MISSIONS IN FIJI

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12604, 6 March 1903, Page 5

MISSIONS IN FIJI

THE BIBLE-BURNING INCIDENT. RESOLUTIONS BY METHODIST CONFERENCES. DETAILS FROM FIJI. • Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. MELBOURNE, March 5. (Received March 5, at 9.22 a.m.) The Methodist Conference adopted a resolution condemning the Bible-burning as an atrocious act and a deliberate insult offered not only to the people of Fiji, but to a world-wide Protestantism. BRISBANE, March 4. (Received March 5, at 9.34 a.m.) Tho Methodist Conference mission meeting adopted a resolution regarding the Bible-buming at Fiji, expressing indignation and apprehension that the act would tend to revive the worst spirit of ecclesiastical antagonism oil the part of Iho Roman Catholic Church, and produce disastrous results amongst' Fiiians. DETAILS FROM FIJIAN FILES. BRISBANE, March 5. (Received March 5, at 10.53 p.m.) Fijian files, brought by the Miowera, contain lengthy accounts of the Bibleburning. The first reference to tho incident appeared in the Western Pacific Herald of February 13, wherein it was stated that some months previously practically the whole of the Fijian inhabitants of the province of Namosi, hitherto professed Wesloynns, had turned Roman Catholics. This caused no little excitement amongst tho people, and various reasons were given for the occurrence. The Herald added: " The matter advanced another stage yesterday when, so we arc informed on reliable authority, seme 23S Bibles, belonging to Namosi people, wore pub'icly burned at the Catholic Mission Station at Naililili." The next issue of the Herald contained a letter from Father Rongier, declaring that both the fact, and the statement as regards the burning were false, and lie goes on to say: "From inquiry I feel certain you have, been misled by some malicious ill-wishing individual." On February 21 the Suva Times published a letter signed Rev. W. A. Bums, Wesleyan Missionary, traversing Father Rongier's denial. The Rev. Mr Burns goes on to say : "There are so many reputable witnesses with sc much substantial corroboration that one might calmly invite all the risk of a law suit upon the evidence"; and he adds: "I fearlessly assert that, except for the number said to have been burned, the statement in tho Herald is perfectly correct." (Received March 5, at 11.29 p.m.) In his letter to the Suva Time.s the Rev. Mr Burns gives a circumstantial account of the burning supplied by eye witnesses, according to whom two or mere cases of books, mostly, if not all, Bibles and Methodist hymn books in the Fijian tongue, were burned in a limekiln specially erected for the occasion in the grounds" of the Catholip

Mission Station. The work of tearing tliom up and inserting them in the kiln was done by native girls at the station, supervised by two European sisters. The Rev. Mr Burns declares that he knows that more than 20 adult spectators, besides a large number of school children, old and intelligent enough to be competent witnesses, were present.

In answer to tlw Rev. Mr Burns's letter, Father Rongier wrote to the Fiji Times, saying that the first intimation lie had of the burning was the Herald's announcement. Upon making inquiry he found that, Mowing the practice of the Catholic Church and the strict injunctions laid down in its rubrics, which ordain that all material of a sacred character appertaining to church worship, including Bibles and prayer books, when worn out, be destroyed by fire, the Catholic sisters at Naililili, assisted by a few pupils, had, as they did periodically, burned in a- biscuit tin some useless Catholic books and church material, and in a kerosene tin soiled, useless Wesleyan Testaments and hymn books. Father Rongier asserts that the sisters were not actuated by any hostile feelings or by a spirit of wanton destiuction.

Tho letter to the Fiji Times from the Rev. Sir Burns shows that the chairman of tho Wesleyan Mission wrote to Father Rongier, prior to the publication of the Rev. Mr Burns's first let-tor, asking if the Herald's statements as to the burning was correct. Father Rongier failed to reply.

Tito passengers by the Miowera state that when tho steamer left Suva excitement was still high.