St. Peters Branch Of the Mothers’ Union

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 37, 13 February 1937, Page 19 (Supplement)

St. Peters Branch Of the Mothers’ Union

CANON G. Y. WOODWARD THE SPEAKER. St. Peter’s Church branch of the Mothers’ Union held the first monthly meeting for the year in St. Peter’s Parish Hall, yesterday afternoon, Rev. F. S. Ramson presiding. Sympathy was expressed with Mrß Bee in the loss of her father and with Mrs J. Horn blow, whose father-in-law is seriously ill. During the afternoon Miss Joan Wallerman delighted with pianoforte solos. "The New Guinea Mission 77 was the subject chosen by Canon Woodward, the spoaker for tho afternoon, who was accompanied by Mrs Woodward. After describing the tropical wonders of New Guinea.and pointing out that until comparatively recent times little of the country was Known, Canon, Woodward went on to speak of the Papuans, or natives of New .Guinea. They were of Melanesian and Polynesian stock he said and although until recently cannibalism had been practiced throughout the island the natives were now becoming more civilised. Strangely enough, the natives were not happy, being subject to a terrible disease of anxiety, which arose from their belief in ghosts. They were afraid of their own spirits, the spirits of their ancestors and of little incidents which were to them bad omens. The truth, said the speaker, was that these people's religion was "animism, 77 (Devil worship). Howover, they were convinced there was another life for them after they left this world and it was in this the Christian Church was able to explain the message of God.

Canon Woodward continued his address with a detailed description of tho establishment of the Church in New Guinea, of the splendid work done by the missionaries under the greatest difficulties, and of the way in which this work had prospered in 21 years. Rev. Ramson conveyed the vote of thanks to the spoaker, which was carried by acclamation. A dainty afternoon tea brought tho meeting to a close. The hostesses were Mesdames F. S. Ramson, A. E. Taylor, J. Hornblow and J. Cater.