Untitled article by M. G. Kellogg

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 28, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 42.

FROM OUR "PITCAIRN" MISSIONARIES.

By M. G. Kellogg

RAIATEA, June 17, 1893.

EDITOR SIGNS OF THE TIMES—Dear Brother: Knowing that you and your readers are at all times interested in the movements of the Pitcairn and of the missionaries accompanying her, I will write you a few lines.

We left Tahiti April 9, for this island, taking Elder Read and wife with us, as you probably have been informed. We expected to stop but a few days to survey the field, learn its needs, and then return with Elder Read and wife to Tahiti and then proceed on our way to Fiji and Norfolk Islands, leaving Elder Cole and wife and Sister Mary Ann McCoy at Norfolk Island, and Elder Cady and wife at Fiji on our final homeward trip. In this case, however, some of our plans have to be changed, for the finger of God seems to point to this island and direct some of our company to stop here.

It has therefore been decided that Elder Cady and wife locate here and take charge of the work. Raiatea is the island where the French and the natives were having trouble when the Pitcairn called on her first voyage. The island is about forty miles in circumference and contains between fourteen hundred and two thousand inhabitants. Adjacent to, and inclosed within the same reef, is the island of Tahaa, the two lying four miles apart. Tahaa contains between six hundred and a thousand inhabitants. Eight miles to the northwest of Tahaa lies the isle of Bora Bora, with from one thousand to twelve hundred inhabitants, while the isle of Huahine, with eight or ten hundred inhabitants, is but eighteen miles northeast from the eastern extremity of Raiatea.

It will readily be seen that here are five islands, lying, as it were, side by side, with a total population of from four to five thousand (I have given the lowest and highest estimates given me). These islands were formerly under the direction of the London Missionary Society so far as church work is concerned, but since the French have obtained a foothold in Tahiti, the L. M. S. has withdrawn its missionaries, leaving the spiritual interests of the isles to the French Missionary Society. The entire native population of these isles, as well as of Tahiti, is nominally Christian, and, according to statements made by the natives, the people were making rapid progress, both in Christian experience and civilization under the labors of the L. M. S., but since coming under French influence they are fast retrograding. It is true that native preachers were raised up, and that they endeavored to carry on the work dropped by the L. M. S., but these native preachers are but children in the work of Christ, and they cannot carry on the work to a successful issue without help from those of greater experience.

The French have had a missionary located at Tahiti for a number of years, but none here until within the last month, a young man and his wife having come up from Tahiti about three weeks ago, to act as pastor and teacher. Although the French missionary did not labor in any of these four islands at any other season of the year, he always managed to visit them once a year to collect money for, as he said, the French Foreign Missionary Society, and always carried away several hundred dollars.

Some twelve years ago the French Government, fearing that Germany would obtain a coaling station on Raiatea, persuaded the natives to allow them, the French, to extend a protectorate over them, telling them that if the Germans came they would deprive the people of their land and liberties.

With impressions of fear of the Germans, and with the promise that the natives should have full liberty to make and execute their own laws, and appoint their own officers, from the king down to the lowest officer, the natives allowed the protectorate flag to be hoisted with the understanding that the French would only attempt to prevent the Germans from coming within the reef. In 1887 or '88 the French succeeded in getting the native king, who had first been elected by the people, and afterward had deserted them, and left the island, to consent to the annexation of the island as French territory.

The annexation scheme was resisted by far the largest portion of the people, and they passed a law forbidding the ex-king to ever return to the island. It was this refusal of the natives to surrender their island to the French that led to the difficulties which existed between them and the French in 1888. The French at that time bombarded several of the native villages, which were situated at various points along the beach, destroying the houses and also many of the cocoanut trees. The natives who have not submitted to the annexation scheme, are called rebels, yet their rebellion consists solely in their refusal to allow the French flag to be hoisted in place of the protectorate flag. During the time of the bombardment of one of their villages the natives hoisted the protectorate flag given them by the French, hoping that it would protect them, but the French fired canister shot through the very flag they had given the islanders as a symbol of French protection. From that time to this the natives have hoisted their own old island flag, and allowed no French subject, nor any native who acknowledges the French authority, to come within the lines which limit the actual French occupation, which is a narrow street about six miles along the seashore, the population of which, who are in sympathy with the annexation scheme, being limited to about 100 natives and about 20 whites, while there are at least thirteen hundred natives who are opposed thereto.

