CARRYING ON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 April 1943, Page 3

CARRYING ON

SOLOMONS MISSIONARY WORK DESPITE JAPANESE INVASION. REV. A. H. VOYCE’S MESSAGE. Addressing a large congregation in the Methodist Church, Masterton, last night, the Rev. A. H. Voyce, who has been engaged in missionary work at Bougainville, Solomon Islands, for the past 17 years in the course of a well delivered address spoke with confidence of the future of missionary work in the Solomons. Although as a result of the Japanese invasion and the application of the scorched earth policy the material work of many years had been wiped out but the native church could never be destroyed. Mr Voyce said that the work was still proceeding despite the enemy occupation. The Rev. Mr Silvester was still in the field in an island in the Solomons group and although he was miles behind the enemy lines was living in safety ‘ and was carrying on his work. The speaker paid tribute to the loyalty and courage of the natives in the Solomons following the Japanese invasion and said that the Methodist Church could well feel proud of the wonderful work that had been done. At the outset Mr Voyce gave an interesting description of New, Guinea, its geographical features and’ of its flora and fauna and of the natives who inhabited the numerous islands off New Guinea to the Solomons group. He instanced the use of pidgin English as being the only common language between the many tribes and the white people of different nationalities, and gave examples of the use of the dialect. By that means the Word of Redeeming Love was brought to the natives. Mi’ Voyce said that Kihili, in Buin Bay, Bourgainville, which was his mission, was now an advanced Japanese base. All the material work carried on at the mission station had been destroyed in the same way as at the missionary station at Munda. However, the native missionaries were continuing the work and were waiting for the time when the European missionaries were able to return. He described some of the incidents of his wealth of experience with the natives and of the missionary work that was carried on. At the conclusion of the address, Mr E. M. Hodder, who presided, called on Messrs C. R. Goudge and G. F. Whitlock to say a few words. Both paid tribute to the speaker’s qualities and expressed satisfaction that Mr Voyce had spoken so confidently of the future of missionary work. On their motion a vote of thanks was carried to Mr Voyce by acclamation.