Too modest?

When I read such books as Andrew G. Stewart’s In Letters of Gold, I must ask, is this the best the mission aries can now do? Is this all they can give us as a record of the great work they have done in the Pacific? It is clear to me that there is a need for someone not connected with the Church to write an assessment of the work done in the Pacific by devoted missionaries of all denominations.

That their work was valuable none can deny.

Even those who, like Michael Somare, question some of the results achieved in the destruction of mater ial culture, must remember that even concurrently with that material des truction, the missionaries were imbuing the Pacific Islanders with spirituality in the midst of the rank est materialism. Had it not been for the teaching of the missionaries, most of those, who, through educa tion and erudition, can now find words of criticism, may not yet have reached this stage of articulation.

Without whatever primitive means at their disposal, it was the mission aries, who, in most areas of the Paci fic, undertook the difficult task of establishing the first educational in stitutions. That’s why I am dis appointed in Andrew Stewart’s book: it modestly scratches the surface of his work in the Pacific, and tells us

little of the profound need in human and spiritual terms supplied through his work and the work of other missionaries.

In Letters of Gold is highly read able, and in his long life Pastor Stewart of the Seventh-day Adventist Church has seen his mission from early beginnings to its full develop ment. From 1906 to 1970 he was present at every divisional conference session of his church which must be a record unequalled by any of his contemporaries or indeed few, if any, Pacific missionaries. For nearly 80 years, more than the life-span of most humans, Pastor Stewart main tained a lively interest in, and greatly contributed to, the growth of his church. He served in many parts of the Pacific.

For these reasons, in spite of my complaint above, In Letters of Gold becomes a history of certain aspects of Pacific development. Throughout the book Pastor Stewart reveals his simple faith and his complete trust in his Protector. It is undoubtedly this spirit which gave him his power and authority and brought about suc cess in some difficult situations.

He is not slow to give praise and gratitude to other workers in the field with him. I think, as far as he goes, Pastor Stewart has written a valuable contribution to our records of the Pacific. And I enjoyed reading it. But I do think it is time some historian wrote a Pacific history of Mission

activities.-

Peter Livingston.

(IN LETTERS OF GOLD, by Andrew G.

Stewart, published by Pacific Press Pub lishing Association, Mountain View, Cali fornia, Omaha, Nebraska and Oshawa, Ontario; paper-back, illustrated, 128 pages, no price given.)