PHASE OF EMPIRE BUILDING

Evening Star, Issue 19699, 28 October 1927, Page 8

PHASE OF EMPIRE BUILDING

WORK OF MELANESIAN MISSION Last evening, at St. Mary’s Hall, Mornington, Major H. S. Robinson, the general secretary and treasurer of the Melanesian Mission, gave an illuminating and informative lecture on mission work in the Solomon Islands. The lecturer had recently visited these islands, and had carried out 'a journey of some 9,000 miles, including over 150 calls at various islands in the tropic seas. He traced briefly the history of this work of the Anglican Church from its inception in 1842 by Bishop George Augustus Selwyn to the present day. A magnificent sot of lantern slides was used to illustrate the story of adventure and personal sacrifice. During the course of the lecture Major Robinson paid a glowing tribute to the work of the Presbyterian Mission in the New Hebrides, and to the cordial relations which existed between the two great churches. A tribute was also naid to tire work of other churches whoso representatives were at work in the islands. The lecturer pointed out how men like Selwyn and bad gone out from New Zealand to prosecute the great work for Christianity among th heathen —how young native lads had been induced to come down to New Zealand to the mission school at Auckland; how later, owing to climatic conditions, the mission school had been moved to Norfolk Island, where it had been located until 1919, when, owing to the development of the work, the headquarters had been moved right up to the heart of the Solomon Islands to a place called Siota. Schools had been established at many central places throughout the whole length of Melanesia, which comprised a territory of over 2.000 miles. The lecturer vividly portrayed the life of the district missionary, telling of the loneliness and the work being done for the betterment of the natives of the islands, comprising a total population _of some 200,000. Many stories of native incidents—some amusing and others of a pathetic nature —were recounted. An especially_ interesting feature was the description of the artificial islands, of which there are many in the Solomon Islands group, and wore strikingly beautiful. The lecturer made out a strong case for the support of mission work, q.pd ably answered tfcp oft-raised statement that the heathen were better left alone, in their heathen state. Major Robinson pointed out how through better and growing communication civilisation was hound to proceed, and it was a matter for grave concern that civilisation should proceed along the best and surest lines—for the betterment of the world and for the credit of the Empire which had established a protectorate over the Solomons in 1893. Conditions of life were such that the white race could ho't leave these native peoples in such appalling heathenism and to the mercies of unscrupulous people who were ever read/ to exploit the ignorant heathen. Largely due to the work of missions most of these islands were now- habitable for white men, and even women, and the missionary must he considered as a most potent factor in the development of these hands. _ In conclusion, the speaker emphasised the fact that the missionary was more than a teacher of the native races; he was an Empire-builder. . At the conclusion of the lecture a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the speaker for his illuminating lecturet