Many Delegates At Tonga Convention
pp. 55-56 · Read in the full issue
Tonga Convention
Free Wesleyan Mission ground and at the mission’s Queen Salote Girls’
College in Nukualofa.
The convention was under the direction of the Rev. William Mo’ungaloa, director of the Young People’s Department of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga.
Among the Australian delegates was the Rev. Dr. C. J. Wright, director of the Wesleyan Mission’s Department of Christian Education for Victoria and Tasmania.
A highlight of the convention was a choir competition, which brought the comment from Dr. Wright that
From S. A. Fanamami in Nukualofa MORE than 1,000 Tongans and nearly 100 delegates from Aus tralia, New Zealand, Fiji and Samoa attended the fifth South Pacific Christian Convention in Nukualofa from April 30 to May 7. The con vention was sponsored by the Wes leyan Mission in the South Pacific.
It was one of the largest religious gatherings seen in Tonga in recent years.
The whole assembly camped at the
singing in Tonga was among the best in the world.
A striking feature was that local participants came from various de nominations and not only from the Free Wesleyan Church.
Discussions were held on theo logical, economic and health matters.
At the beginning of the convention, the whole assembly marched down the main road of Nukualofa leading to the beach singing “Onward, Christian Soldiers”, watched by many people at the roadside.
On Sunday, May 5, a special even ing service was held at the Mala’e, the traditional ceremonial ground next to the Royal Palace grounds.
About 4,000 people attended.
This special service was under the chairmanship of David Faha’ivalu Taumoepoau, Tonga’s Assistant Post master, and one of the most active officials of the convention.
Observers hope that the moral re armament promulgated as a result of this convention will contribute greatly to the stability of the developing countries scattered over the Pacific.
It is also expected locally that statistics on theft and other crimes will be so reduced that members of the community will be able to sleep in peace, knowing that their pigs and chickens will still be there next morn ing.