In Papua
p. 47 · Read in the full issue
Work of the L.M.S. Press In Papua
'THE London Missionary Society at * Hula, Papua, carries on the Raukele Press, where much mission printing is done; and the Rev. Harold Short, who is the lone European in charge of the station, has sent us some impressive speci mens of the work of his printing shop.
Except for the ethnological aspect, it is not necessary to lay stress upon the fact that all this work, except direction and supervision, is done by Papuan natives — the printing would do credit to any small printing shop in Australia.
The specimens of printing shown inci dentally give an insight into the work of the mission; and it is interesting to find among them a four-page explanation, in simple English and Motuan, of why our “day of rest” is Sunday. The native mind has been much bewildered in Papua by the advent of certain earnest gentle men who assure the natives that they should observe Sunday upon a Saturday.
The obligation to rest upon the 7th day, says the pamphlet, “is a kind law of God. No friend to us would spoil this wise way, or quarrel about the name of our rest-day; nor can the Timeless One care what is its number on our little calendar.”