Native Fanatics
p. 32 · Read in the full issue
A New Sect in N. Hebrides
WRITING in the “Southern Cross Log”, the magazine of the Melanesian Mission, Dr. Fox describes an ex traordinary sect that has appeared among Christianised natives in the N. Hebrides.
“A kind of sect has arisen among the bush people of Raga, though there is as yet no actual separation from the Church. ■"‘lt began with a teacher named Dan iel (now dead), who heard heavenly ‘voices’, which gave him instructions.
This was a year or two ago, but the Moemera at Qatnapni had been greatly influenced by the Danielites (of whom there are six villages) and had come to accept their teaching. Their leader now is one Edwin Buletik, an old Norfolk Is land boy.
“Their teaching seems strange enough to us: three Trinities, one in the God head. one in Man, and one in the
Devil. . . They call the Church of Rome the ‘Coconut’, the Baptists ‘The Owl’ and the Church of England ‘The Brand’’, while the Danielites are ‘The Torch’.
“Daniel’s old wife is soon to have a child, who will be holy and baptised with fire. Daniel has been appointed keeper of the gate of the heavenly Jerusalem and will let in only Danielites. It is wrong to eat or keep a pig, buy wives, to drink kava, to smoke, and to use a walking 1 stick. These sins cannot be for given, and anyone who practises any of them cannot go to prayers or Commun ion, or be buried with a prayer.
“Weeping for those who die is forbid den, cheerful songs should be sung. Un married men and women may go freely together into the bush, for they cannot sin. A married woman must not live in the same house as her husband. Dancing is forbidden. Clergy and teachers must not be paid.
“The heavenly voices continue, but now in a woman. Some while since the heavenly* voice told the Danielites to kill all their fowls and make a great feast on a certain Friday, for our Lord would return on that day. They were to await him in the churches, which they did in silence for thirty-six hours.
“Probably one could find parellels in Africa to the teaching of the Danielites.
They are intensely in earnest and willing to give up everything to do what they believe is the will of God”.