p. 11 | New Guinea Mission by S. W. CARR

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Nov 2, 1911

New Guinea Mission

By S. W. CARR

S. W. CARR

DURING the past year New Guinea has been brought prominently before the world through its mines and commercial interests. While there were but twelve women and less than one hundred men in Port Moresby and its vicinity on our arrival three years ago, the latest census shows the present population to be fifty-three women and three hundred men. The rubber boom is now over, and although there are quite a number of new faces, the departures equal if not exceed the arrivals.

Our mission is now becoming firmly established, and better known among both Europeans and natives. Several members of the federal parliament recently visited Bisiatabu, and expressed appreciation of what they saw.

A church was organized in July by Pastor J. E. Fulton, while on his way to the Indies; and when expected letters of transfer arrive, it will have a membership of seven. We are sorry it was necessary for Brother and Sister W. J. Smith to leave in January, but we are looking forward to the arrival of Brother Lawson, who was appointed to New Guinea at the last session of the Australasian Union Conference.

Through the liberality of our Sabbath-schools, money was donated to

erect a small house in Port Moresby, and at the union conference it was decided that £400 be devoted to the building of a permanent mission house at Bisiatabu. The General Conference has since decided to bear the cost of this home out of the $300,000 Fund. How the message does make us one the wide world over!

We are glad to welcome Brother F. L. Chaney to Papua, to supervise the erection of these buildings, thus relieving the local workers of much anxiety and labor, at the same time giving them a valuable training in the work of building. This short experience gained in the mission field itself will, we believe, be a great help to Brother and Sister Chaney in all their future work.

The Port Moresby house has been completed and dedicated, and the trees at Bisiatabu are being prepared by ax, adz, and pit-saw for service in the house here. Application was made during the year to the authorities to have this property transferred to the Australasian Conference Association, but no reply has yet been received.

The total tithe and Sabbath-school and other offerings received amount to £53. We are glad, too, that the Motu tribe is soon to have part of the message in tract form in their own language.

We feel to praise God for the good degree of health enjoyed by the present mission family during the year. Among the European population there has been a heavy mortality, and many have had to leave Papua because of ill health.

The mission horses and mules have proved themselves most useful and a means of economy, and it is remarkable that there has been no damage to any goods in transit from Port Moresby to Bisiatabu by either breakage or rain.

Being absent in Australia attending the union conference, and subsequently busy with the building work, I have not been able to visit the distant island villages; but one of our native workers made a successful trip in January, and several from these tribes have visited Bisiatabu during the year, staying for days and sometimes weeks, working and becoming acquainted with the misineri taudia (missionaries), and with the truths they teach and try to practise.

Nine boys have been regularly employed, and daily instructed in Bible and singing, and recently in elementary reading and writing also. We thank God that something has been accomplished for them. One boy now conducts their evening worship. We hope he will be willing to remain with us another year, to become more fully instructed in the way, and better prepared to teach others. Six of the boys have now returned to their homes, their time of labor having expired, but we trust that the impressions received while here will be lasting, and that results will be seen in eternity.

While the work does apparently go slowly, let us remember the pit whence these poor people have been digged. Seeing their ignorance, darkness, and sin, it would seem hardly possible for them to comprehend the things of God. But their souls are precious in his sight.

"The chain that has been let down from the throne of God is long enough to reach the lowest depths. Christ is able to lift the most sinful out of the pit of degradation, and to place them where they will be acknowledged as the children of God, heirs with Christ to an immortal inheritance. Under the ministration of the Holy Spirit, the stupidity that makes their uplifting appear so hopeless will pass away. The dull, clouded mind will awake. The slaves of sin will be set free. Spiritual life will revive and strengthen. Vice will disappear, and ignorance will be overcome."