The Society Islands by F. E. LYNDON.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 7, 1910

The Society Islands

By F. E. LYNDON.

I HAVE been here three weeks with Brother B. J. Cady, and have finished the business necessary to be done in connection with the property of the conference, and also have obtained an insight into the general work going on in the different islands of the group.

Our schooner, the “Tiare,” makes periodical trips to Pitcairn Island, taking food and clothing, and bringing back in payment island produce for the Tahiti market. Without this visit of the schooner to Pitcairn Island, there would be no exit for the produce of the island, and no means by which the islanders could pay their tithe for the support of the work, as nearly all their tithe comes to us in the form of fungus, curios, arrowroot, etc.

On the island of Tahiti we have three churches, two of which are native, while the third is for the Pitcairn islanders. Since the “Tiare” has been running to and from Pitcairn, quite a number of our people from the island have come to Tahiti and Raiatea, so accommodation had to be made for a place of worship for them in Papeete, Tahiti. Bora-bora, an island close to Raiatea, has a church building for our native brethren. There is also a church building on Raiatea for Europeans and natives.

I was pleased to meet our native brethren in the different churches. It is good to see how the truth is spreading among all the islands of the sea. Before the end all the small islands must be visited, and the people given an opportunity to receive the message.

Our papers are sent out every month into every opening that appears among the many islets about here. But this is not enough: living witnesses must be raised up to confirm the printed page.

We are looking for workers among our Pitcairn brethren. They readily learn the native language, and can better adapt themselves to the rough island life which usually accompanies all aggressive missionary effort in this part of the field. Then again they like sea life, with its varying changes of storm and calm. Seasickness is hardly known among them.

While in conversation recently with a brother from Pitcairn about the missionary work on a small island in the Cook Islands, I told him that if he went there, he would need to take a bag of rice with him, as there were only mummy apples and coconuts on the island. He replied it was not necessary, as he could put up with boiled coconut leaves in times of need. These are the men who seem to be by nature qualified to enter some of the parts of the broad Pacific-island field, where sailing boats seldom call.

To the east of us lie the Tuamotu Islands, about one hundred in number, of which fifty are inhabited. Little has been done so far for these people, yet we must plan to have the gospel go to them all. F. E. LYNDON.