p. 13 | G. F. JONES by G. F. Jones

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Sep 8, 1904

G. F. JONES

By G. F. Jones

Raratonga

G. F. JONES

Much has been said in the past concerning this island and its people. The Raratongans love to read the Bible, but it has become merely a form with them. The life and power of the word of salvation is very little known among them. Like the Society Islanders, there is nothing more enjoyable to them than a maro, which is a debate on the meaning of certain texts. Any or all in the Bible congregation take part, and the meeting lasts all night. The spirit of the good Word does not come in, neither does obedience to it enter much into their thoughts.

The London Missionary Society has its churches and schools in every village, and has held the field from the time of John Williams until recently, when the Catholics established themselves here, and have two churches and schools. We have here about fifty Sabbath-keepers, four Sabbath-schools, one church-school, and, at present, a small boarding-school in our house.

The London Missionary Society dislikes very much to see us establishing our work here, and say that we ought to retire, leaving their society free to do its work. We would gladly leave the field to others if they would take up our work— the work that every Bible student ought to be doing—giving the last warning message to the world in this generation. But at this they scoff; we, therefore, continue our work with haste, and go to every kindred, nation, tongue, and people until “this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” It is true, we are looked upon as interlopers, but what of that? “Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity against God?” The storm is surely coming, for the barometer is falling; but we are homeward bound, and although we are stemming the undercurrents of “higher criticism” and other isms, we can make rapid headway only as we spread our sails and run before the gale. We shall soon be in port, thank the Lord. Many poor Christians are steering by a compass magnetized by higher criticism. They are making bad weather, and running with the current. They know not that they are going headlong into a maelstrom.

For the sake of the poor natives in these and other islands, who, less than eighty years ago, received the Bible as the infallible Word of God, we desire to go to each and all, and reassure them that it is still so. We need the help and prayers of our brethren as we go among those who are already in the hands of missionaries who carry the Bible, but no longer believe it to be an infallible guide. This must be Satan’s masterpiece of deception, for in this way he comes as “an angel of light.” These are the kind of missionaries who enlist the sympathies of the people by saying that we are causing strife. Are they not repeating the words of Ahab to Elijah, “Art thou he that troubleth Israel?” And shall we not answer them in the words of Elijah? “I have not troubled Israel; but thou . . . in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim.”

I am planning to go to the different islands at the first opportunity, with “Christ Our Saviour,” and tracts, following up the work later with preaching. I trust some of our native brethren will be ready and willing to carry the truth to their own people. They will necessarily need some help from our brethren elsewhere. The sparsely as well as the thickly populated lands must receive our attention. “Blessed is he that soweth beside all waters.” “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.” Let us “give glory unto the Lord, and declare his praise in the islands.”