This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1885 Excerpt: ...must be remembered that Christianity made the people think of others sitting in darkness, in the regions beyond ' Fiji.' In the year of Joeli's death--a party of Fijian teachers, under the Rev. Mr Brown, the only white man in the company, went to New Britain, one of the most dreaded islands of the Southern Pacific, in ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1885 Excerpt: ...must be remembered that Christianity made the people think of others sitting in darkness, in the regions beyond ' Fiji.' In the year of Joeli's death--a party of Fijian teachers, under the Rev. Mr Brown, the only white man in the company, went to New Britain, one of the most dreaded islands of the Southern Pacific, in which the cannibalism and cruelty which prevailed was not exceeded even in Somosomo. In the face of the greatest danger they preached the gospel and extended the kingdom of Christ. It would be wrong not to refer to the marvellous manner in which the people spread the glad tidings. Whenever they gathered some dim ideas of God, they earnestly sought to learn more concerning Him. The inhabitants of Ono were so anxious that they besought a heathen priest to offer prayers to the unknown God in their behalf, though he would not do it in his own. And thus we are told, the first words of Christian prayer were heard in that lonely little island, which soon became a centre of life and strength to the Mission. One man sailed in his canoe 300 miles to Aneata to hear what Mr Calvert had to say about Jesus Christ, and in a short time each canoe became a mission ship. Gradually the work extended, and island after island of that Fijian group embraced the religion of Jesus Christ. The drums, used a few years before to gather the people to cannibal feasts, were invariably employed to summon worshippers to church and pupils to school. On Sundays there were three regular services, the first at six in the morning. Each one was crowded, and the Sunday schools were filled. Miss Gordon Cumming says: 'One Sunday in Viti Levu, we walked along the shore, and then by a path through the abandoned sugarfields, till we came to the native church, where, much to our amusement...
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