LONDON MISSION SOCIETY.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 114, 13 May 1920, Page 11

LONDON MISSION SOCIETY.

MEETIXO OF AT7CKLAXD AUXILURY. An interesting address wa* given l»y the Hon. George Fowlds last evening at BSresford Street Congregational Church to the members of the Auckland Auxi}liary of the London Mission Society, My. Fowlds explained that he had- recently returned from Sydney, where he - attended a meeting of the Australasian Advisory Committee ol the' 'Society. That committee, Mr. Fowlde explained, -ivßci constituted two years ago, and included one representative from eacn island of Kew Zealand. He was unable to attend any of the previous meetings on account of etrikes and influenza epidemic. This committee wag get up for the purpose of taking over the control of the mission's work in Fapua. Three members of the committee who.had just returned from a visit to all the mieeion stations in Papua by the" John Williams gave an account of what they had seen to the meeting of the whole committee, which opened in Sydney on April 20. They told a very interesting β-tory of the wonderful ivork accomplished amongst New Guinea natives by the mission apart from religious training. It was stated by the delegates that the whole of the education of nativee in the area controlled by the London Mieeion Society is conducted , by its missionaries, who also undertake extensive training of the natives in various industries and plantation work. Mr. Fowld"s next referred to'the work done at Kwato on induetritl lines, which is being conducted -by Mn- Charles Abel, a former resident, of Auckland. That .particular station, Mr. Fowlds said, is tinder the control of a separate association in order not to conflict with the ■jeneral policy of the L.M.S., which excludes any trading operations being undertaken by its mieeionaries. The deputation reported that they found the mieeion staff At. Papua-much below the required strength. An urgent appeal was therefore made to the churches throughout Australia to supply additional men and money. It is proposed to introduce & new feature, in . the work of the L.M.S., namely, to inrite ministers of churches in Australasia to take temporary service In the field during the furlough of the regular missionaries. 'Mr. Fowlde eaid the committee thought that would be * great help to the work in the mission field, and should also have the effect of extending not only the knowledge, but the eympathy wilh that work. Although the committee at present only control the Papuan field, the general contributions of the churches of Australasia arc considered part of the funds of the society. At the recent' meeting two appointments were approved'for missionaries" to the South Seas, one being Mies Rhodes, daughter of the former minister of Onehunga Congregational Church. Mr. Fowlde said the field staffing of the mission would involve an additional expenditure of £4000 per annum, and the Australasian churches' were expected to find half that sum, The speaker emphasised the necessity , - of missionary work in such places as Papua. He contended it was of immense value in safeguarding, the honour of the British Empire. The white traders Who penetrated into these outlying posts of the Empire were some of them of »uch a class that it required the presence of missionaries to look after tfie interests of the nativee.