Tabwia

Homage To Old

Native Missionary, Still Alive, Honoured In Christian Jubilee On Nauru.

( Contributed ) 'VTAURU, the isle of Pacific contrasts, recently celebrated the coming of Christianity to its shores 50 years ago.

It was then known as “Pleasant Is land” and the “Sailor’s Paradise”, for the girls, with garlands of flowers and pleasant smiles, were sirens of irrestible attractiveness. The women and the palm oil were responsible for the first white men living on Nauru. And as, at different times, these traders landed, so they be came centres of authority, and many were the clashes between rivals.

Before this, all power had been vested in a kind of queen. To her were taken the disputes about land, quarrels about wives, ownership of property, etc., and after hearing the pros and cons she gave judgment like a Mrs. Solomon. Her de cisions were respected, and this primitive court of law worked satisfactorily. But this simple order of society was soon dis pelled, and might became right.

It was into a disrupted social order that Tabwia, a young Gilbertese stepped ashore from the ship Morning Star to bring “the message of peace and goodwill among men.” The Nauruans’ religion had been one of ghost and ancestral wor-

ship, together with a respect amounting almost to homage of mediums, or wise women, who foretold future events. The ex-pugilist Captain Walkup, hero of many adventures, who finally lost his life on a missionary tour of the Gilberts, brought Tabwia to Nauru in November, 1887.

Thus was planted the seed which has grown into such a strong healthy plant, the Protestant Church of Nauru.

There have been changes of Govern ment, from German Administration to a British Mandate, changes in the content and form of religion, in the face of the island, and in the coast line. Out on the

edge of the reef are the natives, in their I ghtly-constructed canoes, dipping their paddles in age-old fashion and urging their craft to prospective fishing places.

And, beyond them, is the gaunt canti lever, jutting arrogantly above the frail native boats, belching phosphate into a 8,000 tons ship; its arms, like the antennae of a robot, swinging smoothly across the reef. An isle of contrasts!

Christianity has caught the imagina tion of the Nauruans. The entire Bible has been translated, together with a hymn book. In 1900, portions of the Scriptures and some hymns were “dupli

The ceremony at the monument which marks the spot where Tabwia landed 50 years ago.

cated” but, later, a printing press was installed and the first edition of the New Testament was printed on the island.

Tabwia had previously returned to the Gilberts and the first white missionary was Rev. Phil. A. Delaporte, of the American Mission, to whom goes great credit for his advancement of the Nauru ans. Just as the war brought changes in other parts of the world so the Admini stration and mission were altered. The London Missionary Society continued to build on the firm foundations already laid, and acknowledges its indebtedness to those who have gone before.

The Jubilee began on November 2, and the celebrations continued until the even ing of November 8. In the Government schools, the English taught is of a suffi ciently high standard to enable the mis sionaries to give the children several books each, written in English. But they probably were more excited over receiv ing a suitably-inscribed bright aluminium medal, which they pinned on their sing lets or dresses.

The pioneer, Timoteo Tabwia, was hon oured on November 5, when about 1,000 folk met outside the Mission House and marched, with banners flying and the band playing and people singing, to the spot where he landed 50 years ago. Here the original landing was dramatised and the part of Tabwia was taken by Morning Star, a special Gilbertese visitor from Ocean Island, who was born on the ship from which he took his name when sail ing from Honolulu to the Caroline Is lands. It was this same ship which brought Tabwia to Nauru.

Then the assemblage moved to a monu ment erected to the memory of Tabwia, with a tablet commemorating his land ing, which was unveiled by His Honour the Administrator (Captain Garsia). A letter was also read from Tabwia, who is still alive on Tarawa, but is too old to make the journey and join in the cele brations. The ceremonies concluded by Morning Star planting a Tomano tree, which the children of the next 50 years will have as a living memory of this occasion.