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1 CENTENARY OF MISSIONARY
i ENTERPRISE IN Fill.
EARLY TRIALS OF PIONEERS. !
[?]
ONE hundred years ago to-day, ac
companied by Tongan natives, two
white missionaries landed at Lakemba, in
Fiji on a friendly visit to some Tongans
who had settled there. Out of this visit
grew the great missionary enterprise of
the Methodist Church in Fill. The
story of- a century at missionary
activity In Fiji rivals even the most
romantic figments of fiction. The trans
formation of a cannibal race to the
most peaceful in tho world has been
described as "the world's greatest
miracle."
On this historic spot in Fiji. Method
ists from all over the . world arc meet
ing to-day In a great thanksgiving ser-
vice. From the modest beginning ot
two missionaries in a hut 011 the-' beach
there has grown the great Fijian church
which boasts to-day of 707 .church
buildings, 300 other preaching places,
25 European missionaries, . 130 native
ministers, 714 catcchists and- teachers,
33,739. church members, 4300 local
preachers, 17,000 Sunday school scholars
and 88,073 attendants at public wor
ship.
In the log of Abel Tasman, the Dutch
navigator, Fiji is first mentioned. I-lc
sighted tile group of islands on Gth
February, 10.43, which game them the
name of Prince William's Islands. Later,
when Captain Cook visited Tonga, he
saw some Fijians.
The first white residents of Fiji were
convicts, who early last century escaped
from Botany Bay. Their mode of liv
ing even disgusted the cannibal and
savage natives. It was not until the
missionaries arrived that any reliable
Information regarding the islands came
to . the outer world. A mission to the
South Seas had been established by the
British Wcsleyan Conference at Tonga,
where the Revs William Cross and
David Cargill were stationed. Friendly
relations existed between the people of
Tonga and FIJI, and these Intrepid mis
sionaries thought of a little colony of
Tongans at TavennI, and planned to
visit them.
Essentially an adventurous missionary.
Cross was consumed with a passion to
tell the Gospel story to the natives of
the Pacific. Earlier attempts had ended
in tragedy for him. Sailing from' Nu
kualofa for Vavau 011 7th January, 1832,
in a canoe accompanied by his wife and
several natives, they became benighted
and storm tossed. Unable to withstand
the. .buffeting, ll-.e canoe was smashed
and Cross gallantly tried to save his
wife. Hare Is the qtory told in his own
words. We were driven on the rocks
SOMOSOMO CHURCH. Help
SOMOSOMO CHURCH.
near Atata and the canoe was dashed to
pieces, I had my arm around Mrs. Cross
and tried with my other to catch at
broken parts of the canoe. No word of
complaint or fear escaped her lips. We
were overwhelmed with the surf and 1
saw her no more." Her body was lost
for some time, but was eventually re
covered at Hihifo. No carpenter being
available, a coffin was made In the best
possible way, and she was burled in the
king's burying ground. Thus was laid
to rest the first martyr to fall 011 the
Wcsleyan Mission field in the South
Seas.
I Cross and Cargill landed at Lakemba
in the Lau group on 12 th October,
1835. They were received by Tul Nayau,
the Lakemban king, because they had
come from tho King of Tonga. But it
was a mixed reception, for tho king,
though at times a helpful ally, was
mainly hostile.
The missionaries had much to contend
with, many Indignities were thrust upon
them, and continually they had to wit
ness scenes of revolting cruelty. ' The
Tongans in Fiji were the first to respond
to their message, and became the first
fruits of the church in Fiji.
It was not long before the missionaries
heard of Bau and Rewa, which were
more important than Lakemba. In J837
HrngC vlclfftrl TOnlf nnrl nnncul f nl
young chief Sum. Nothing eventuated,
and he established himself at Rewa. Re
inforcements came from England, and
work was commenced at Vhva and at
Somosomo. In 1840 the stations- were
Lakemba; James Calvert and Thomas
Williams; Viwa, William Cross; Somo
somo, Dr. Richard B. Lyth and John
1 he Jndian Dudley Memorial Church, |Suva, Fiji. Help
1 he Jndian Dudley Memorial Church, |Suva, Fiji.
