Rev. James Orsmond

His Valuable Work in Tahiti

WRITING in the “Sydney Morning Herald” of February 2 last, Mr. Eric Ramsden supplies some interesting ma terial concerning Rev. James Muggridge Orsmond, pioneer “Duff” missionary to Tahiti. Mr. Ramsden has based his article on data contained in a document purchased by the Mitchell Library (Sydney) from the collection of the late Dr. John Dunmore Lang.

According to the recently purchased document, which was compiled by Mr.

Orsmond himself, the Church gained a firm footing in Tahiti only after King Pomare II. was converted, and, for his own political ends, advocated Christianity.

“After the King was baptised,” wrote Mr.

Orsmond, “the door was open, and a desire to follow his example ran through the islands like wild fire among stubble.”

Travelling to Sydney in 1817 in the company of two natives, Mr. Orsmond acquired a workable knowledge of Tahi tian. On his return to Papeete he studied

the language diligently until he obtained complete mastery over it. He saw the people in transition and made full use of this by going among the chiefs, priests, and commoners seeking their opinions, studying their customs and legends, and assimilating the fundamentals of their inherent culture. This mass of detail he recorded while it was still fresh in his memory, and so gathered a comprehensive and valuable collection of ancient Tahitian lore.

Later he generously presented his col lected writings, embodying his observa tions and researches, to the French Gov ernment. Unfortunately, these documents of inestimable value were subsequently destroyed in Paris. Years later his bril liant granddaughter, Teuira Henry, a fluent linguist and a profound student of Tahitian culture, undertook the tremen dous task of restoring Mr. Orsmond’s life work. After her death in 1915, Miss Henry’s manuscripts, elaborated with notes by other Tahiti experts, were pub lished by the Bernice P. Bishop Museum, of Honolulu.

When his wife died in Tahiti on Janu ary 6, 1815, Mr. Orsmond went to Sydney and married Miss Isabella Nelson, a Sun day school teacher of Parramatta, N.S.W.

Their daughter Eliza married Isaac S.

Henry, son of Rev. William Henry (vete ran missionary of the “Duff,” who later settled at Ryde, N.S.W.). From this union was born Teuira Henry, on January 24, 1847; thus she was the granddaughter of both the old "Duff” missionaries, Rev.

James Orsmond and Rev. William Henry.

After the French occupation of Tahiti, Mr. Orsmond realised that Britain would

not interfere with the position, and so he opposed the actions of the Protestant missionaries in encouraging the Tahitians to resist the French by arms. For this attitude he was accused of aiding the French, and, finally, dismissed from the London Missionary Society in July, 1844.

Subsequently, the French authorities made him Government pastor at the Papeete French Protestant Mission.

While on his way to Sydney in 1856, Rev. James Orsmond died at sea on April 23, at the age of 72.

Mr. Harbour, who is studying theology at St. John’s College, Auckland, New Zea land, will shortly be appointed to an Islands post by the Melanesian Mission.