CHRISTIAN FRIENDS

THOSE of you who have for many years read our "Quarterly Paper" will be aware that we have often brought before you the Missionary work in New Zealand, and the triumphs which the Gospel has obtained there. You have been told what the New Zealanders once were, and how much they have been changed. It has been found true in New Zealand, as elsewhere, that "godliness hath the promise of the life which now is, as well as of that which is to come." They have begun to cultivate the ground, to improve their houses, and to clothe themselves in a neat and becoming manner. These outward improvements have accompanied the far greater blessing, that now they have been taught that they have a Father in heaven, and that the God who made and governs all things has sent his Son to be their Saviour. Perhaps now it would be difficult to find a single native New Zealander who has not heard something of the Lord Jesus Christ, and of the way of salvation through His death. And many of them have not only heard these things, but believed them, and have become joyful, and devout and consistent members of Christ's church. More than this, they have wished to establish the Christian church firmly among themselves, and to hand these blessings down to their children after them. Several native-Christian teachers have now become ordained clergymen; and native New Zealanders, or Maoris, as they are called, have subscribed for supporting these clergy, and have built, by their own labour, chapels for their own use. Nay, in one place a fund has been raised for the support of a native bishop, in the hope that, ere long, one may be consecrated. But, dear friends, we will not attempt to hide it from you, that great disasters have come on the Maori Christian church. You are all acquainted with the desolating war that has sprung up between the Maoris and the English Government. This alone would be an unspeakably grievous event; and the great enemy of souls has made use of it to stir up, not only the angry passions of men, but to tempt many of them to apostatize from the faith, and adopt a new false religion, a kind of mixture of Christianity and heathenism.

The following extracts from the letters of Missionaries will give you further information. The first is from a letter, dated December 20, 1864, written by the Bishop of Waiapu, Dr. William Williams, formerly one of the Society's Missionaries. After mentioning that "the effects of the war upon the religious aspect of the natives are lamentable," the bishop adds— This is the dark side of the subject; but the night is far spent and the day is at hand. We know that the end will soon come when all false religions shall give way to the Gospel, and we have only to wait awhile, and Christ will take to Himself his great power, and will reign. In this diocese we have been encompassed with difficulties, but our work goes on. The enemy comes in like a flood, but the Spirit of God lifts up a standard against him. I may refer you to our third Synod, which was held on the 2nd of March, for signs of vitality. True, we had no natives present from the disturbed parts of the country, and there was much to be thankful for. There was an evidence that there are numbers who regard religion as a reality, and that the desire increases

for clergymen to reside among them. At Waiapu we have three excellent men-the Revs. Rota Waitoa, Raniera Kawhia, and Mohi Turei. They are living in a disturbed district, but they hold their ground, and their influence acts powerfully; and many of those who had been among the disaffected have come over to the quiet party. At Tokomaru we have the Rev. Matiaha Pahewa, a good and useful man. Wairoa the Rev. Tamehana Huata has now the sole charge of an important district, and is faithful to his trust. A sixth, the Rev. Hare Tawhaa, we find of great service at Tauranga. He, together with Mohi Turei, were admitted to deacons' orders on the 25th of

At

September. On Sunday last, the 18th of December, another of our teachers, Watene Moeke, was ordained deacon.

He will reside at Table Cape, taking a part of Mr. Hamlin's district. We have one other native deacon, the Rev. Ihaia Te Ahu, living at Maketu.

The collections for the endowment

fund are still going on. During this year of trouble and excitement the sum of 4917. has been given for this object from seven different districts.

The bishop gives the following account of the new superstition that has risen among some of the natives—

It is a superstition which has sprung up at Taranaki; an effort of Satan to turn to his account the unhappy circumstances of the country. It had its origin from a dreamer of dreams; and it is given out that the angel Gabriel will enable them to overcome all their enemies, and to drive the English from the country. The Virgin Mary also will be their especial protector; and

while, in this particular, there is a savour of Roman-Catholic leaven, there is also another remarkable point of agreement, for the Bible and other religious books they have received are all to be destroyed. If they go to fight it is to be under the auspices of Gabriel and the Virgin Mary, but not under Christ.

This false religion has not only led away many Maoris from the worship of the true God, but has also-if the last account from New Zealand be true-been permitted, in the unsearchable providence of God, to bring a violent death on one of the Society's Missionaries. The last mail brought from New Zealand a telegram, in which it was said that the Rev. C. S. Volkner had been killed by a band of fanatical natives, who had seized him on board a British schooner. There is some uncertainty as to the truth of this statement; but it will be seen by the following extracts from our brother's last annual letter that he himself was fully prepared for death, and that, among his native flock, some at least were true children of God

In looking back on the present year (1864), it presents to me a melancholy picture of the natives of my district. Yet there are, nevertheless, some bright spots in it. It opens with the opening of the new church; then there is a great excitement amongst the people, followed by the cry of war, the hideous war dance, overbearing behaviour to all who do not agree to their plans, and disregard of God and his word, three campaigns, a total defeat, and the year closes with a dread

ful fever. Hardly any escape, and many die from it.

