“Money-Making” Missions

To the Editor.

Sir, —The Reverend General Secretary of the Methodist Mission Society of Australasia has courteously challenged my statement that cer tain of his Society’s missionaries assist their mission-funds by trading. He also threatens to ‘deal with” any such if I can prove them to have been guilty of what he declares is against the regulations of the M.M.S. of A.

In the first place, I was writing generally of the Pacific Missions, and not solely of those of Papua. All the same, I confess that I am most astonished to read Mr. Burton’s denial, as I thought the M.M. were generally known to go in for trading, and in this diff ered from the no-trading policies of other missions. But whilst I think such trading a mistake, I may, and do, recognise certain of these trading missionaries as very fine fellows. Certainly it is not my business to bring such “to the mat.”

If no trading is permitted, how comes it that certain of these fine M.M. folk receive, compared with those of other missions, fairly high salaries? The wonderful people of the other missions, I understand, only receive the nominal ten shillings a week.

When I was introduced to Mr. Gilmour, who is principal at the Dobu H.Q. of the M.M., by the Resident Magistrate of Samarai (acting on instructions from His Excellency) last June, with a view to my visiting the thermal wonders of that most exquisitely lovely spot, that gentleman said fas nearly as I can recall words) : “If you’re thinking of going there for nothing you’re quite mis taken. You’ll have to pay me £25 to go in my yacht; and you must buy your provisions from our store or take what you need with you—each of our stations has to pay for itself!”

Perhaps “Nuff sed!” As the run is only that of about seven hours, and I did not want to find myself amongst inhospitable, and perhaps, unfriendly people, I did not accept Mr. Gilmour’s suggestion, and that great Christian teacher, Dr. Newton, Anglican Bishop of New Guinea, took me with him. thrice as far, for nothing: and showed me the way to most remarkable archaelogical discoveries —as did Mr. Abel, of the Kwato Mission, later on. When my projected book appears I may deal further with this matter. —I am, etc..

Arthur J. Vogan.

Sydney, 3rd February, 1932.