MISSIONS IN NEW GUINEA.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 94, 19 July 1879, Page 2

MISSIONS IN NEW GUINEA.

Recently the Rev. Jamas Chalmers gave, in tho Congregational Church, Dunedin, a deoply interesting account of tho mission of the Undon Missionary Society in New Uuineu. lie described tin- perils of missionary labour in the island, alike for native and European missionaries. His narrative shewed that whatever dangers were to l» icomitered tilery wore met by the native teachers .and English missionaries mi equal terms. The fact that eleven native teachers hail been recently poisoned inthaabsenee of the missionaries hud been alleged as a | reproach to tho latter, as If they had purposely, lied, leaving tboir Fellow-labourers to theirfate, Thorev. missionary shewed that there was no foundation lor such u slander, When 11 number of the natives mitdo uii attack upon a small English vessel of seven tons—an uttaok wauli nt fir-t failed, although tiecaptain was pinned to the floor of his eaiuu by theapjaw of tao savagoA -M:\ and Mis. tiiii.ini-is were wuenuu that tho attack was to be iiwcwcil at midnight,

and ■• r> urg I i i uafca then Mtu r'l iendly natives infanunl thM that tin pb>t wax laid- that tht-y were to be Mir louudtd, killed, and ,al.-ii. ,liut when i Mi- Chalmers heard the suggestion, sin thinly refuted to entertain it. •• \\\ ,'have, held our ground here (fir so hj.n L . and to abandon it wi I be n great a dis- ; eimragtmeat to all 10 icented, that at al. risks we must remain." Thev did rc- • main. The heathen paity were insolent (and violent. Day after day they sur- | lwuided his Mr. Chalmer'b) half-made house, clamouring for pixweuts, heating the Hoor and the sides of the house with clubs and spears. Un the thin! day it was resolved that the Christian party should assume a somewhat bolder attitude. Their heathen assailants wore tohl that if they entered tho enclosure and attempted violence the lions,, would i he d> tended. _ TIIO Mallei shewed the j wisdom of t!iis. 'l'h.. multitude, more ! deh.iiit titan courageous, at last received orders from tin. warrior chief to desist and disperse. The rev. gentleman, in j the strongest terms, deprecated the Use lof arms, whether by native or Knglish missionaries, in the ilischarge of their work. They carried gnus, indeed, but if a. man in .Wiv (iiiiuea were without his gun he might often have to go without his dinnei. Mr. Chalmers tii"ii went, on to describe what had 1 u already d< n tin; Ulaml. Twenty two mission stalions had boeu establ'isbcd along the coast. And although many hatl fallen, and others stood at the peril of their lives, there was .not the faintest de> sire to relin(|iiish the work. '•Abandon | New t.uinea:" said Mr. Chalmers. 'No ! not while on every other Ijeld the watchj word of English , nterprise and conquest ! was • Forward :' " He d<\<cribcd how simple and homely was the character of ; their missionary 'work- -how tliey mixed | with the people, sji* and talked 'to them | instructed them in the aits of civilisation .and taught them to read.— Auckland | Weekly News.