AUSTRALIA is the Island Continent, and Australasia is a network of island fields. “The isles shall wait for His law,” applies to this field more, perhaps, than to any other. It is a field of exceptional interest to the missionary, a field of wonderful possibilities. A glance at the map will help one to realize this.
At this writing it is twenty-six years since Elders S. N. Haskell, J. O. Corliss, and M. C. Israel arrived in Australia to open up the work in the interests of the message. In a humble way the work was begun; and now, taking a retrospective view after more than a quarter of a century has passed, we are led to say, “What hath God wrought!”
In Australia and New Zealand, six conferences have been organized; namely, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria-Tasmania, South Australia, West Australia, and New Zealand. Active work is being carried on in each conference in the way of church work, tent efforts, Bible work, and the distribution of literature.
Institutions
To train workers for the many openings in both the home and the island fields, schools have been established, and already good results have been realized. The Avondale School for Christian Workers was established under the special leading of the Lord, and we have not, therefore, been disappointed in expecting much. Many of the students have done effectual service in various branches of the work, and their influence is now being widely felt. At the present, more students are in attendance than ever before,—almost two hundred.
The smaller training-school at Darling Range, West Australia, has completed a very successful year. The work is growing, and new buildings have been erected. The latest balance-sheet showed a credit on the year’s running of about $3,500. The New Zealand training-school at Pukekura has had an increased attendance, and we are hoping for good things in behalf of this school. It has an excellent farm in a beautiful location, with good buildings. New Zealand has a fine class of aspiring young people.
Sanitariums are located at Wahroonga, New South Wales; Adelaide, South Australia; and Christchurch, New Zealand; there is also the Sanitarium Home at Warburton, Victoria. The sanitarium at Wahroonga is the largest of these institutions, and has a training-school for nurses.
The cafés in Sydney and Melbourne have been exceptionally busy, and their influence is telling. Our cafés in Auckland and Wellington, New Zealand, have also done well. The café in Adelaide has been able to meet expenses, and we are now opening a new café in Brisbane.
In 1874, at a meeting held at Battle Creek, Mrs. E. G. White said that many nations would yet receive the truth, and that she had seen presses being operated12in various lands, Australia being especially mentioned. To-day two publishing-houses in Australia, and one or two smaller printing-offices in the islands, are kept busy turning out publications in various languages.
The Islands of Australasia
Beacon-lights have been set up in a number of the numerous islands composing our field. As yet the work has only fairly begun. Millions of souls for whom Christ shed his blood are waiting for the message. Men and means are in demand.
The populous island of Java, with its dominant Mohammedan faith, is to hear the last message; and we are cheered to know that a few are coming out from this great delusion into the sunlight of the gospel. A Mohammedan teacher and his wife, young people, have taken a stand for Christ at our mission station at Soember Wekas, and others are interested.
CHIEF'S MOUNTAIN HOME IN FIJI
Pastor R. W. Munson reports a baptism of six converts at Soeka-boemi, Java. He writes hopefully of the work done at this place, and says, speaking of the results and the baptism: “It is a real work of the Spirit.”
Although they have received a seeming setback from the government in restricting them to the large cities and unhealthful centers, our workers are full of courage, and are moving steadily forward, saying, “God wills it. He is teaching us that ‘now is the time to work the cities.’” Instead of being thrown into a state of panic, they rather glory in the cross of Christ, and make the obstacles stepping-stones to progress.
A momentous task is set before us in the evangelization of the East Indian Archipelago. The inhabitants are largely ignorant; they are possessed with a fanatical faith, and there are languages and dialects to the number of about twenty-nine in the different groups.
Every difficulty and obstacle is a call to prayer. The time is so short in which to accomplish so much! To teach these millions of ignorant and fanatical people, who speak in so many varied tongues, certainly calls for just such an endowment of power as was bestowed at the time of Pentecost. This God has promised in the “latter rain.” How much we need it!
Sumatra and New Guinea
Our workers in far-off Sumatra are toiling away in a persistent but humble manner. Sometimes sickness hinders, but no word of murmuring has reached us,—only words of cheer and hope. Brother P. Judge and his wife and Miss Judge are busy visiting, giving Bible studies with both Dutch and Malays, nursing the sick, and teaching and preaching.
In New Guinea, our workers are busy on the erection of a long-needed mission house. Brother F. L. Chaney has gone there to superintend this work. There has been some delay caused by the time required to get out native timber, and saw it with pit-saws. But notwithstanding all the delay and expense, our workers in that field need a comfortable home. We are glad for the liberality of our American brethren in their gifts to this worthy object.
The New Hebrides and Solomon Groups
Correspondence with traders, missionaries, and others in these groups has brought us some encouraging letters, and shown some interest. At a later date we hope to see good results from this effort, which is being carried on continuously.
Many islands in Melanesia (Black Islands) and Micronesia (Small Islands) are waiting for the truth. It would be difficult to name them all. The following leading groups are yet unentered: Loyalty Islands, New Hebrides, Santa Cruz, Solomon Islands, and Bismarck Archipelago, in Melanesia; and Caroline Islands, Marshall Islands, Gilbert Islands, Phoenix Islands, and Ellice Islands, in Micronesia. May the Lord raise up laborers for these fields.
Polynesia
In Polynesia also there are thousands of islands where the message has never entered. In only a few groups is the light shining.
We are glad to hear good reports from Fiji. The work there moves steadily forward. Brother A. G. Stewart reports some calling for baptism. Alipati, a native laborer, speaks of a number of new converts in the district where he is working. Pauliasi, our native minister, writes of a native Sabbath-keeper in the far eastern part of the group, who has been cast into prison for teaching the Sabbath of the Lord, and of his intention to visit the place.
Elder E. H. Gates is now traveling through the islands of Polynesia, and held a council meeting in Fiji during the month of May. His long experience in island matters was most helpful to the workers in Fiji.
There is a good attendance at the training-school at Buresala, and we are glad to hear that a good class of young men are preparing to enter the work. About forty are in attendance. Brother Cady has done much to place the work of the Buresala school on a self-supporting basis. At the printing-office in Fiji, “Early Writings” is being published in an abridged form. The little paper, the Karama, started in May, 1900, is still being printed.
One of the saddest conditions we face in Fiji is the steady invasion of that fair group with an army of Orientals, who are either heathen or Mohammedan.
Reenforcements have been sent to Samoa from Fiji. Brother A. Butler, formerly a student at Avondale, who has now been in Fiji a few years, and a native worker, are taking up work with Brother H. T. Howse, the director of our Samoan Mission.
Additional help has been sent to the Society group, and late letters tell us that the workers are of good courage. Although the language is still a barrier, they are able to do something by circulating our literature. They can do as one of our lady workers did in Java, who began selling the tracts when she knew only four words,—“Boeka bai, lima sen,” which meant, “Good book, five cents.” She had one answer to every objection, “Boeka bai, lima sen,” till finally she was called, by those who spoke Malay, “Miss Five Cents.” But she sold the tracts, and made many friends.
