METHODIST LADIES’ GUILD

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 256, 12 October 1932, Page 10

METHODIST LADIES’ GUILD

LIFE IN PAPUA. On Wednesday afternoon there was a good gathering i\t the Alethodist Ladies’ Gtiild, when Mrs A. H. Scrivin presided. After the routine business and the afternoon tea, Mrs Scrivin gave a very interesting address on work among the native women of Papua. In her opening remarks the speaker said she always looked back with pleasure on »he meeting for women that was held there after the ordinary service every Sunday morning over which it had been her privilege to preside. “Imagine, if you can,” she said, “a long, native building with a leaf room, with walls of sago palm, tho floor spread with clean native mats, with women sitting here and there clad in their grass skirts. I always admired their skirts; some parts were dyed ami put togethei very attractively. For Sunday they often donned a clean garment on the upper part of their body and always an extra touch of oil. It was the custom to keep the upper

part of the body naked, because the Government prohibits the wearing of garments, owing to the prevalence of chest troubles due to wearing wet garments.” Airs Scrivin then described the order of the service and how the native prayers always included the workers (the missionary and his wife) in their requests. The testimony which followed and the short choruses given and sung showed what a good grip the women had of spiritual truths. One after another they would tell, with their faces beaming, of how a verse of a hymn or a passage of Scripture had helped them. The speaker’s face was illumined as she toM of one woman after another who had given a fine testimony to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. "God,” she said, “speaks to these people in visions. They have so little to read, that I think God makes it up to them in this way. One woman, whose face was disfigured with disease became transformed as she told how, while sitting preparing some grass for skirt making, a voice spoke to her calling her to dedicate all her time and talents to the service of the Master.” Concluding, Mrs Scrivin said: “Their experiences differ, but they give evidence of the satisfaction and joy in the Christian life, and I am glad to remember the happy times we had together, and I ask you all to pray for them.”