"Dollar Prosperity" Now —Headaches for the Future Report
pp. 35-36 · Read in the full issue
Future Report of the Methodist Mission for 1943-44
'THE war, with its trail of disaster, ± desolation and discouragement seems to have overwhelmed us in so many places, and created problems that may take decades to solve.
Tonga, Samoa and Fiji escaped the
physical desolation of war; hut they
have been deeply affected by defence
preparations and in other ways. The spiritual damage of war can be even greater than the material damage, and as yet no full estimate is possible of the impact upon our people. —From the Methodist Mission Report for 1944. rE yearly report of the Methodist Overseas’ Mission for 1943-44 in dicates that, although financially the Mission is in a better position than ever before, wartime conditions have undone much of the good done previously among Pacific Islanders. The immediate post war period will hold some hazards for this, and other, missions.
Tonga
Tonga, a stronghold of Methodism now, as always, had a good year financially.
Not only did it rid itself of all debts, but it contributed £2,200 to the general mission fund in appreciation of the help of the Mission Board in past years.
The Tongan Church is, of course, self dependent and self-governing, and many of its native people have gone forth them selves to other mission stations in Fiji, New Guinea, BSI and Papua, as mis sionaries. Since the outbreak of the Pacific war, three Tongan ministers— Jionatane Meleke, David Mone and Isikeli Hau’ofa —have done yeoman service in Papua.
The report says that Tonga is in a critical stage in regard to education. For merly, the Methodist Church had a large share in the education of the Tongans; but the Tongan Government now has established its own schools, and whether the Tongans will, in future, be mission or Government educated is in some doubt.
The Rev. R. C. G. Page who, for 36 years, has had a great influence on Ton gans and Tongan affairs, is shortly to re tire. His retirement will be a great loss to the Methodist Church.
Samoa
With the general wave of “dollar pros perity,” the year was a good one for the Samoan Church (like Tonga, also self supporting). Donations from the Samoans amounted to £21,334 —part of which has been set apart for future needs when money, presumably, will not be so plenti ful. £l,OOO was donated to the general funds of the Mission Board; another £l,OOO was given for the Rehabilitation Fund.
During the year, the Rev. C. L. Williams completed the work of registration of mission lands. Some of the lands held by the mission in Samoa were still registered in the name of Dr. Brown and other missionaries of that era. Now all titles are stated to be in order.
Fiji
War conditions apparently have had more mission repercussions in the Colony of Fiji than in the two foregoing Poly nesian territories. Fiji has been a large Allied base; and it was necessary for the Government to take over many large buildings—some of them belonging to the missions—for the use of troops. This dis located educational and mission work.
The falling off of church attendances is also attributed, in the report, to the up setting conditions that have prevailed in the Colony since 1942.
Some educational changes are brewing in Fiji; but, unlike Tonga, where the Government is assuming more control, it appears that the new Fiji set-up will favour the missions, in that the Govern ment will find the cash and the missions the teaching personnel.
Finances here, too, have been swelled by the wartime prosperity wave. All mission debts have been paid off and there is a good balance.
The mission work in Fiji is divided in two: Fijian and the Indian. Although there are over 33,000 Fijians attending the Methodist Church, only about 2 per cent, of the 100,000 Fiji Indians profess Christianity; the progress of converting them is very slow, although the mission is resolved to spare no effort in con tinuing this work in the future.
Guinea. (Mandated)
As the Methodist Mission field of operations in the Mandated Territory was confined to the Rabaul district, no work at all coifid be done in the year just past. Only the scantiest information has been received from or about the six
teen men and women of the mission who were swallowed up in the invasion of the Gazelle Peninsula in January, 1942.
Letters were received from some of these missionaries in 1942; of others there was no information. It is hoped, however, that all are prisoners of war.
Papua
Although the fighting Jong since has receded from Papua, only a few mis sionaries have as yet been permitted to return to the field. The report states: “All our trained medical, technical and printing boys are now employed by the Army. Reports indicate that their ser vice has been of great value. Our hos pital at Salamo is controlled by ANGAU.
There are also about six village hospitals throughout the D’Entrecasteaux Group, where the natives are receiving better medical attention than ever before. Our boats, sawmill, and printing presses have been taken over by the Army. The Mission Cottage at Samarai was destroyed, following the evacuation of civilians.
Other house property has suffered very little damage. This is largely due to the fact that our SSI and native staff have taken great care of the houses and their contents, “From reports received, it appears that the greatest setback has been in the Kiriwina and Goodenough Island (Bwai doga) Circuits. In both these places wise and sympathetic leadership will be needed in the future.”