Attacks On Islands

Missions

Letter to the Editor PREVIOUSLY, in 1932, I wrote to you about the insertion of articles against the missions and I expressed then a doubt whether your readers generally appreciate such views directed always against the same corporations.

In the January number of your inter esting publication I was again shocked by an insulting reference to the missions, where a certain Mr. Stratton inveighs against the missions in his criticisms, saying: “Their meddling with native tri bal affairs and their apparent hostility to European commercial enterprise would tend to mark them as pests rather than benefactors to the territory.”

Such insulting statements, made with out any proof, and against anything that has already been said to the contrary, are unfair.

The missions never attack, and only in rare cases defend themselves, where the accusations are harmful to their good name or their work. How can we—with out taking pages and pages of your ma gazine and falling into very tedious repe titions —defend ourselves against the sweeping statements of Mr. Stratton?

You, who show so much judicious and thoughtful mentality, could easily render your magazine still more interesting and acceptable to every one by omitting too frequent and cheap criticisms of the same topics.

I am sad for my missionaries when I think of the impending jubilee—on next Sunday—of two of these “pests,” who will celebrate 40 years of unremitting and devoted missionary work in this Ter ritory, under very severe hardships, for the well-being of the natives. They do not know how they are appreciated by some in Australia; but if they knew they certainly would smile at so much ignor ance—to say the least —by your corres pondent, and would pray for him.

I am, etc.,

A. J. G. Vesters.

(Vicar-Apostolic of Rabaul).

Vunapope, N.G., 8/3/’34.

EDITORIAL NOTE: This is a public newspaper,

and we are glad to allow all people to express their opinions. We do not approve of some of the attacks on missions, but we give them publicity, because they represent something of what is being said among men, and it is good that everyone should read the missionaries reply.

No one, even the most critical and cynical, will deny that the missions give the natives a physical dean-up and a mental overhaul, or that the great majority of missionaries are men and women of splendid character. Their devotion and self-sacrifice have done something towards balancing the account of Melanesia and Polynesia against European “civilisation.” During eight tragic decades, the men of the “cultured” nations poured into the South Seas, and enslaved and cheated, debauched and poisoned the primitive and trusting peoples whom they found there. We may not agree in principle with what the missionaries are doing, and we may question the ultimate value of their work; but it is at least some solace to our racial pride that we can now place the tally of their honest efforts against the sickening story of what white men did in the Pacific in the first half of last century.