Among Fiji Indians

Christian Mission Work Among Fiji Indians

Csuva, May 16.

HRISTIAN mission work among the 125,000 Indians in Fiji and the evangelisation of the Indian popu lation of the Colony constitutes the greatest problem facing the Church in the Pacific, said the chairman of the Fiji Indian District of the Methodist Overseas Mission (the Rev. N. H. Wright) in his recent report to the annual meeting of the Methodist Mission Board.

The statistics for 1948 showed a de crease in the number of Indian members pf the Methodist Church but an increase in the number of attendances at church services.

Among the grants made by the Board was £2,000 for extensions to the mission’s hospital at Ba; it was stated that the Government of Fiji will contribute an other £2,000.

STEADY, progress in the Fijian Church was reported by the chairman of the mission in Fiji, the Rev. M. G.

Wilmshurst, who said that the Fijian Church was now ready to take over most of the church properties in the villages and to accept the responsibility for their upkeep. The Board was prepared to put these buildings in good order before pass ing them over to the Fijian Church.

After reporting a successful year in all the Fijian educational and other insti tutions, the chairman added: “The strength of the Church is not in her in stitutions but in the network of village churches.”

Referring to the December hurricane in the Lau Group, he said that seven churches were blown down and others

were damaged. The Board expressed its sympathy with the Fijian Church and stated that it would make an ex gratia payment towards the rebuilding.

The statistics showed that in 1948 the members of the Fijian Church numbered 28,915, with 4,508 members on trial.

Indian District members numbered 225, with 70 members on trial.