THE MAORI HEALER.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1921, Page 5

THE MAORI HEALER.

RATANA AND HIS WORK. ANGLICAN SYNOD’S SYMPATHETIC RESOLUTION, “THE GREAT~REVIVAL.” At Thursday evening’s sitting of the Anglican Synod, at Wellington the Rev. W. G. Williams moved:—“That this Synod is of opinion that some notice should be taken by the church of the teachings and work of Tahu Wiremu Ratana.’* Mr. Williams said that Ratana's work was creating such a stir among tho Maoris that it was impossible to ignore it. In last December ho and the Rev. Canon Williams visited Ratana to investigate his teachings. They spent a day and a, night at Ratana’s kainga and had two long interviews with Ratana. They put to him every question they could think of regarding the fundamentals of the Christian faith. They came to the conclusion there was no ordinary tohungaisni here, and that the man was sound in all the fundamentals of Christian faith. CALLED BY GOD. They believed he had been called by God to rescue the Maori race from the evils of tohunraism. A striking thing was that Ratana strove to avoid having recognition directed to himself. His supreme desire seemed to be that those who came to him should regard him merely as a mouthpiece of God. Another thing that was remarkable was his refusal to accept payment for anything he had done. From one Christmas to another there were 20 to 50 or 100 natives staying at his place and being entertained by him at his expense. He refused to take reward in money or goods. In talking of his people Ratana told them they had turned from God to Paganism, and thus had contracted their afflictions.

Mr. Williams mentioned several cases of cures which had been effected through Ratana, who insisted that the natives should renounce tohungaism and embrace the simple Christian faith. They could claim not only forgiveness of their sins, but the cure of their bodily ills as well. He made a great point in his teaching of insisting on a personal faith. Doubtless there were many cases in which the people were cured and had relapsed into their old trouble, anfi it rather seemed they had omitted the spiritual instructions of Ratana. The motion was seconded by Archdeacon Innes Jones, who asked if Mr. Williams would give any specific instance of cure effected by Ratana. THE FINAL RESOLUTION. The Rev. O. M. Stent supported the motion, and thought they should be thankful for the coming of this messenger from God. The Rev. H. J. L. Goldthorpe suggested that the motion should run thus: — “That this Synod sends greetings to Ratana, and desires to express its deep thankfulness at the success that has attended his efforts for the physical, moral and spiritual welfare of the native race, and this Synod further prays that the divine blessing may rest on his work in the future.”

Mr. Williams said he was prepared to accept this. Mr. V. H. Kitcat moved this amendment:—“That this Synod is of opinion that some notice should be taken by the church of the teaching and work of Tahu Wiremu Ratana, and a committee consisting of the Venerable Archdeacon Watson, the Rev. R. H. Hobday and the Rev. W. G. Williams bo appointed to make investigation, such committee to add to its number a wise and experienced physician and report to next session of Synod.” Mr. R. L. Britton said we were at a critical time of the world’s history, when it was a great pity to throw cold water on such a movement. Rather they should welcome the advent of Ratana. Bishop Sprott said he believed >n the possibility of spiritual healing but he believed, also, that all medical science was the revelation and gift of God. The Rev. W. Fancourt said a question was: Has the church any faith.in the miracles of Jesus Christ? We had heard of the cures of Katana and all that Ratana had done was to take the word of God and act upon Finally, waR resolved:— That this Synod sends greetings to Ratana nresses its thankfulness for the great moral and spiritual revival resulting from his work among the Maoris and pX for God’s continued bless.ng upon his work for the future.