Presbyterian Mission Synod

in New Hebrides

THE annual Synod of the New Hebrides Pres byterian Mission was held at Tangoa, South Santo, between July 24 and August 3.

Present were Revs. M. Prater (Paama), W. V.

Milne (Nguna), W. Anderson (Hog Harbour), B. R. C. Nottage (Tongoa), W. F. Paton (North Ambrym), H. M. Bell (East Tanna), and two associate members, Mr. A. Wilson (Tangoa) and Miss M. Rankine (Vila).

The meeting placed on record its appreciation of the work of Rev. Thomson Macmillan, of Tanna, who recently retired after 40 years’ service. He mastered the native language, and his trans lation of the New Testament has been described as “a masterpiece of pure, idiomatic Tannese which nas crystallised the native tongue for coming generations.” His wife also carried out notable work at White Sands Mission.

Sympathy was extended to the family of Rev.

Alex Gillies (formerly at Kwamera, Tanna, for four years) who died in Scotland, and to the relatives of Mr. Andrew Stewart, who died in Sydney early this year, after serving on Santo since 1931.

A committee, comprising Messrs. W. F. Paton, Wilson and Bell, drew up a minute based on re ports of stations. They said that a movement on the lines of the Oxford Group is vitalising the spiritual life of many natives on West Tanna.

A good response is seen on Ambrym, with an in creasing effort towards self-support by the native church. Work is made difficulty by lingering superstitions, kava drinking, witchcraft, grou selling, illegal recruitment of labour, and, on Male kula, by certain brutalities.

Two hurricanes caused heavy damage to many mission stations during the year, and seriously reduced the natives’ food supplies. Missionaries dealt effectively with epidemics after the visita tions. Medical work generally has been conducted satisfactorily.

The Synod noticed that new problems are arising from the natives’ increasing contacts with modern civilisation. A new mental outlook is apparent— e.g., in the expressed desire for higher education.

including a working knowledge of the French language.

It was agreed that Presbyterian missionaries should endeavour to gather together the traditions.

folklore, customs and laws of their respective islands m order to preserve them in the printed page, thus preventing the ultimate loss of inter esting knowledge valuable for New Hebrides race culture.

Looking forward to the Centenary of the landing and martyrdom of John Williams on Erromanga in 1839, and so of the commencement of mis sionary endeavour on the New Hebrides, the Synod appointed an Editorial Committee (Messrs. M.

Prater, B. Nottage and W. F. Paton) to collect material for a booklet in commemoration of this event.

Before the session adjourned, it was resolved that the next Synod would be held at North Am brym in 1938, during June or July.

Mr. and Mrs. J, A. Parer, uf Wau, New Guinea, sailed from Rabaul by the Nel lore on September 22 to spend holidays in the East.

Mr. R. J. Clancy, of Messrs. W. R. Car penter and Co. Ltd., who is stationed at New Ireland, arrived in Sydney on fur lough by the Van Rees early in October.