LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY. .

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 936, 1 October 1910, Page 7

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY. .

LECTURE BY THE REV. G. J WILLIAMS.

THE ROMANCE. OF MISSIONS.

In tlio Courtenay Placo Congregational .Schoolroom ' last" ovoning, tho Roy. G. J. Williams delivered the first of a sories of lectures under auspices of the London Missionary. Society. Tho - particular lecture' was designed for tho bonoiit of childron who formed a large proportion of tho audience, Tho {subject was "Tlio Romanco of Missions in tho ,Gilbert Islands." Tlio address, though cast on simple linos, suited .to tho' oa'pacity. of .juvenile auditors, was nevertheless both informative' and en.tertaiiv t, g'. : ,; It : was illustrated by a fine - series^:.i? lantern views. • ; i'Tlio,Gilbert Islands,, seventeen.in numbcr,' are a. group forming part ,of. a great ' Polynesian Archipelago ' in' thef Jfacjfic. ; :'They.: are . described by. Mr. Williamsi as "of lptv-lying, coral forma■tion. -' Tlioy are laoking in .tho luxuriant vegetation often to be found in ; tropical lan'ds^: The • populatipn numbers -. about 38,000. Although American ,:niissionaries. are: now established'.in tho north-, ern. islands :of : the: group, and those of tho London Missionary Society iii the southern islands, the'work of Chri'stian--ising:; the natives undertaken as long ago as 1870 by a native teacher from Samoa,' Tcho,. for twenty, or twenty-■fiVo-years,^ 1 carried on the .task unaided; Tho existing state of the islandg,. Mr. :Williams > suggests, - is ; a, tribute to: thfc labours of this pioneer missionary. . Christian, or semi-Christian . communities arc now to bo found everywhere throughout the -group, and the days of untutored barbarism are over. ' : The . pictures /shown: portrayed : olearly and well many'interesting -features: of island life. The natives aro well housed., A typical dwelling shown was raised on coral, posts, hewn from blocks which aro found on the beaches. The walls and robf ' were! thatched :with pandanus .leaves, ..and:' the Cwhole' structure : tied together with 1 cocoanut U fibre string. Sometimes posts of the "cocoanut palm • are: used, and[ tho midribs ; of: the : giant palm leaves. avo used for floors and partitions. • A: matter to wliioh Mr; .Williams deyoted some;'attention .was-,that of, tho dress worn by tho natives. The inissi6naries :made no attempt, lib said, to induce, tlio natives, to wear European gairmentSj but they. laboured to, convince their converts.that a' loose, .white, sanitary .^;dress : was' infinitely, to the coarse fibre garments: of native manufacture. In this particular the ,lectiirer. gently. suggested thjiti-the ladies Vof ;ißnro'^anv;civilxsa't.ip'ifii:-witihva*!-' yantVgo take a lesson from their- darkhaired. sisters .who inhabit th'o •islaiids: of iPplynesia.';Thq:.dress how'worn _by tho natives; is at: any, rate, a igreat" im-; '-proyement; on! tliat,^they The attire of the native women in their aboriginal state was -ia - - -fringed' .primitive .'apparel:^;was-; soaked; in- : coco-; ■nu.t . dil and sinoked:. over- a- green; wood: ;fire: -On ,t'he : 'authprity/.df-Mr. .Williams; it took a Gilbert Islander-to appreciate'i tho resulting fragrance." •. • • . ! One the; pictures', shown was; that! of- a warrior clad ifi armour, composed; of, carcfully-twiste'd cbceuut' fibro.cord,. porcupine ;fish.- : ,' ,:Hjs Weaplons'-were- bfj : hard wood edged,'with!.sharks' .'teeth.; Needless to-;say.' accoutre-! ments are. now completely out of-date, j Peace .reigns, throughout the: grouji • and the, ■' natives,- v. under;: -their 'missionary; teachers; "sjeJihakihg: rapid-progress thaiv war.' - 3 S- ii'nuai 1; : v...- ■■ '•

; Tho following ;is 4lie 'order.'.for. to-mor-row's--services;—The Terracc Congregational Churqh, 11 a.m., Rev. ti.: J: Williams; 7' p.m.,: Rev.H. P. Schlencker. Courtenary ; Placo, 11 a.m., Rev. H. P. Schleiickor. Constable Street, (Newtown),:3 p.m., Rev. H. P. Sdhlencker; 7 p.m., Rev. G. J. Williams. Alicetounj-f 3 ,p.m., Rev." G'. 1 J. Williams.;: Ini an advertisement in', this {: issue will •be found :the order, of the services. foi : tho week.'.