The Sad Days Of Rivalry

Between The Missions

Years ago rivalry between Catholic and Protestant missionaries in the Islands was bitter—something that is not easy to imagine in these ecumenical times. Of course, both sides showed bias against the other.

This story, by staff writer KEN AAcGREGOR, just happens to be about Protestant bias . . .

Rivalry for converts between Protestant and Catholic mission aries was often pretty fierce in the Gilbert Islands 70 years ago.

Today, though records of the fights and feuds between the two denomina tions are readily available, the people personally involved have almost all died. An exception is Sister Clementine, of Tarawa’s Roman Catholic mission headquarters, who possibly holds the world’s record for the longest serving missionary—70 years.

When I visited Tarawa late last year I called on the mission head quarters and I found Sister Clemen tine, now 91, pottering about in the gardens.

Born in Brittany, France, she has only once ever returned to her homeland —for a few months in 1939. She has spent her time since 1932 on Tarawa, with a break on nearby Abaiang during World War 11.

Before 1932 she was stationed at Nukunau, Butaritari, Nonouti and Tabiteuea.

Sister Clementine, who speaks English and Gilbertese as well as French, remembers her welcome, or rather lack of welcome, at her first station—Nukunau.

With the late Sister Baptist, she arrived at Nukunau on February 16, 1899, aboard a small Burns Philp steamer, either the Tambo (which today lies wrecked off Abemama) or the Ysabel.

Not wanted

Most of the atoll’s 1,600 Gilbertese were Christianised by London Missionary Society pastors—and thus almost to a man they were Protestants.

“We were at first not allowed to land,” Sister Clementine recalls, “The Gilbertese gathered at the beach near Rungata Village and gave us a hostile reception.

“Our seamen pushed through the big crowd with our luggage and

everyone made it plain they didn’t want them. It was almost impossible to find somewhere to stay.

“Sister Baptist and I clambered ashore through the water and walked over the beach and we met Mr. Smith and Mr. Turner, who were traders.

“The Gilbertese wouldn’t let us move our cargo off the beach so two seamen stayed with it through the first night. We managed to find beds on the verandah of Mr. Smith’s home.”

Made converts

The sisters stayed with Smith for the next few weeks (they later found he was sympathetic because, years before, he had been baptised a Catholic in Fiji).

“The LMS pastor and the Samoan teachers told the Gilbertese not to give us any food or drink. One young man who was seen coming towards Mr. Smith’s house with breadfruit and coconuts was beaten up,” Sister Clementine said.

She added that it was “many

weeks” before the two sisters were able to leave Mr. Smith’s house and set up a little place for themselves.

“Slowly we made a few converts.

A little church was built and a tiny school was started.

“I stayed there until 1907. when I was transferred to Butaritari. Some times I think back that it was twice as bad being put on an LMS island for my first position. However, island food was far better than the ship’s biscuits we were being fed on ever since the ship called at Funafuti on the way up from Sydney,” she said, with a grin.

Not ready to accept “retirement”.

Sister Clementine has already de clined several chances to return to France. “I couldn’t go—now”, she said. “You can’t stay in one place for 70 years and then go ‘home’.”

She was right, of course.

With her on Tarawa is one other sister who has also put in a long period of service in the GEIC.

She is Mother Superior Oliva, 62, who arrived at Tarawa as recently as 1928!

Whatever may be said about those earlier times of rivalry between the missions in the GEIC, this can be said of the Catholics—they stay.

There are several other sisters and priests in the GEIC with long service; Nonouti’s Father J. Branstett and North Tabiteuea’s Father L. Rinn have both put in over 20 years.