NEW HEBRIDES MISSION

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 314, 23 July 1888, Page 2

NEW HEBRIDES MISSION

Notwithstanding the ycry unfavorable weather, the Presbyterian Church was crowded last evening to hear the Rev. Charles Murray, a New Hebrides missionary, give an account of the work in those islands. The rev. gentleman took his text from Judges, 7 chapter, Id verso, and delivered a most interesting address, occupying about three quarters of an hour. Wo are sorry that our limited space this morning will not allow of our giving a detailed report of the address, which would indeed be read with interest by our subscribers. Mr Murray, in sketching the history of mission work in the Islands, took his hearers back to the year 1818, when the first attempt was made to convert the inhabitants to Christianity. Dr Gurry was the first missionary, and when ho set his foot on the southernmost island of the group, the inhabitants were entirely given up to cannibalism and heathenism. From that timo onward, however, the progress in spreading Christianity among the natives had been wonderful—something wonderful for the comparatively short space of 10 years. Still, a large amount of work remained to be done, as in some of the islands, the natives were still in darkness. The change had been so great, that the following inscription was written on a stone in the island on which Dr Gurry labored : “ When Dr Gurry arrived here there were no Christians ; when he left there were no heathens.” Mr Murray took the principal islands separately, and gave a short account of the work done in each. His description of tho natives of the island of Erromanga and their bel’efs was very realistic, especially when he described the deaths of three missionaries who had lived there John Williams, Gordon, son., and Gordon, jun. However, things had taken a turn, and the work was progressing wonderfully well under the present missionary, Mr Robertson. After giving a description of the island on which he himself labored for nearly three years, Mr Murray closed bis address with a pathetic appeal for the sympathy and help of the congregation in pushing on the mission work in tho Now Hebrides.

The rev. gentleman also preached to a large congregation in the morning, and visited tho Sunday-school in the afternoon. On Wednesday evening he will give an address on ‘‘The Natives of tho New Ilebridos ; their practices and beliefs,” in the Presbyterian Church, on which occasion wo hope to sec a large attendance.