Hunt; Rewa, David Cargill and Thomas
J. Ja'ggar.
The sufferings, heartburnings, disap
pointments and heroism of these early
pioneers of the Gospel in Fiji was
equalled by that of their saintly - wives.
Never will the -story of the heroism of
Mary Calvert and Mary Lyth cease to
be told. Crossing from Vlwa to -Bau
In 1849 at the time of a cannibal feast,
taking their lives In their hands, they
rushed into the presence of the heathen
king and demanded the lives ot five
women who were to be slain.- Their ap
peal succeeded.
Despite Ill-health Cross continued his
work, dying at Somosomo In October.
Baker Memorial Hall, Davuilevu, Fiji. Help
Baker Memorial Hall, Davuilevu, Fiji.
1842. -In memory of this dauntless mis
sionary a church was erected on the
spot In 1900, known as the ' Cross
Memorial Church. No survey of the
early days of missionary enterprise
in Fiji would bo complete without
mention of the work of Rev. Jbhil
Hunt during Ills ten years in the
mission field. His work of transla
tion of the whole of the New Testa
ment and part of the Old Testament
into the Fijian language Is a monu
ment of industry and thought, and re
mains still a. fine specimen of idiomatic
Fijian. Worn out by ceaseless toll, lie
died in 1840 at the early age of 36. As
lie lay 111. Veranl, the Viwan chief,
prayed: — "Oh, Lord we know we are bad.
but spare thy servant. If one must
die lake me. Take ten of us. But
spare Thy servant to preach Christ to
the people." The work of translation
of the Old Testament was completed by 1
Rev. David Hozehvood before his death'
In 1853. Ho also was aged 30 at his
death. When Australia was constituted
a separate conference In 1855, the
spiritual care of the Fiji Islands war,
given to It by tho. British Wcsleyan
Conference.
MISSIONARY MARTYR. .
Although often threatened by natives-
it was not till 1867 that a mission
ary's life was taken. In that year
Rev. Thomas Baker and seven Fijian
companions were massacred. Cross
ing the island from Davuilevu to
the west In order to blaze a trail for
Christianity, ho wr.s 'clubbed to death.
The blow of the axe that struck' Baker
to the ground ; was the deatli blow to
cannibalism and heathenism. The son
of the savage 'who slew "Baker later be
came a Christian preacher, and two of
the slayers were also baptised. As a
monument to the first missionary mar
tyr there stands to-day on the bank of
the Rewa River, at Davuilevu. the Baker
Memorial Hall— dedicated in 1913 to the
nuinuiH 01 icucners ana preacliers.
When Tanoa. the chief of Bau, who
was practically King of Fiji, died In
1852, despite passionate pleading . of
Rev. John Watsford, old barbarous rites
were carried out. In the presence of .the
mission five women, the King's wives,
were strangled, that they might follow
their departed lord and master. His son,
Thakombau, became King of Fiji, and
ruled with the power of his club.
Troubles came thick and fast— European
settlement, complications with outside
powers caused him, after his conversion
to Christianity, to formally hand over
the care of the Islands to the British
Empire.
On 10th October, 1874, he -gave to Sir
Hercules Robinson bis old war club as
a present to Queen Victoria, and with
It went the reign of bnrbarlty and blood
shed. Speaking of him, an official his
torian says: — "On no man's hands were
more blood stains than on his, und but
few have experienced In their conversion
and after life to such an extent the
power of the grace of God. As Fijian
warrior and saint he is the giant ot the
group."
UNDER BRITISH RULE.
