Melanesian Mission.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume V, Issue 6, 1 December 1914, Page 64

Melanesian Mission.

THE GREAT SILENCE. (By Captain Sinker.) Dur'nsr this time of great anxiety and stress all over the world, it seems almost impossible to concentrate our thoughts on anything other than war. Yet one would very gently remind our readers what it all means to the Melanesian Mission. In the farthest outpost of our Empire, English men and women are doinsr their daily round of common tasks, a good many m ip-norance- of the great upheaval m Europe. We have pledged ourselves to support them. Riehtlv we call upon every English man and woman to unite m e-verv effort to do what lies m their path for the safeguard of England and her possessions, and so we send large donations to the Prnce of Wales' Fund : we send our husbands, sons, and brothers to take up arms; we send our women to nurse and comfort the wounded ; we promote organisations ; we deny ourselves things we are accustomed to; m fact, we, as an absolute united nation, are taking up arms each m his or her own way, m silence, for England and our homes. One cannot write too strongly of all the wonderful selfsacrifice each and every one is aiming at. There is just a little note of sadness comes m, and it is quite a natural one perhaps now. We hear, " Oh I can't bother about Missions now." But I would urge it isn't right, and it isn't British or sportintr, and it does not conform with our British sense of honour. We have pledeed ourselves to do something for Missions. Whatever is the outcome of

this war, of one thing we may be quite certain, Mission work will still go on. England's honour is at stake. Now Mission work, like every other organisation, must have funds. . In denying ourselves this and that, so as to enable us to do a little bit more for pur. country, let us not shove Missions m the background, altogether. One is quite aware how hard it is for all of us to even talk . on any other subject than war ; but English men and women owe largely their power and wealth to the love of God. One might quite well apply Lord Kitchener's command to the troops to every one of us Britishers : " Fear God, Honour the Kine, Do your duty." There must be thousands upon thousands of people still m Enerland and m the Dominions who say, " What can I do." Maybe some are too old, some are too young, some physically unfit, and heaps of other reasons. Well, none are too old, or young, or unfit, but they can help the honour of England by praying, not only for our Armry and Navy, but for o^r Missionaries, who are suffering hardships and difficulties unknown, and perhaps now " forgotten." God will eive victory to the righteous, and our Missions will not suffer if we pray earnestly and do not forsret our obligations. Our ereat Empire is ficrhting for the peace of the world. Our Missions are fighting- for the peace that passeth all understanding. And so m this time let no one think they are useless, and can do nothing for England. «• They also serve who only stand and wait," and that must necessarily be the lot of thousands of loyal Britishers, and whilst they are standing and waitinqr, let them serve before the Throne of God m supplications and prayers for the brave soldiers and sailors, and that our Missionaries m the outpost of our Empire may not suffer through forgetf illness on our parts, and to the obligations we have pledged ourselves to. When English people are greatly moved about anything, they do not co about making a noise ; theirs is' the silent part, and the greater they are moved, the more silent they become. One elories m being- born a Britisher, because the silence of England denotes 11 strength," and behind that

strength there is the will to do, and if need be, die, The final issue may take a long time, and people and Missions must suffer. But the great silence of England speaks more forcibly than the din of ten thousand cannons. When it does speak England will be found with her honour untarnished, and she will not have forgotten her obligations to Foreign Missions. Thank God for it, and take courage. " Fear God, Honour the King, <Do your Duty."