THE AUSTRALIAN CHURCHES AND CHRISTIAN MISSIONS.

Samoan Reporter, Issue 13, 1 July 1851, Page 3

THE AUSTRALIAN CHURCHES AND CHRISTIAN MISSIONS.

We have just heard of the formation of an Australian Board of Missions, in the city of Sydney, in connexion with the Church of England, and of the organization of auxiliaries in some of the principal towns throughout the colonies ; and we hasten to give expression to the

feelings of grateful satisfaction with which we regard these auspicious movements. We congratulate those whose honour and privilege it has been to originate these combinations, and, in the name of their Lord and our’s, we bid them “God speed!” May the blessing of the God of Missions be abundantly vouchsafed to them at every step of their progress, and may they be privileged to give a mighty impulse to the sacred cause of Christian Missions, not only in those parts of the wide field to which their effort are likely to be more immediately directed, but throughout the world! We presume, from what we know of the origination of the newly formed board, that its attention will be directed to the New Caledonia groupe, as its first field. Our own connection with that groupe leads us to feel a peculiar interest in any movement directed towards it. It was our privilege, as long ago as the year 1840, to begin the w’ork of evangelizing that groupe. About the month of June of that year, Samoan evangelists were placed on the Isle of Pines ; and, in the month of April of the following year, others, composed of Samoans and Rarotongans, were placed on Mari, another island of the groupe, and also on New Caledonia itself. Subsequently, the island of Lifu was also occupied. We have had to struggle with many and great difficulties in our efforts to retain our hold of the groupe,, and to extend our operations upon it. We have incurred no little expense, and several of our teachers have fallen while engaged in their self-denying and arduous labours. Some of these, after suffering great hardships, w’ere carried off by disease, and others have fallen by the hands of savage men. Of late years, though the large island and the Isle of Pines have long been without teachers, the prospects have somewhat brightened. A very pleasing change has taken place on Mare. There we seam to have got a considerable hold. On Lifu, also, the prospects are encouraging. On either of these islands, it is probable, Missionaries might at once commence operations. It is highly probable that the Isle of Pines, which is of much greater relative importance than these, is also open.

Such being our position with reference to this groupe, it is but natural we should feel in it a peculiar interest. We have no wish, however, to retain our bold upon it, if other parties are disposed to take upon themselves the responsibility of providing for its spiritual wants. This we have already intimated to Bishop Selwyn; and we are prepared to remove our teachers, whenever he and those who co-operate with him, are in a position to dispense with their services. We have a sufficiently wide field elsewhere, and shall rejoice to see the groupe fully occupied by Christian Missionaries. We cannot conclude our remarks on this subject without a word to our brethren of other Christian denominations who are not included in the Board of Missions to which we refer. What good reason exists why they should be behind in a work in which their fathers and brethren in all parts of the Christian world have not been wont to be the last to move ? Why might not a second Australian Mission Board be formed forthwith, which might combine their energies, and bring their resources to bear with effect on the great work ?If they could agree to merge their differences on minor points, the agents they might send to the field would not be likely to quarrel, provided these were men of the right stamp. But we presume not to offer advice as to the manner of doing the thing, nor are we greatly concerned about that. Whether it be by combination, or by each denomination acting separately, we care little. What we wish is, to see all moving according to their ability. What seems wanting is, that some Dissenting ministers, whose circumstances point them out as the proper parties, should take the lead. Such individuals do not need to be reminded by us that a very weighty responsibility attaches to them. Of this they are doubtless fully aware, and w r e trust that we shall very soon have a convincing proof of this by their actually appearing as leaders of the respective detachments of the great army under their direction, to take part in the great struggle. We presume they are only waiting till the time may arrive which shall commend itself to them as the proper season for action. We would respectfully submit, whether that time has not already come, and whether it would not be perfectly safe to make a movement at once ? It is our conviction, that all that is wanted is, for parties in question to lead the way. This is the age of great and rapid movements. There is no lack of leaders to originate and direct these movements in as far as they relate to the present transitory state. Thus let it be in the case before us. Let not those whom Providence calls to direct and advance that movement, to which all others are designed to be subservient, and in which they shall all ere long be swallowed up, be slow to yield obedience to that call. In the name of the great Leader, let them summon the tribes of Israel to the holy warfare, and they will doubtless find that multitudes will respond, and that God himself will bless them, while they give themselves to the high and holy work of making Him known, and publishing His salvation to the ends of the earth.

Manono, June 30, 1851.

A. W. MURRAY.