Your ShelfYour Projects

Friendly Islands

13%

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · May 19, 1904

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 81, No. 20.

Read the full edition

Friendly Islands

By W. W. Palmer

NUKUALOFA, TONGA.—Our Sabbath-school is slightly increasing in membership. The Lord is blessing us here; and though the increase is small, we are of good courage, knowing that it does not depend on numbers, but unity and a pure church. All the children of our school belong to European parents. There are four half-castes, three of whom live in the household of Brother and Sister Butz. Only four of the children belong to Seventh-day Adventist parents.
One native man, who has been a regular attendant for some time, was baptized the first Sabbath in the new year, with another brother. That day we held our Sabbath-school half an hour earlier, and after meeting we all went to the beach, about half an hour's walk from our little chapel. There was quite a large gathering of spectators. We held the ordinances at half-past seven in the evening, and all could testify that the Lord was especially near us that day.
This native brother—Timothy—is the first native to take his vows in this way in Tonga, and we hope that it is the beginning of good times, and that he is the first of a goodly number who will take their stand for the right. It is very hard for the natives to give up their pork and tobacco; and they realize that they must do so if they wish to live near to God.
Timothy attends the Sabbath-school and meetings very regularly, and we have started a native class, which I teach. I translate the lessons into the Tongan language, and he takes them home and studies them. Sometimes two or three come in and join us, and we have a good time.
Our schoolroom is nearly finished, and by the time it is completed, we hope the teacher from Australia will have arrived.
It has encouraged us greatly to know that those across the waters and far away from our lonely isle, are interested in our work here. I sincerely pray that in these later days God will so work upon these people's hearts that they will yield and take their stand for him.
W. W. PALMER.