[Of this famous island of the South Pacific, Macmillan's “Statesman's Year Book,” of London, says: “The affairs of the island are conducted by a parliament of seven members, with a president, a vice president, and a judge. In religion the islanders (descendants of the mutineers of the ‘Bounty’) are Seventh-day Adventists.” The following article was written by the wife of the resident missionary, recently sent there from Australia.]
The Chinese debtor, JAVA.
PRIMARY SCHOOL, RAROTONGA
As the islanders are expecting a ship to25call, I avail myself of the opportunity to send a letter. It is just seven weeks since we arrived on Pitcairn. For the first few weeks we were kept busy treating the sick and advising as to the care of health. The medicines and disinfectants supplied by the conference have proved a great source of comfort and help.
Our Sabbath school has a membership of 156. It is a very interesting Sabbath school. The kindergarten is composed of twenty-five little ones between the ages of fifteen months and four years, and is managed very successfully. Of the tiny tots each teacher has three, and of the older ones there are four in a class. You would be surprised to hear how well they sing. The order is the best I have ever seen, although there are about seventy children.
BOAT QUAY
SINGAPORE.
We are of good courage, and the Lord has blessed my husband in the responsibilities which have come to him. The church school is a large undertaking. There are about sixty pupils in attendance, and all are making good progress. My husband has a valuable helper in one of the deacons of the church, Fisher Young, who, though he is young, gives evidence of having a genuine Christian character.
We were made to feel very welcome on our arrival. The islanders had been praying earnestly that a way might open by which we could come to them. Thirteen persons have been baptized. It had been some years since there had been a baptism on this island. The people are looking forward to their annual camp meeting, which will be held in booths outside the village.
Just at present there is plenty of good food on the island. Oranges and bananas grow in abundance. There are also several kinds of beans, besides sweet corn and plenty of potatoes. We are told that fewer ships call each year. Last year there were only seven. Two have called since our arrival. If this condition continues, the outlook for clothing for the islanders is very poor, as this is their only means of purchasing clothing.
