Restoration of Missions

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 35, Issue 4, 1 June 1944, Page 3

Restoration of Missions

Katajm Diara* §tttl £4,000 Irirmfc ftrola. : \ _ THE MISSIONS AND THE ISLANDERS HAVE TAKEN A BLOW THAT MIGHT HAVE FALLEN ON NEW ZEALAND.

For our immunity from the war's worst ravages let us stretch out our hands to Melanesia, whose people have suffered so much. Remember the chivalrous islanders who, despite, the treachery of a villainous enemy, gallantly aided hundreds-of Allied airmen, soldiers and sailors. Help the great mission of healing by supporting this great appeal so as to provide the most efficient spiritual and medical service to our brethren in the mission field. ~, ..' •

into a type of Christian wihp is at once a reproof to Us and a stimulus. To-day these Christians are "serving devotedly their own people as preachers and teachers, hospital orderlies and nurses. But to do this successfully the devastation of mission property that has followed occupation and bombing must be restored if the full work of the Mission is to be : rehabilitated and developed. To-day mission stations are in ruins and native villages destroyed. Churches, schools, boarding schools, hospitals, mis-

We are left with the proud responsibility of seeing the hopes of the heroic Bishop of Melanesia, the Rt. Rev. W. H. Baddeley, D.5.0., M.C., for the future of his island diocese are not frustrated. This modern missionary, who in the true missionary endeavour stood by his mission in the hour of danger and inspired his fellowmissionaries. We were enthused by his account of the steadfast bearing of the Melanesians themselves, whose faith and loyalty built on anything less than the rock of Christianity might so easily have Wavered. One commjentator, wjho had seen the Mjelanesians in the course of his war experience, said : "The

influence of the missionaries on the natives has been so, great that We found it difficult to believe that the mild, friendly natives, whom we saw were actually the sons or grandsons of men who had been cannibals." But his experience is only general, and as a result of contact with these friendly, smiling and courageous people a new attitude towards missions is obvious. -. These are the men and women— and childreny too, for whom this appeal is really launched— -to give them 1 the chanee they seize so readily to develop

babies die. It means more and better schools for education and training for the fine people, and more churches in wjiich they can express the faith which they share with us. .The need is NOW. Give generously. Help the appeal and sb "help to win the peace. Remember, peace Mil nieati a real thing to these peoples if we all help to restore to them what they have lost. Hand your contributions to your vicar or v churchwardens, or send them to the Diocesan Office, Box 227, Napier.

sionaries' houses are gone, and must be restored. The least we can do for this cutpbst of ours is to see that we supply them with the means not only to rebuild the Mission property, but to extend it,, as a thankoffering. Are these people, who have so strongly merited our support, to wait for the attention to the body and mind that fully-equipped missionary service can, give— or shall we acknowledge the debt we owe to them, and see that the services they need are maintained and extended? That means more and better hospitals^ for their bodily needs — four out of ten Melanesian