HEROES OF PACIFIC ISLANDS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 44, 30 January 1945, Page 7

HEROES OF PACIFIC ISLANDS

STORIES OF BRAVE DEEDS SAD DESTRUCTION BY THE JAPANESE

News from the remote Pacific Islands trickles slowly into London now tlvat the immediate threat to the islands has been removed. Some hc.roic tales of the islanders come from the Kev. G. H. Eastman of the London Missionary Society who, by air and sen, lias been travelling among the Gilbert Islands recently ) states an English exchange. The plane was not able to laud on. j Beru Island but circled overhead dropping a letter of encouragement for the teachers and scholars who had remained *at the Rongorongo School. There had been sad destruction—the beautiful Jubilee Church bad been badly damaged by bombs, and bombs had destroyed practically all the buildings in the girls' school compound. Fortunately as Mr Eastman learned later there was no loss of life, as the girls had time to go into hiding. Raiding parties of Japanese from time to time looted and destroyed the property of the robbed the people, of food and even destroyed the laboriouslyprepared pits where bananas Avcre grown. The Gilberts are infertile so that this looting of foodstuffs. is a serious affair. Two pastors especially wore, singled out for oppression. They were accused of having prayed lor an Allied victory. What they may have, prayed in their hearts cannot, be known, but certainly in congregational prayers they behaved with discretion, praying only for peace! However, they were seized and anv prisoned, separated from their wives and children. They expected death, but. were later released. In spite of this } one pastor later risked his life to give help to an American raiding party. Both pastors suffered imprisonment again when the Japanese returned j and all L.M.S. teachers were hindered in their work 01* stopped altogether. Schools and churches were destroyed, Bibles and school materials taken! No wonder they Avcre glad to unburden their hearts to their old friend Mr Eastman! Mr Eastman heard a tale of outstanding heroism on the part of a "South Sea teacher" serving as. a missionary in a neighbouring group of islands. This teacher rebuked the Japanese soldiers who entered his house and looted and ddstroyed the church Communion Avare and a large stock of Bibles books and school materials Avhich lie held for the use of churches and schools on the island. He was thereupon accused of being friendly to England, and was seized and taken to the Japanese commander of the island, avlio is said to have condemned him to death for being hostile to Japan, lhe tcachei replied:— "Very avcll, I would rather die as a servant to the Lord Jesus Christ than live as your slave." His execution was ordered for that afternoon. On hearing this, his ■ friends and the church members on the. island Avith one. accord betook themselves to pray lor his deliveiance continuing to pray for the morning even wliiic foiced labour. About noon a Japanese ship arrived and a Japanese doctor landed. SomehoAV he heard that a mission teacher avus to be executed that afternoon. He inquired into the facts and then Avcnt to the Japanese commander and remonstrated Avith him. The commander Avas very angry and asked the doctor a\ hethei he Avas hostile to the Japanese Government and the Emperor. This the doctor vigorously denied but he stood his ground in protesting against the execution of an innocent man, even going so far as to say that if the commander 'killed the teacher he must kill him,, the doctor, too. The end of it Avas that the captive was set at liberty, though not at first allowed to go honif. A little later a Japanese schoolmaster who also seems to have been an enlightened man. He befriended the teacher, got him permission to return home, and prevented the Japanese from destroying a large L.M.S. church. What the further fate of this staunch servant of Christ may have been is not known, but it seems likely that he. Avas taken with the others- to the Carolines.