MELANESIAN MISSION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 October 1938, Page 10

MELANESIAN MISSION

WORK IN THE ISLANDS ADDRESS BY THE REV E. J. RICH The monthly meeting of the Women’s Missionary Auxiliary of the Masterton Methodist Church was held in the Methodist Schoolroom yesterday afternoon, when Mrs L. Jansen presided over a good attendance of members. The devotional period was led by Mrs Jansen, who offered special prayers for peace. The visit to Masterton of the Dominion President of the M.W.M.U.; Miss E. M. Rishworth was discussed, and it wag decided to invite her to address a meeting to be held on October 19, at 7.30 p.m. Afternoon tea was served by the hostesses Mesdames F. J. Parker and C. D. Shoosmith and then the Rev E. J. Rich gave a most interesting address on “Aspects of the work of the Melanesian Mission.” As far back as the 16th century,” he said, “Spaniards landed at the Solomon Islands. Their priests met the .natives, said numerous Masses, but did not make much headway, so left, leaving nothing, but a few p'ace names to mark their coming. Two hundred years later, the French re-dis-covered the Islands, but made no effort towards helping the natives. Next arrived Captain Cook, who by fair dealing and treatment, made a good impression on the Islanders. Later came the traders, who by their unscrupulousness and exploitation of the people undid the good accomplished by Captain Cook, making the natives the enemies of the white race. This had made the work of evangelising these islands more difficult. In the Melanesian and Polynesian islands, there were two races. The former type are short, dark and very unsociable, while the latter are tall, fairer and much more friendly. As their wants are few, these people are accustomed to a very easy life There is an abundance of fruit and fish to be procured without much effort. These people just live for the present; to them there is no past or future. They live very much under the influence of fear—fear of evil spirits, of each other, and of strangers, and are always expecting danger to befall them. To them four kinds of boats are known—(l), the “thief” ship, which carried natives away to work on the plantations in Fiji; (2) the man o’ war of the white man’s Queen; (3) the Mission ship known as “Ahanena, or Our Ship”; (4)‘ the traders. The Melanesian people were essentially religious, even in their heathen state, and had a strong belief in the influence of evil spirits. No work was begun without an offering being first made of sacrifices to spirits who were thought to be hostile. Then Bishop Selwyn set sail from New Zealand in a small boat for Melanesia. After seeing the conditions there he brought John Coleridge Patterson out from England, and in 1861 consecrated him Bishop of Melananesia. Bishop Patterson saw that if, Melanesia was to be won for Christ, it must be by the Melanesians, owing to the prejudice they held against the white man and also the climatic conditions. So natives were brought to Auckland for training as clergymen Auckland for training as clergymen, and sent back to their own people. These natives proved very adaptable, and made good leaders. Much good work was being done by a band ot “Bush Brothers,” one of whom was Dr Fox, late of Napier, New Zealand. These missionaries work in the islands year by year without salary, devoting their whole lives to winning the heathen tribes to Christianity. Schools are conducted for girls. There are hospitals and dispensaries in charge of a doctor and nurses in the larger settlements. These people do not like living in large villages, and this made the medical work somewhat difficult. Two native boys were now being trained as doctors, and all teachers were given a course of medical training. Much sickness is brought about by the conditions of living, malaria and chest complaints being the most prevalent. Through the medical work, much of the old prejudice was being broken down, and many islands in the group were now entirely Christian. The Holy Communion means much to the natives who attend in large numbers. At the conclusion of his address, Rev F. J. Parker, moved a vote of thanks to Mr Rich, which was carried by acclamation.