p. 7 | The Schooner "Tiare" by B. J. Cady

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Nov 25, 1908

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 35, No. 17.

The Schooner "Tiare"

By B. J. Cady

BELIEVING that the readers of the SIGNS will be interested to hear of the schooner that has recently been secured for the Eastern Polynesian Mission, we will give a few items in regard to it. It has a Tahitian name, "Tiare," which means "flower."

In the past, we have had no regular communication with Pitcairn Island. It is true that ships from various parts of the world call there occasionally, but the captains seldom know beforehand whether they will call there or not, as it usually depends upon the wind and the condition of the weather, so it was very seldom that a ship would take their mail to them.

If we are to help the people, we must be able to reach them. Some have subscribed for our papers, but at times would not receive a copy during the year. They need a teacher, and it is important that we be able to communicate with this teacher as well as with the people.

The "Tiare" was purchased last April, and was sent away as soon as possible to Pitcairn Island to bring Brother Carey, our teacher, and others to attend our conference on Raiatea in June. We were all pleased to have Brother O. A. Olsen with us at this meeting. It was a real spiritual feast to us, and we hope the good resolutions made at this meeting may be carried out.

On the first trip of the "Tiare" to Pitcairn, the freight and passage money received nearly paid expenses, besides something over $200 worth of missionary work was done. She is now on her second trip to Pitcairn Island to take back some of the people who attended our meeting. She has freight for the islands of Tubuai and Mangareva, so will call at those places and leave some Tahitian literature. We hope that much good may be done in this way. Tho our schooner has but few comforts for the passengers, we are glad to have this means of communication with Pitcairn, and we hope it may be a real blessing to the people there, as well as to many of the other islanders in this part of the sea.

Brother Carey is expected to continue his school work on Pitcairn during the coming year. Brother George Sterling and wife, recently from Mount Vernon, Ohio, are to work on Raiatea. Our Tahitian laborer, Paul Deane, is working on Huahine at present. Brother J. R. McCoy goes on the "Tiare" as ship missionary.

The first cost of our schooner was $1,520. We had to have a chronometer and other things for the ship, which cost us about $150. Then the cost of transfer in ownership will be about $60.00, making in all $1,730. We have paid $918.48, which leaves a balance of $811.52 yet to pay. When this is paid, the schooner will be the property of the Australasian Union Conference. We hope to have a donation of $282 with which to help pay off this debt. It is money that was received from the sale of the old cutter which was bought for the Pitcairn people, and afterward condemned as unseaworthy.

We feel very thankful for the assistance that our brethren in other lands have given us in getting this boat, for without this help we could not have secured it. We hope that the Lord may always direct in its movements, and that it may be a means in His hands of much good.