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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Oct 12, 1905

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 82, No. 41.

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Cook Islands

By A. H. Piper

RAROTONGA.—We are glad to be back here again, after our furlough of eleven months in New Zealand and Australia. We feel that there is no other place in the work of so much interest and inspiration as right on the “firing line.” What aggressiveness, what courage, what endurance, what self-denial, the Japanese have shown to the world for their emperor and country! and surely we, the people of the Most High, ought to show the same characteristics in our spiritual warfare for the King of kings.
It was our intention to open up the work in the other islands of the group, soon after our return, by canvassing for our literature; but early in January a hurricane leveled everything to the ground in these islands, and it is said that the natives are obliged to subsist on roots and fish, although I hardly think it is as bad as that. At any rate, we thought it not wise to make a canvassing trip to other parts at present.
We are now devoting our attention to getting more literature into the hands of the people of Rarotonga. Hitherto it has been a hard matter to sell our literature; but a great change has taken place. I have been working in the chief village, and have covered about two thirds of it, and without exception have placed a book in every home. Never before have I seen the natives so eager to buy our literature. Some stopped me in the middle of the canvass, to ask the price, and then went to get the money. Some had no money at the time, and asked me to trust them, promising to pay later. This is considered a very risky thing to do in these islands; but I feel impressed to comply with their request, and have not lost one penny in so doing. As they read the pages, may the Lord open their eyes to the truth, and may they obey it. During the past months two have begun to observe the Sabbath. One is a fine old native man of the “old school,” a deacon in one of the churches.
A. H. PIPER.