MELANESIAN MISSION Farewell To The Rev. P. Baker

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28541, 21 March 1958, Page 2

MELANESIAN MISSION Farewell To The Rev. P. Baker

The Rev. Philip Baker and Mrs Baker and Miss Fay Stock were bidden farewell by members of the Melanesian Mission at Church House yesterday. There win also be a service for them on Saturday morning in the Christchurch Cathedral. Mr Baker has been travelling in England during the last year giving lectures and doing deputation work for the Mission.

Mr Baker said there was a great need for more white priests in Melanesia. Some natives had been ordained but there was an urgent neejd for more help.

“The Solomon Islands are a British colony but because of the poverty there is not very much interest in their welfare. Although the majority of the natives are Christian there are still many who go to the services week after week but still remain unmoved and still practise their heathen rites,” said Mi Baker.

“With persons who are so illiterate it is difficult to break the barrier to enable them to understand.” he said. The Mission was one of the poorest of its kind. When he was made the warden of St. Peter’s Theological College at Siota on the Island of Florida, he had exnected to see anything but the sight with which he was confronted. The building was in extremely bad repair as it had not been repaired after war damage. Students’ Families It was found that most of the students were married and had families, which they brought with them as they could not be left for three years with the possibility of the parents not being able to make visits home, said Mr Baker. Therefore, quite a large settlem e nt was formed around the college. To add to the difficulties, the women were loath to work unless they were under constant supervision. When Mr and Mrs Baker return to the islands they hope to bring about great changes. They hope they will be supported from New Zealand.

Presentations were made by the Dean of Christchurch (the Very Rev. Martin Sullivan). He also made presentations to Mr and Mrs R. D. Mountfort, who have just returned from the mission fie’d. Mr Mountfort was a teacher at the Melanesian Mission’s central school at Alangaula in the Solomon Islands and is on leave in New Zealand. He will give talks in various parishes on his work in various