The new church cost more than 6007. It was finished in every particular, and paid for, in February. Government gave the natives a donation of 1007. towards it; friends in the neighbourhood of Reading kindly sent 207.; and the traders and other friends of the Maoris in Opotiki and Auckland subscribed 657. The rest was given by the natives.

Mr. Volkner then mentions how they determined to go to war with the English Government, believing that the English had wronged them, and intended to take their land from them. They were defeated.

I met them when they came home from a total defeat, when they might have felt irritated, for some of them they know were shot by the soldiers. They had fought with the troops and the (so-called) friendly natives, and when they retreated, and ran for their lives, they were pursued by two steamers for fifteen miles along the coast, yet they did not show a sign of ill-feeling towards me; on the contrary, the chief expressed himself thankful that I had stayed with those who remained behind, and all were pleased that I remained with them.

In speaking of their defeat, they said

they were defeated because of their evil ways, and not regarding God more. He confounded them, and let them be defeated because of their hardness of heart, and it was only of God's mercy that so many had come back alive. It was a wonder to them that any had escaped. In this defeat they lost twenty-two men, and all they had with them, seventeen canoes and boats, many guns, ammunition, all their clothes, and Prayer-books, and Testaments. On their return, they were anxious to replace their books before they did any thing else.

Thus weakened by the hardships of war, not half clothed, and almost without food, a fever broke out amongst them, and soon raged like a plague. The distress and scenes of horror which I witnessed surpass all description. There was hardly a house in which several were not lying sick of the fever, so that those who had hitherto escaped it had to sleep in the same places with the sick. There were no medical comforts. My little supply of European food was soon exhausted: the import of all English trade being strictly prohibited, I could get no new supply, The dreadful feelings I experienced I cannot describe. For six weeks hardly a day passed in which there was not a

death. But there were days when
four, five, and six deaths occurred.
Thus eighty died in two months, in a
population of 500. Nearly all were
once ill at the same time. Several of
those who died were good men: three
were teachers. They were generally
taken ill so suddenly that but few
were able to give evidence of the hope
that was in them.
Yet there were
some of whom I have reason to be-
lieve that they were prepared for their
great change.

During the fever I saw brotherly love exhibited, and found the people trusting in God, and being comforted by believing in Christ, in whom they put all their hope for time and eternity.

The Rev. Richard Taylor's letter gives an interesting account of a Christian warrior among the Maoris, who felt it his duty to take up arms on the side of the English, and fell while leading his soldiers on to victory. Feb. 10, 1865-John Williams and most of our natives are now absent up the river, guarding it from the hostile natives, who are threatening us with an attack, and they are, in fact, the chief defence of the district. He wrote a very nice letter to me, stating that they were hourly expecting an attack. He said they had held a prayer-meeting: twenty of our teachers attended, and he said that, like Aaron and Hur, they endeavoured to hold up my hands in supplicating God's blessing upon their

arms.

March 8-Our friendly natives, in number about 400, have been stationed up the river to defend the approach by it to the town. They have again been attacked. My poor friend John Williams was in command on our side; he likewise occupied the most advanced post. A small party of four laid in ambush to cut him off, but they were captured themselves; and, after being well treated, were allowed to return the following morning. John Williams said the first shot should be fired by the enemy. Another party of ten were captured the next night in the vicinity of the post; they likewise were allowed to return and then,

instead of this kind action being reciprocated, an attack was made, and several of the enemy were killed. John then advanced his post still nearer, and got between the natives and their pa; he there received a shot in his breast whilst bravely leading on his men: this was on the 23rd of February. He was brought down to Putiki. I was called up about three A.M., and I took him over to the Colonial Hospital, where he died on the following morning and on the 27th he was buried, nearly all the authorities, military as well as civil, followed him to the grave, and the British Ensign formed his pall. John Williams was indeed a Christian warrior: though he fought in defence of the European community, he did not forget his dependence on God. When he went up the river he wrote down to me, stating that he had established prayer-meetings in every place to supplicate the Divine blessing on their arms, and he wished us to do the same.

He also wrote to Abraham, my head teacher, and to the women, to pray for their husbands and relatives; and all attend daily, morning and evening, with the greatest regularity.

May that blessed time come when men shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks, and shall learn war no longer. May the kingdoms of the world speedily become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ!

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