GERMAN NEW GUINEA

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 50, 27 August 1925, Page 5

GERMAN NEW GUINEA

EXTENSION OF MISSIONARY

ACTIVITIES

STATEMENT.BY BISHOP OF

MELANESIA,

(ME TEIEORAPB.—SPECIAL TO THB POST.)

AUCKLAND, This Day.

The extension of the Anglican Church missionary activities in the mandated territory of German New Guinea is contemplated by the Australian Board of Missions. Dr. Steward, Biahop of Melanesia, who returned to Auckland on Tuesday after attending a conference of the Board of Missions in Sydney, said the question had been discussed at the meeting and there was every likelihood that the Melanesian Mission would extend its operation to the territory, appointing an assistantbishop to organise and control the work. At the meeting of the Board of Missious it was reported that- the administration of tho territory had granted an excellent site for church buildings there. It was stated tho problem of Anglican missionary work among the native races of former German New Guinea and'the Northern Solomons involved' complex questions. Political and commercial considerations strongly favoured ecclesiastical connection of the territory with Australia. The Melanesian Mission, however, offered the possibility of an immediate advance northward, and had bequests probably avail.able for capital outlay. The Bishop of Melanesia offered to appoint an Australian priest as the pioneer bishop. The board resolved that while work in the mandated territory should be the special responsibility of .the Australian Church, and any diocese therein would be more appropriately linked up with the organic life of the Australian Church, in view of the considerable period that must elapse before constitutional and financial provision could be made by tho .Australian Church, it was expedient that the missionary bishop for the territory should be appointed by tho Melanesian Mission. Australian contributions to the Melancsian Mission would be gradually increased and allocated to the new work, and Australian missionaries for Melanesia assigned to the new field. Ultimately the new mission should be free to be incorporated as . a diocese of the Australian Church, pending the prospect of tho organisation of all missionary dioceses in the Pacific into an oceanic provinco. During the. war 1 tho Anglican Church authorities in Australia provided supplies for German Lutheran missionaries in Now Guinea, and asked the Federal Governmet to allow them to remain at their work, except in cases of proven disloyalty. Tho Home and Territories Department of tho Commonwealth has now decided to let them vcniuin, on condition that their attitude and ' conduct avi! not iuiiiiicii] (.» tho anllioi'il.y of !l><> Jidiuiuifit.nifioii or to tliv muiukauuvo y£ jyubilg yrilyi'j,