The Ordination of Pauliasi Bunoa

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 7, 1907

The Ordination of Pauliasi Bunoa

PAULIASI BUNOA is the first believer in the third angel’s message from the Fiji Islands to be ordained to the gospel ministry. The ordination service was held Sabbath afternoon, September 22, the closing Sabbath of the Australasian Union Conference, at Cooranbong, Australia.

Elder E. H. Gates spoke concerning the work in the islands, as follows: “I will read Isa. 11:11: ‘And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left . . . from the islands of the sea.’ You will notice here that he is speaking about the remnant, and we know very well to whom that refers. We read in the book of Revelation about the remnant, and the opposition that will be brought to bear against the remnant people. Now, I do not suppose that there is a person who feels more interested in what we are about to do this afternoon than I do. Sixteen years ago, on October 20, when I left the shores of America to engage in labor among the islands, there were but two companies of Sabbath-keepers in all that region. We had one small organization in the Hawaiian Islands that had been organized by Elder Healey. About the same time, some work had been done in Pitcairn. To-day there are hundreds who are obeying the truth among the islands, beginning with the eastern part of Polynesia and stretching across the Pacific—a few here and a few there. It is with the deepest interest I take part in this service this afternoon, not because of the large numbers who have accepted the truth—probably large numbers never will accept the truth in these islands; but it is a fact that souls that at one time were in the darkness of heathenism, and even cannibalism, are to-day rejoicing in the light. Now it is of the deepest interest to me that our brother who is to be ordained knew in his youth what it was to eat human flesh, in other words, was among cannibals. The work is going to these dark islands. You are laying plans at this meeting to send workers to New Guinea, to send workers to that populous island of Java, with its almost thirty million people. This rejoices my soul. I have waited to see this day: I see it, and rejoice. A few days ago in the conference here, you voted that Pauliasi Bunoa should be ordained to the gospel ministry. This is the first worker from those who have accepted the truth in the islands to receive ordination. I hope that the time is near when we shall see more than one ordained to the gospel ministry from the dark islands where heathenism rules almost supreme.”

Elder C. H. Parker, who has been laboring in the Fijian field, gave a brief history of Pauliasi. He said: “Pauliasi was brought up in another denomination, and spent some thirty-two years as a minister, and ten years as a missionary to New Britain, New Ireland, and other cannibal islands. Seven years ago he came in contact with the truth; his heart responded, though it was not without a struggle that he gave himself to this message, because he realized what a difficult thing it was for him to take his stand among his people there. He thought he would go out in the bush with his family and lead a hermit life, but he saw he could not do that. The first Sabbath after he took his stand for the truth, the people lined the beach as he left for the mission. They laughed at him, and called him a fool, and when he came back that evening, they met for a council to drive him out of the town. But he faltered not. He has been our pioneer minister in the opening up of new fields, and the seal of his ministry is the souls that have responded to the truth. There are a goodly number of them, and I can say that those who have received the truth in Fiji respect Pauliasi. The officers of the government respect him. Brother Fulton and I have studied Pauliasi; and we have not come to this conclusion hastily. We believe God has called him to the work of the gospel ministry, and to a part with us in this ministry.”

Brother Pauliasi then followed with a few remarks concerning his own experience: “I will tell you concerning my faith in this truth. For many years I belonged to another church, and my faith was firm and steadfast in what was taught therein. When the light of the truth came to my heart, I rejoiced in it, and did not doubt that it was God’s truth. The truth that I heard in the Seventh-day Adventist church is something that can not be overthrown or controverted. It is built on the firm principles of God’s Word. I made a careful comparison of the truths as set forth by this denomination with what is written in God’s Word, and have been fully convinced that it is indeed the truth taught by the Word of God. There are many things that I believed while with this former people that are the same in this truth. All these truths that I formerly believed and which are substantiated by the Word of God, I have never thrown away, but hold them firmly still. The ground of my faith was, and is, and shall be, God’s Word, and God’s Word alone. I have heard now of the Sabbath, of the Lord’s coming, of true baptism, of feet washing, and tithing. I find these to be clearly taught in God’s Word. I know this to be the truth of God that I did not understand formerly. Therefore I gladly walk in the light.”

“Some things that I formerly believed to be true I now find to be error. I wish to read a scripture in Eze. 22:26: ‘Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and the profane, neither have they showed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.’ From this time onward, I desire always to separate the clean from the unclean in my belief; to accept that which is clean and put away that which is unclean. Not only do I desire to live by these truths myself, these truths which sanctify us, but I desire to teach the truth I have received to my fellow countrymen in Fiji.”

Following Pauliasi’s testimony, Elder O. A. Olsen said: “I am glad and rejoice with you to hear such a clear statement of the position and the work of the one whom God has commended to our charge. . . . Should there be any one in the congregation who sees any reason for not ordaining this brother, let him speak. I think that you all believe—not only the delegation, but all this congregation that have heard this testimony and the explanations of Brethren Gates and Parker—that he is called of God,

and that we should set him apart; if so, indicate the same by raising the hand. [Every hand was raised.] Now we will step down on this platform and follow out the Lord’s instruction.”

As Brother Pauliasi knelt in the center of the platform, the others knelt around him, while Pastor Baker led in prayer, followed by Pastor Gates. As they prayed, the Holy Spirit descended upon the congregation, and such a subduing, sanctifying experience of the power of God was seldom witnessed by those present. The sense of God’s presence deepened as Pastor Fulton led in prayer in the Fijian tongue.

All seemed greatly moved, and a holy joy filled every heart. At the close of this prayer all stood and joined in singing, “There are angels hovering round,” in a manner that indicated that all believed the sentiment the words of the hymn expressed.

There was a searching power in this holy influence that was noted in the many testimonies that followed. The secret of this blessed manifestation is revealed in the first verse of the first chapter of Acts: “They were all with one accord in one place.” A spirit of unity and brotherly love had pervaded the whole conference from the very first meeting.—(Australasian) Union Conference Record.