Pacific Missions' Conference: In Sydney Next April

Guinea by the January Tanda.

Pacific Missions’

CONFERENCE In Sydney Next April \ MISSIONARY conference has been arranged by the National Missionary Council of Australia, to be held in Sydney over four days, from April 5 next.

The discussions of the conference will be divided into three groups: Pacific, Aborigines, and Home Base.

The various missionary societies working in the South Seas will be represented on the basis of three times their present membership on the Council, after taking into consideration the number of fields in which they are working. Thus each society will be ensured of adequate presentation of its views, and it is confidently hoped that the result of the conference will be a forward movement in the activities of Pacific missionary bodies.

An outline of the enquiries to be made concerning Islands missions is as follows: A Survey of Spheres of Operations. —Can any profitable adjustments be made? Can travel be simplified? Is any co-operation possible in the interests of efficiency and economy? Are any arrangements made for the transfer of native church members who leave their homes for other parts, to the church in their new place of abode?

Attitude to Native Customs, etc. —What is the attitude of missions to native customs? What is the attitude of the Christian church to mission trading? What improvements are possible in each of these matters? What is the relationship of missions with Governments? Is this relationship satisfactory? If not, what can be done to improve it ?

Education, Evangelism, and Medical Work. —ln the programme of missions, which of these, if any, should receive greatest emphasis? What is the relationship between education, evangelism, and medical work, in the missionary work of the churches ?

Building the Indigenous Church. —Can anything be done to encourage the development of the indigenous church ? If so, what is the course that should be pursued? Is it possible to develop more rapidly than at present, the fellowship between the church in the Pacific and in Australia?

What are the more grave problems and the hopeful features of the life of tne indigenous church in the Pacific?

Training- of Missionaries. —ls the training at present being given missionaries adequate in every way? If not, in what ways can it be improved?