METHODIST MISSION FIELD.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19719, 9 September 1929, Page 14

METHODIST MISSION FIELD.

■fSRMON ifr REV. J. F. (.OLDIE. The work of ihe Methodjst. Church la the miaainaary ielda of the Pacific Islaats was dealt with by the Ilev. J. F, f«o!di« (president of the Conference) • t yesterday's morning's service at the Allmiii Methodist Church. o«Kribio( the Methodist Church as a pioneer .-Mirth in the missionary fields, Mr Go Idle suid that their ehurch had never gone into a field occupied hf another missionary society. He mad* special reference to Tonga, which, he said, wan a more Christian country tlian New Zealand, There were only about 8000 people there outside the Methodist Church, and these were a little handful of Seventh Day AdventlatK, Baptists, and Roman Cathollca. In the Methodist schools and college* In the Pacific to day over 40,500 black urtd brown boy* and girla were getting at! the education they would get. Over 800,000 of these people loved to call themselves Methodists. These people retild u"t fan left alone, because the civil government was establishing its authority everywhere, and it was w>t always noinething they could be proud nf. The ruler* li»d to realise that (litre must be a spiritual basis. He thanked God for ..heir Christian statesmen, but there were others who were • disgrace to the King's commission. For good or 111, the Government waa • (tending its power, and therefore the people would not be Jeft alone. ifr Goldie described the miserable •ondltions that existed In New Georgia and other places before Christianity flame. Depression and misery hung iivnr the people like a black eloud. Thmre was on happy laughter of children and no games, but license and winalor, awl the children were afraid tf> venture beyond the confines of their village bwnuw <-f the enemies that ■itght be lurking near. Mr Goldte Hunted the words nf Chrint. who aaid, ««Clo yo into all the world and preach th.- Ooappt. ..." liny «ould not. pans these people bv unle.i» they passed Him bv Who «»id: "Inasmuch >• ye /i<| it unto these the least of these ll* people v<< di<l it unto Me." Tv" native* of the Solomon Islands, <..n* and Kern, took a prominent part In the service, Mr Goldio anting us interpret* r for Ulna, who told the con- ? [rogation !!>•< differences ho had noticed tetween manv of the »<..-iul cuutoma of Ma own people unci those of the people «f New Zealand. Kern, who possesses a good irii or voice, sang hymns in KiigUnh.