# The Lutheran Pioneer_St. Louis_1930_S15 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) THE LUTHERAN PIONEER. 15 found mainly among the hill tribes. Some think the original inhabitants were of the same race as the so-called blacks of Australia. But the natives of New Guinea seem to be of a higher order than the Australian aborigines. At some time there may have been an invasion from Oceania and possibly also from the Malay Archipelago. Senior Missionary Flierl divides the inhabitants of the former German New Guinea into two great classes, viz., the Mela- nesians, or the coast people, and the Papuans, or the hill tribes. The two chief languages, which may be subdivided into about a thousand dialects (according to the Jahrbuch of 1925), are the Jabem and the Kate. Pidgin-English, a mixture of native words and English, a hideous mongrel language, might be called a third language. “Lutheran mission-work in New Guinea was begun in 1886 when Missionary John Flierl came from Australia, where he had been doing missionary work under the auspices of the Neuendettelsau Mis- sion Society. July 12, 1886, is the memorable date of his landing at Finschhafen. For several months the lone missionary tried to win the confidence of the natives and learn as much as possible of their language. When Missionary Tremel, the second man sent by Neuendettelsau, arrived in fall, both of them founded the first mission-station at Sim- bang. The late Missionary Bamler, having arrived meanwhile, was put in charge of another station, Tami, on the Tami Islands, in 1889, and in 1902 Missionary Flierl founded the station Sattelberg on the lofty Sattelberg, about seven miles inland. It took seven years to get settled and, above all, to learn the language of the natives and to gain their good will, so that they would listen to the Word of God. Then it took another seven years before the first-fruits were gathered in. They were two young men of Yabem, Tobias Kaboing and Silas Kamung- sanga. That same year Joel Logomu was baptized at Tami and six young men at Simbang. During the next seven years after the tide had turned the following stations were founded: Deinzer Heights in 1900, Yabim in 1902, Wareo and Pola in 1903, Heldsbach in 1904, Arkona and Logaweng in 1906, Malalo and Sialum in 190%. In ever-increasing numbers the natives began to throng into the king- dom of God. According to statistics published July, 1928, there were 21,689 baptized Christians at 15 stations in this former Neuendettelsau Mission. There are about 110,000 natives under the influence of this mission. The Wartburg Almanac lists 28 or- dained missionaries and 20 lay missionaries for this district. “In 1887 the Rhenish Mission also began work in New Guinea, choosing the Madang District for its field. This includes the hinterland of Madang and the island of Dampier. The beginnings of this mission were, if anything, more difficult than those at Finschhafen. It took twenty years before the first converts were made. By 1911 twenty mis- sionaries had sacrificed their lives, and among them there were two that had been killed and eaten by cannibals. But to-day the harvest in proportion is just as rich as in the Neuendettelsau field. July, 1928, there were 6,916 baptized Christians at six stations of this field. “There are about 30,000 natives under the in- fluence of this mission. There are 12 ordained mis- sionaries and 8 lay missionaries working in this field. Grand total: 28,605 baptized natives, 140,000 natives under the influence of our mission, 40 ordained missionaries, 28 lay missionaries, 618 native helpers. “Our Iowa Synod sent 23 of its sons and daughters to New Guinea as missionaries. ‘Seven of these are ordained ministers: E. Pietz, E. Hanne- mann, Geo. Hueter, P. Fliehler, R. Hanselmann, F. Henkelmann, J. Mager. Besides these there are five ordained missionaries that spent some time at Wartburg Seminary before they entered the mission. “Senior Missionary Flierl divides the history of our New Guinea Mission into three periods of almost equal length. The first was the time of pioneering, difficult, but interesting. The second was the time of the first-fruits. The message of Christ pierced the hearts of a few. Soon more were added. By and by the first little congregations were formed. Weak as yet they were and in need of constant guidance and care on the part of their white mission- aries. But the third period was even then begin- ning to cast its shadows into the second. This is the time of which Missionary Flierl hopes it will last until the end of time. It is the time of con- scious and determined cooperation of native Chris- tians and helpers in the work of the Church at home and among the unconverted natives of the island and beyond.” The Next Meeting of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America will be held next summer. No invitations for the enter- tainment of the delegates were extended at the last meeting. The undersigned would respectfully request such invitations from congregations affiliated with the Synodical Conference. The meeting will take place about the middle of August, and about 100 delegates are ex- pected to be present. : : LL. FUERBRINGER, 801 De Mun Ave., St. Louis, Mo.”