The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1930, Page 15

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

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.”