p. 16 | Gambier Islands by G. F. JONES

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Oct 8, 1903

Gambier Islands

By G. F. JONES

G. F. JONES

From the Gambier Islands we came to the Cook Islands, to relieve Brother and Sister Piper, whose health calls for a change from the tropical climate. It is with deep regret that we leave those islands, as but little appears to be accomplished, yet we are encouraged with the thought that a beginning has been made. Romanism has lost its firm grip on the people. The seed has been sown, and the harvest will reveal how much has been permitted to grow. Our work has not been continuous, but has been broken by visits to Pitcairn Island and other places.

The missionary history of these islands runs thus: a Mr. Henry, a missionary, and associate of John Williams, came here and converted the cannibals,—for such they all were,—numbering six thousand or more. After a while he left them, but soon after two French-Catholic priests arrived, and compelled all to become Catholics, following the conversion of the king to their faith (this is an ancient method of Rome, and she never changes). Their own version is that God worked a miracle on their behalf. Upon landing they were chased into the mountains, where they hid; and the inhabitants, unable to find them, set fire to the tall grass to burn them out. The fire, they say, stopped short, and made a circle around them. Rome's testimonies of this sort are numerous, as we all know; for, lacking the testimony of Holy Scripture to confirm her right, testimonies of her own invention are resorted to. After this, true to its Scriptural name,—“the abomination that maketh desolate,”—Rome bore full sway. Although placed under the French flag, the islands were ruled by the priests. What then followed may best be gathered from the unerring prophetic name itself and from the history of the Dark Ages.

Fewer than fifty now remain of the Gambier islanders proper. This speaks for itself. In May, 1880, the government sent a resident, when the tyranny of the church ceased somewhat. Yet this smoldering spirit still exists, and we have had to meet it in our work, but, thank the Lord, the bulwarks of Romanism have been broken down here by the gospel of Jesus Christ and the third angel's message. Several Catholics have admitted this to me, but they lack the courage to follow their own convictions. The priests tell them that they will die, and this threat means more than idle words. Two Europeans have already left the Catholic faith, and one of these now boldly defies the priests with his open Bible. I had hoped he and others would be ready for baptism on my return from the general meeting at Papeete, but while he has forsaken the Catholic Church, he has not as yet forsaken his pipe; others are also in this difficulty. He is severely opposed by his own family, but he has a faithful, earnest spirit. The other, a well-educated Catholic merchant, has taken his stand with us on all points, and has forsaken his meat, his wine, and his smoking, and now trusts in Jesus alone as his Saviour from all his sins. Therefore I baptized him, and left him there as a witness of the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is well known in Tahiti and all the islands, and speaks the native tongue and French and English. “The Lord has need of him,” this I know.

We have organized a Sabbath-school of eight members; just now there are twenty visitors from Pitcairn, and these will continue to come and go with every trip of their vessel.

The Tuamotus, which consist of more than eighty islands, though not quite all are inhabited, must be visited and worked very soon. Romanism and Mormonism are deluding these poor people. There are no pleasant inducements for the worker. This is in every way a hard field, and these sandy islets produce only cocoanuts. Because of the recent troubles there, ninety came to Raratonga, and these have heard the message for this time. I have freely given our native books and tracts to those who will be returning to their sandy, fruitless islands. This is no time to be niggardly with our gifts, even our very selves. I have tried hard to induce the Pitcairn church to have a burden in this work. What blessings would come to them if they only would! I am more and more astonished that any of our people can hold back at such a time as this.

A Tuamotu native was in our home to-day who lost six of his children in the storm of January. When I told him that the whole world was experiencing such sorrows, and what it all meant, he listened attentively. I gave him a tract on the signs of our Lord's coming. After reading it, he said, “These are great truths which the people do not know.” True indeed, and how shall they hear without a preacher? I then furnished him with several of our books. He was here only four days, and will return by the next vessel.

There are less than four hundred people in the Gambier Islands, but many come and go, and so will take to their homes the message they have heard, and the booklets they have received.

I am hoping that our school at Raiatea will quickly train devoted workers for these islands. It is only with difficulty and danger that one can reach any of these islands, and but few people live on each. Yet the truth must go, and some are waiting for it. I understand that none of our workers have ever yet been to the Tuamotus or Marquesas.

The present-day troubles are scattering the people hither and thither. Why?—That they may come in contact with the Lord's workers, and so learn the truth. “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few.”

Raratonga, Cook Islands.