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Bible Burning in Fiji

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 28, 1903

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 80, No. 30.

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Bible Burning in Fiji

ONE of our workers writes from that island field: “You will doubtless have read something in your local papers on the subject of Bible burning at Naililili. The place is only twenty miles from Suva, and that such an occurrence took place under the supervision of European Catholic sisters and by native girls is only too true. Although Father Rougiers denies the fact, it is nevertheless true. Twenty reputable adult spectators can be brought as witnesses who will state that the sisters and girls laughingly used contemptuous language concerning the Bibles and Wesleyan hymn-books that were being used for kindling the fire at the coral lime-kiln.”
“It appears that the chief of the district, Matanitobua, had a disagreement with the native Methodist ministers, and the chief decided to show his animosity against the mission and the government by urging all his people to become Catholics. The books that were burned belonged to these people; for one of them, which had been rescued from the flames by a bystander, contained the local Methodist teacher’s name, as well as the name of the owner, and the date it came into his possession.”
Good progress is being made with the Fijian ‘Great Controversy,’ which is being published by the Avondale press. It is being produced in economical style, though of attractive appearance. The blessing of the Lord has attended the work all the way along. Considerable funds are required to produce a volume of such character. Several have already donated toward the enterprise. The two thousand books, when bound, will have cost about seven hundred dollars. About one third of this amount has been collected, and further gifts to this enterprise will be appreciated. The books will be sold, so that funds invested in Fijian literature will be used over and over again in the production of other needed publications. It was expected that the book would be ready for circulation about the first of June.