MAORI MEMORIES.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 June 1938, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES.

THE FAITH OF A DAY.

(Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”)

Between the ancient creed of the Maori and that of the primitive Christian, there was a distinct parallel and a remote resemblance. The Maori had many gods, each a character or an attribute personified: Christians have only one. Missionaries preached of a future heaven or hell. The Maori heaven was an underground ideal, his punishment was when living on earth. The souls of Christians survived death of the body; the Maori .spirits of the dead visited their friends sleeping here. The Maori ceremony of naming a child was akin to that of baptism. Here the analogy ends, for while we look to the future life for happiness, the Maori began and enjoyed his here and now.

Maori Christian teachers from Waitotara were sent to convert fheir ancient tribal enemies at Taupo, but Te Heuheu ordered them out or he would “cook their hands for food and make cartridge paper of their hymn books.” The evangelists then turned their attention to converting another tribe, but were taunted with foul insults and driven away. The infidel army laid waste to the Christian tribal lands, but were driven back to fort Te Toka (the rock), where they were blockaded by the apostles. Mr Matthews, a missionary, acted as mediator, and when the occupants’ food was exhausted, a parley was agreed to. The besiegers were to enter the fort and shake hands in the new Christian way, when the infidels were to go in peace to Wanganui, but Mr Matthews was horrified to witness what followed. The besieged advanced with right hands extended as arranged. These the Christians seized with their left, and struck their helpless victims, each with a hidden tomahawk. Of 140, only 40 survived. The faith of a day is like the growth of a day, dies in a day, and nothing is lasting but that of slow formation.