“THE MIRACLE MAN"

Taranaki Daily News, 27 January 1921, Page 5

“THE MIRACLE MAN"

RATANA’S INFLUENCE FOR GOOD MAORIS LEAD BETTER LIVES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wanganui, Last Night. Considerable interest was evinced in a meeting of the Wanganui Ministers’ Association today, when a statement was made by the Rev. Wilfred Williams, a Church of England missionary among the Maoris who has been investigating the work of the Maori “miracle man” Ratana. who is reputed to have effected many wonderful cures of sick people. Mr. Williams said he had examined Ratana’s register, which contains over eleven hundred signatures of Maoris who claim to have been cured of various ills. Reoenlly two thousand natives gathered at Ratana’s pa. As to actual cures, Mr. Williams would not express an opinion, as he had not an opportunity of investigating any particular case. Ratana was a wealthy man, entertained all visitors free of charge and refused any contributions. He did not claim hypnotic power, but held that if tohungaism was renounced and the Maoris had a simple faith in God all their diseases could be cured. Mr Williams said Ratana had an extraordinary power over the natives, and, after investigation, he was satisfied his work was genuine. There had been a wonderful increase of spiritual fervor among the natives, who had come under Ratana’s sway, and many of the men had given up/drinking and gambling.