With the ceding of the Islands of tho
friwim ts\ n ma.. 1 run
ww AJlituitl u, J1CW JJCilUU 111 V J J lull
history- was Inaugurated. Early In Its
history ns a British colony European
planters began to demand a supply' of
unskilled laborers, and arrangements
were made for Indians to come under
Indentures. It is Interesting to note that
In an official communication ffom the
Government of. Fiji to the Indian- Go-
vernment the following passage occurs-
— "The immigrant 011 his arrival in Fiji
will not. as some suppose, find himself
among savages, for owing to the labors
.of tho Wcsleyan missionaries who settled
there some 40 or 50 yenrs ago 'schools
have been established In nearly all the
native towns on the coast, and at least
half of the young men. and. women of the
coastal tribes can read and write their
own language."
- Coming in at the rate of 3000 a year
the -Indian immigrants constituted a new
difficulty for missionary enterprise. While
the Indians increased 'rapidly, the Fijians
were decreasing. The approach to these
people \vas most difficult-,- and to-day
there arc sixteen European missionaries
working exclusively among Indians.
FIJIANS AS MISSIONARIES.
The Mission Board determined to com
mence u mission In New .Britain in 1875.
Dr. George , Brown arrived in Fiji just
after 40,000 Fijians had succumbed to on
epidemic of measles. . He appealed to
students at tho Navuloa Training Insti
tute for volunteers for New Britain, and
the whole 83 present offered. Six of the
married men and three single men were
selctcd, but owing to rumors that the
men were kept in ignorance of tho dan
gers of the undertaking the Governor
summoned Dr. Brown and the volunteers
to the Government buildings.
After . the conference . the Fijians ap
pointed Amlnlo Bale to speak for them.
Here arc his words: —
\\t wish to Inform your Honor this -Is no
new thins to us. Mr. Brown hns told us all
about the character of tho 'people, tho un-
healthlness ot the cllnratc and the danger we
will protinbly have to encounter. No one up-
pointed us to go. We were simply asked
whether wo would volunteer. We wore told
we were free to go or free to remain and
that no. disgrace would be Incurred by us If
we decided to remain In FIJI. Wo have de
cided to Volunteer, and arc vcrv thnnltful to
aod tliat we have been selected for this great
work. We wish also to thank your Excellency
for telling us that we arc British subjects' anil
that you tnko such an Interest In us, and that
If we wish to remain you will take caro that
we are not taken from our homes In FIJI. But.
elr, wo have fully considered this matter In
our hearts: no one has pressed us In nny
way; we have given ourselves to do God's
work nnrl our mind to-day is to go with Dr.
Brown. If we die, we rile; If we live, we
live.
Bo it said of this noble bnnd that
most of them perished in the under
taking.- Over 200 Fijians have gone out
from their land as missionaries; they
ore to be found to-day In Papua, New
Britain. Solomon Islands and in North
ern Australia.
EDUCATIONAL WORK.
For nearly a century the education of
villagers was left io Christian missions.
Until six years age the training of
teachers was wholly In the hands of mis
sionaries. Now tho Government has
d'hoto. — utcv. H. Chamucrs.) MEMORIAL MONUMENT TO REV. WILLIAM CROSS. Help
d'hoto. — utcv. H. Chamucrs.)
MEMORIAL MONUMENT TO REV.
WILLIAM CROSS.
opened '.its own -training centre. For
years tho Methodist Mission -has advo
cated a. practical education of Fijians,
and the, Davuilevu Technical School, the
only one of its kind in Fiji, is making
a valued contribution to the life -of the
colony. Institutions lor training young
men and young, women, hospitals and
orphanages have throughout the history
of the mission been foremost in the
thought of the missionaries.
It is impossible to estimate the vnlue
of the work of the mission in educating
tho people; suffice to say that whereas
Fiji of a century ago was cannibal, to
day It is a peaceful, prosperous colony,
fn the miracle of transformation the
Methodist missionary has played no
small part.'
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