In this mission field are included the Society, Cook, Austral, Gambier, Marquesas, and Tuamotu groups, with the lone but famous island of Pitcairn. The superintendent, Elder B. J. Cady, reports the erection of a new church building on Raiatea, Society Islands, and adds:—
At present we have five meeting-houses45and two mission homes in the Society Islands. Our membership is about seventy. We have seven Sabbath-schools; these are on five different islands, one being on Makatea, of the Tuamotu group. Our mission schooner “Tiare” made one trip to Pitcairn Island, taking mail and such things as the islanders need. This last trip found them well. Brother M. W. Carey, of Tasmania, was doing well in the Pitcairn church and school work. He was expecting Brother H. Thomas and wife to relieve him, as they had come on to Tahiti from Australia, with this in mind. However, as Sister Thomas was able to speak French, it has been thought best to have these new workers continue in Tahiti, which is a French possession. Brother George Sterling and wife, with George Deane and wife, Tahitian helpers, made an evangelistic tour this summer through the islands of Huahine and Raiatea, and then settled on Borabora, which is a comparatively new field.
Cook Islands
Of the religious conditions, Elder F. E. Lyndon, of Rarotonga, reports:— The Maoris of the Pacific were all heathen one hundred years ago. The London Missionary Society sent them faithful missionaries, who gave them the gospel in their own tongue, and then taught them to read it. The Bible, practically speaking, is the only literature the natives have ever had to read. The old natives and middle-aged are quite familiar with the Sacred Book, but the young of the present generation feel quite indifferent to it.
“Thoughts on Daniel,” “Christ Our Saviour,” and several smaller productions have been translated into Rarotongan, and “Thoughts on Revelation” will shortly be out. Our paper, Tuatua Moa (Words of Truth), is widely read. A man from far-away Penrhyn, a coral island in latitude 10° south, came to our mission to ask us for a worker, saying that he and two others are keeping the true Sabbath.
We have a church on Rarotonga, at Titikaveka. Little has been done in other islands, as our workers have been so few. Visiting the island of Aitutaki last September, in response to earnest calls, I found much interest among the people. One leading native accepted the message and is spreading it. He had formerly been intemperate, but his little girl, in dying, begged him to leave his bad habits, so that he might meet her in the kingdom. The father ceased drinking, and having heard Dr. J. E. Caldwell, years ago, explain the evil effects of tobacco, he put that away also. When I found him, he was ready to accept the full light of the message.
