MELANESIAN MISSION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 307, 23 September 1919, Page 4

MELANESIAN MISSION

NEW BISHOP FAREWELLED,

A social gathering was held at the Masonic Hall last evening to bid God speed to the Bishop of Melanesia (Rev. J. M. Steward) and the members of his staff, tho lievs. 1). Sprott, A. I. Hopkins, N. Dixon, and L. E. Fox. The chair was occupied by the Bishop of Wellington (His Lordship Dr. Sprott). Tho gathering was also concerned with the inauguration of the Missions Committee appointed by the General Synod. Tin's committee consist of the Standing Committee of the General Synod, plus one lavman from each synod. The executive set up by Wellington comprises Bishop Sadlier (Nelsonj, chairman, Archdeacon Watson, Rev. 11. F. Wikon, and Messrs. C. W. Pitts-Brown (Nelson), J. .W. Henderson, and li. L. Button. An organising secretary for New Zealand has vet to be appointed. The Bishop of Wellington said that he felt il. an honour that the Bishop of Melaue.&ui was consecrated and' commissioned in the cathedral' of this city. The new Bishop was not 'unacquainted with Melanesia, and he would bo able to go back to the islands to apply his full knowledge. The Melanesian Mission was founded.by the first Bishop of New Zealand, and therefore had a special clnim on this country. The mission had the tii'st claim for support from the Wellington diocese., There was a time when people thought that the Melanesinn Mission was finite a minor affair—when the Pacific Ocean was not considered of any importance by the world. The war had changed that theory-'everyone knew that the Pacific was going to bo a most important part of the world. There was still much work to bo done by the Melanesian Mission, nnd the new diocese of Melanesia vet to be created would be affiliated with the Australian Church, rather than tho New Zealand, He trusted that the new Bishop would have the whole and hearty co-operation of the New Zealand Church ijn his great work. Bishon Steward said that the knowledge that he was going back to friends in Melanesia gave him great hopes for the success of the mission. He anticipated a gieat influx of Europeans to the Islands. He had been informed on good authority that two important naval bases were about to be established in the Solomon Islands. This would result in a great influx of Europeans. Melanesia was going to be a great place politically, and the Islands would be opened up to an extent never before .realised. The speaker explained the work of tho mission in Melanesia and the peculiarities of the natives. The natives had passed from savagery to a stage in close contact with the higher civilisation. Great work Jmd been done amongst the natives, and the results achieved had been wonderfully encouraging. When the speaker first ,wont to Melanesia he had an idea that everything was upside down, nnd he found after arrival that thnt wivs literally true. From a mental standpoint everything was upside down. The natives did exactly, the opposite to what one. would expect them to do. Tlip men did what was considered women's wni-k and vice versa. The natives considered tjie Europeans a foolish but wellmeaning race. The mission was training native teachers with the idea of building up a Church of Melanesia, and the success of tin's work would depend largely on the native clergy. They proposed tf form a synodical. government at the Islands in which the native priests would take part. He was confident of t'>e righteousness of fho mission and wou/;l leave tho results in God's liands. Bishop Sadlier said that the Church's solo authority for the mission work was tlie Lord Jesus Christ. Ho outlined the mission's work, and said that as an outcome of a, discussion at a recent meeting of the General Synod tho New Zealnntt Board of Missions was formed in Wellington with its headquarters here. The board consisted of three clergymen and three laymen. There .was no' more'interesting and nc more inspiring work today than that of church' missions. He etrcssed the need for a strong orgnntar tioi! ti/ nelp the mission work, aiid sni<! that an organising secretary was renuirod immediately. L\ conclusion, the Bishop said that there was n. giving which- was n getting nnd a getting which was a losing, and ha ask'ed his nudier.cn to\ choose ' Tho new Bishop and his staff wished God-speed in their work.