Missionary Work Among
pp. 17-18 · Read in the full issue
Fiji's Indians Bishop of Polynesia Tells Australia
rE Bishop of Polynesia, the Right Rev. L. S. Kempthorne (whose head quarters are in Suva, Fiji), is at present in Australia. On June 3, he spoke at Christ Church Cathedral, New castle, on early missionary work, and its application to the Fiji Indians.
Missionary work in Fiji, he said, was due to the introduction of other people into the Colony mostly Solomons Islanders, and later, Indians.
At the time the first Indian labourers were brought in, the Governor of Fiji made an appeal to the Archbishop of Canterbury that these people coming to a new country should be chosen by the church and given help by the church in accommodating themselves to their new surroundings.
But, though the Church of England made some reply, it was 20 years before anything really took place. Meanwhile, the Indians had formed their own com munities, independently of any Christian influence, and the Colony has now the problem of coping with a non-Christian community comprising 50 per cent, of the population.
The Methodists were challenging this community in one part of Fiji, and the Church of England in another.
Bishop Kempthorne said that during the last 25 years the church’s impact upon the Indians had steadily increased.
Its easiest contact with them was through education, which they increasingly de manded, and, whereas 20 years ago they had only 50 pupils in four schools, there were now more than 600 boys and girls, and still this comprised only a small pro portion of the children available.
Plans were being prepared to open two more schools.
Pastor J. E. Fulton, who for many years represented the Seventh Day Adventist Denomination in Fiji, died recently. He is remembered by many people in the Colony, as he travelled extensively during his period in Fiji. The Fulton Missionary School at Tailevu was given its name in honour of his work.
Wounded in the Battle for France in November, last year, Edouard Paillandi, a volunteer of the second New Caledonian contingent, has had his right arm ampu tated. He comes from the country town ship of La Foa.
The death has occurred of M. Charles Jacques, secretary of the New Caledonian Chamber of Agriculture. He fought in the last World War.