THE RATANA FAITH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 31, 7 February 1939, Page 6

THE RATANA FAITH

MAORI PILGRIMAGE CEREMONY ON MOUNT EGMONT ADDRESS BY LEADER More than 120 apostles, sisters and other followers of the Ratana faith from all over the Dominion, wearing heliotrope robes and full regalia, were led in a religious ceremony at Victoria Falls on Mount Egmont last Sunday morning by the founder and leader of the faith, Mr. W. Ratana. The falls are revered by Ratana followers because of prophetic references to them by Maori chiefs of the past. It is Mr. Ratana’s custom to visit the mountain shortly before or after a large meeting held on his birthday, January 25, stated his private secretary, Mr. M. Tane, when interviewed last night. The present visit to Elmont followed the celebration of his 66th. birthday last month, when an important meeting was held at Ratana at which affairs pertaining to the native race from religious and social views were discussed. One of the objects of the Ratana movement is to establish an equal social footing with the European race. Music by Ratana Band Sunday’s ceremony at Victoria Falls led by Ratana himself, was most impressive. At the head of the falls a band representative of the Ratana senr., Kaikohi, Mangakahia, Hastings, and Ratana jnr. bands, dedicated respectively to Mr. Ratana’s four sons and wife, Arepa, Piriwiri Pua, Omeka, Hamuera and Mrs. Te Whaea Ratana, snr., led the singing. The leader of the faith stood alone halfway up the side of the falls, from where he delivered an address. The rest of the robed followers stood at the foot of the falls.

Watched by many European visitors, the service opened with the assembly singing the hymn “Come to the Saviour” to band accompaniment. After prayers and hymns the service concluded with the ckjxology and the band played the “Ratana March” (T. Grey) and the “Talisman March.” Music was one of the features of the service and the Ratana senr. band was favourably commented on by Major Miller when he visited Marton with the Grenadier Guards Band in 1934. Present at the service were three Government Parliamentary representatives of the race, Mr. H. T. Ratana (Western Maori), Mr. E. T. Tirikatene (Southern Maori), and Mr. P. K. Paikea (Northern Maori), all of whom belong to the Ratana faith. Questioned regarding the “tapu” placed on Mount Egmont by a large section of the native race, Mr. Tane said that the pilgrimage to the mountain was Mr. Ratana’s way of demonstrating to the people that great though the mountain was, the might of the Supreme Being was even greater.