This is the story told me by several intelligent natives, as well as by some of the white residents. They also tell me that the French, instead of protecting them, have not only destroyed their houses and their cocoanut groves, and all their industries, but that they levy a very heavy duty, amounting to nearly thirty per cent ad valorem, on all importations to the island, and compel all vessels to pay harbor duties at the only port of entry, Utoroa, where the French resident makes his headquarters, even though the destination of the vessel be to some other part of the island. I know nothing of the situation myself, but give it as it is given to me by some who recognise the French authority.

The head of the native government at the present time is a queen, elected by the people. She is assisted by a prime minister, a secretary, and a supreme judge, and certain councillors. The island is divided into eight or nine districts, each of which has a governor, elected by the people of the district. There are also several subordinate officers.

The French have possession of but one district, never having succeeded in gaining jurisdiction over any of the others, nor even permission to set foot

therein. There is a squad of soldiers here and a man of war comes in every few days.

When the Pitcairn came to the isle a month ago, we visited several of the so-called rebel villages, doing the work of the Master in caring for the sick (I treated eighty patients in the three islands while here) and teaching the good news of the gospel. Before we had been here a week the queen invited us to locate here, as did also several of the governors. So solicitous were they that the queen called a meeting of the governors and chief men who were agreed, to ask us to stop on the island. After due consultation, the queen decided to call a general assembly of the leading men on this island and Tahaa, to lay the plan before them; this assembly met June 2, and discussed the matter for two days, going over the whole matter of the probable effect of our locating, taking up the matter of Sabbath keeping, baptism, etc.

We took no part in the discussion, except as interested spectators. During the debate the fact developed that there were some three persons who were opposed, fearing that trouble might arise with the French if we were to locate a missionary here.

Matters of this kind are not conducted by the natives according to strictly parliamentary rules. When there is opposition to any scheme, they talk the matter over until all are agreed, or give the scheme up. Following this plan the queen adjourned the assembly, at the close of the second day, until the 12th of June, when they again met and finished the business by directing the queen to act her pleasure in the matter.

During the week pending the last assembly, the Pitcairn went back to Tahiti with Elder Read and wife. On our return here the 16th inst. we went immediately to Avara, the queen's village, to learn the result of the discussion. Soon after our arrival, the queen called the principal government officers together, and after directing one of the chief judges what questions to ask us about our plans of working, and our object in coming, and who we proposed to leave, and after receiving Elder Cady's reply, she directed the judge to inform us that it was her wish, and the wish of her people, that Elder Cady and wife locate there, and that her house should be their home until a suitable one could be erected. To-morrow we move the Pitcairn from the anchorage before the French residents to the anchorage before the queen's village, some nine miles distant, if we have a fair wind.

After seeing Elder Cady and wife properly fixed, we sail for Norfolk Island, to locate Elder Cole. We shall take in the Fiji isles on our way, and unless we find letters directing us otherwise, we shall probably return to Oakland in about seven months from this. From what we hear we think there is equally as good opening in the Tubal Isles as well, although there are less people.

There is an interest to hear, and to have a teacher locate at Huahine. We were there on two occasions, staying two nights the first time and one night the last time. We could place a dozen good workers in locations where the door stands wide open, and where the people are ready to hear the truth. None but persons of strong constitution and in good health should be sent out here, however, for it will take a year to handle the language, and weakly persons might wish to go home before they have accomplished anything.

I think the Lord has some precious jewels here, and he bids us to find them. The queen of Raiatea is a fine woman. Her husband is a native of Raratonga, the son of a native missionary sent out here. He is a deacon in the native church. One of the deacons in the native church here in Utoroa has become convinced of the truth on the Sabbath question, and is to preach on the subject a week from to-morrow in his church, which will seat seven or eight hundred.

Address, Auckland, New Zealand. M. G. KELLOGG.

P. S. Sunday, June 18. We have just arrived at the anchorage opposite the queen's residence in Avara.

The post office address of Elder B. J. Cady and wife will be Raiatea, Society Isles, Pacific Ocean. M. G. K.