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Our Maori Mission

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 24, 1908

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 85, No. 39.

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Our Maori Mission

By W. R. CARSWELL

After the camp-meeting in Cambridge, Brother Redward and I returned to Gisborne, and a few days later paid a brief visit to Tolago Bay, where we have some Maori believers, and some others who are part Maori. This little company seems to be a truth-loving band.
Our visit was principally to become acquainted with a number of people of the Urewera tribe who were visiting Tolago; and to secure some names to which to send our literature, especially our Maori paper.
Returning from that visit, we labored in Te Arai and the district around it, spending most of our time in the Maori work; but also visiting our European friends with “Christ’s Object Lessons.” We did not see great results from our work among the Maori people, but trust that the seed sown will not return void to our Heavenly Father.
Leaving Mrs. Redward and Mrs. Carswell at Te Arai, Brother Redward and the writer again went to Tolago Bay to labor. Some in this place seem desirous of walking in the light which they have received. But the majority are slow to move, as the pleasures of life are dear to them.
We have just taken a trip up the coast north of Tolago to visit other Maori villages. Letters of introduction were given us, addressed to the chief men of the places we were going to visit. We were kindly received at all these places, although the men whose names we had, were often found to be absent from their villages.
At each place we usually had the opportunity of conducting morning and evening worship, and conversing freely about present truth. Leaving some of our tracts and papers, we went day after day to other villages, visiting about ten in all. The principal of these are Tokomaru, Waipiro, Hiruharama (Jerusalem), Mangahanea, Tuparoa, and Whareponga. Among those whom we met, and to whom we presented various phases of truth, were men who had studied at Te Aute College, daughters of a Maori minister, relatives of Sabbath-keeping friends in Tolago, and many others who showed interest in the truths presented.
One lady (a daughter of a minister), with her husband, seemed much impressed with various phases of the truth presented to them. They live in Tokomaru, where there were a number of cases of typhoid fever. Brother Redward was able to give some treatments, and make some suggestions to those who had the care of these sick ones. A little girl was suffering from typhoid in the house at which we lodged.
In Jerusalem, or Hiruharama, we spent a Sabbath day, and visited another village near by. The people are mostly Ringatus, or Seventh-day observers, at least in theory. We enjoyed opening the Word of God to them, and had several studies on Sabbath and Saturday night. Some saw the light regarding the true Sabbath for the first time, presumably Church of England, or Mormon people; for they as well as the Ringatus are found in most of these places. At Jerusalem we were also kindly received by the European teacher of the Maori children, and were invited to visit him at any time we were in the neighborhood.
In each village we met some souls who seem desirous of leading a better life,—persons who love the Bible and desire to know it better. Some subscribed for our Maori paper; others purchased “Christ Our Saviour” in the Maori tongue. Altogether we left about two dozen copies of the latter in the hands of the people on our trip. We believe our Maori literature will be a great blessing to the people, and hope some precious souls will fully embrace the truth through this means. We hope soon to be able to increase our stock of literature by having other tracts and pamphlets translated and printed for the Maoris.
We see evidences that the Holy Spirit is working for the Maori people, and rejoice in hope that some will obey the truth.
W. R. CARSWELL.