After 95 Years

Melanesian Mission Faces Gigantic Task of Reconstruction in Solomons and New Guinea.

PROBABLY nothing illustrates the difference between missionising then and now, as do the illustrations in a booklet recently published by the Melanesian Mission. A cover illustration reproduced from an old print, depicts natives of Gela, BSI, disporting them selves under the coconuts, done up to look like something from the “Old South”!

Mammy Lous, clothed decently in voluminous, heavy skirts from toes to waist, and in thick blouses from waist and wrist to neck; little boys in dark, sailor suits. The menfolk are conspicu ously absent—perhaps they had more sense, but one doubts it: to the old-time missionary, Christianity and clothes were synonymous.

Inside the booklet we have pictures of the natives with the minimum of cover ing from knee to waist, and good brown skin the rest of the way: the sensible modern fashion that offends no one with sense and good taste.

There is a record of almost a century of mission work in the Solomons.

Ninety-five years ago (in 1848), the Bishop of New Zealand, in the tiny “Undine,” made a first visit, and re turned to Auckland with five native lads for schooling. In the following year he returned the lads to their homes in the same vessel.

Later on, the Melanesian Mission was formed: and. right down through years of hopes, trials, hardships, disasters, deaths and mistakes, invasion and war, it has carried on with faith and unflag ging energy.

To-day, many old prejudices have been swept away and the aims of the Mission are three-fold: evangelical, educational and medical. Whatever the layman may think about the first aim, no one can deny the great good done by the mis sionaries through the second and third.

F 1941, came war to the Pacific; and. in 1942. the Jap and all his vile works, to the Solomons; later came the Americans to drive him out.

The mission staff stayed and carried on, but the present position of the mis sion is as follows: The mission’s beautiful church at Tulagi is completely destroyed, mission headquarters, including the Bishop’s house, staff houses, stores, etc., are all completely demolished. The site of the long-established school at Maravovo and the printing workshon and residence nearby is a collection of shell-holes. The school, houses, and equipment at Bunana are all gone. Much damage, and. in other places, complete loss, was sustained at Siota. The known losses are esti mated to be no less than £16.000.

The Northern Archdeaconry (New Britain and Northern Solomons) is still in enemy hands, and nothing is known of the state of affairs there. No word has been received from two priests there, the Rev. J. Barge and the Rev. Moore,

since the invasion of Rabaul. It is hoped that they are safe with natives in the hills. Probably all the mission property has gone, though here, unlike the Solo mons, it has been possible to insure against war damage.

Re-building, re-organisation, and re establishment of food gardens will entail much time, thought, energy and money.

An appeal is made in the booklet to any one interested in any or all of the three phases of this work to help the cause along.