HOME MISSION MEETING

Otaki Mail, 5 October 1923, Page 3

HOME MISSION MEETING

In spite of conflicting advertisements and notices, the blame for which cannot be laid on the heads of the local Methodist authorities, a large number gathered in the Methodist Cliurch last night to listen to the Rev. F. te Tuhi, while he spoke of the work of the Home Mission Committee, more particularly amongst the Maori settlements. The meeting opened with hymn and prayer, after which the Rev. R. P. Keall introduced the speaker and spoke very forcibly of the great claims that the Home Mission Fund had on all Methodist Circuits. He stressed the' point that while tho assessment for the Otaki circuit was £44, the circuit received more than three times that amount from the fund. On rising to speak. Rev. te Tuhi immediately gained the attention of his audience, by greeting them in Maori. He carried his hearers back to the very early days and said how much we all owed to'the self-sacrificing labours of the Rev. Mr. Lee and others of the early missionaries, who had risked their lives to bring the knowledge of Jesus Christ to the Maoris. Different phases of the modem work amongst the Maoris were touched upon, special mention being made of the work by the European Deaconesses amongst the Natives; braving all Ihe discomforts of bad roads or no roads. These devoted women moved about from village to village teaching and helping the Native women and the older girls and gathorinc the children into Sundav Schools. Dealing with the difficulties that were "ftT be met, Rev. te Tuhi very strongly denounced the liquor traffic as being the greatest obstacle to the spread of the "-ospel among the Maoris. He claimed that bv the Truest of AVaitangi the Natives were promised-Viual rights will" the whites. • bni Parliament - refused to give them the opporJ>mit»- of voting on-the liquor question. Several eases were'also cited where large areas of land hud been sold for a quantity of liquor and those why should have been living on'the proceeds of these, sales were now living in poverty. The need for more workers was also stressed and a very fine address was concluded by an appeal for all those present. who represented the dominant white to do all in their power to help and uplift the Maori race who were the original owners of the soil. i vote of thanks to the speaker concluded one 'of the most • B»»W ■Home'Mission footings held •-" Otap