have looked for civilisation equal to our own. We forget how many centuries it took to raise the European race to its present [elevation ; yet we have expected the Maoris to overtake us in half a ceutury, Will not Maori progress favorably compare with McAuly's history of the Highlanders, vol. iv. p. 316. Or with Mr. Wesley's account of what he saw in Ireland. In an Irish cabin 20 feet long, and 12 broad, he found a man, his wife, three children, two pigs feeding, two dogs, several geese, a great fire, and the master of the house threshing corn. Could any picture of a lower state 'of civilisation be found in Maori life ; and this after Christian education and other civilising agencies had operated for centuries. Why should New Zealanders be expected to rise to perfection in a single century ? Need I add that Christianity prepared the way for Colonisation. Would this land ever have been occupied by foreigners if Christianity had not first tamed the savage ? Would these thriving British Settlements have existed at this day ? Would the trade and commerce now carried on have been opened ? and the fortunes that have been made amassed ? and steamers carried our travellers fram one end of the colony ,to the other? or the telegraph wires brought the extremes of the Island within a few minutes of each other ? Would a Constitutional Parliament have been sitting in Wellington, legislating for both races ? I believe riot. I know there are men who say it would have been better if Missionaries had never been in the land, but then most of such men would not have Christianity anywhere at all. I am bold to say, that if New Zealand become a gem in the British Crown, Christianity will be entitled to the credit of having placed it there ; and I claim for the Christianity we profess great moral triumphs in this country. I know that there has been a sad declension. Maori Christianity is not what it once was, but there has been a cause ; an incipient Christianity brought into sudden contact with colonisation, and all its evils as well as its good, has been a severe test, and the cause has suffered; but shall we write it a failure because oi the reverses that have overtaken it; then we may say that the Gospel has always failed — failed under the ministry of the Son of God, for the Jews rejected it — failed under the ministry of the Apostles for all did not embrace it— failed among the Churches of Asia for many departed from the faith— failed in our own country for millions are Christians only in name. No, ; if it has failed in some cases it has succeeded in others. I cannot go into the history and effects of Colonisation at present, but must reserve that subject for a future occasion. , '