The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-27
MISSIONS IN MICRONESIA.
WORK DONE NJ AMERICANS IN TEN
CAROLINE ISLANDS

1T will be q great thing for our cause In
Micronesia II the United States acquire the
Island Of Kusaio In the settlement with Spain"
said Miss L. Thsodora Crosby. who recently
returned 10 New York after seven years OF mis-
sionary work in the Caroline and Marshall
islands. "Kusale-it is also called oualan and
Btrong's Island-the most easterly island
IN the Caroline group, Is the headquarters
OF the American missions in the east
ern Carolipes. the Marshall and tho Gill
bort islands. II is Of volcanic origin, one
Of the few high islands In the oarolines.
Ponape. Ruk. zap and the Pelews are similar
In character, while tho other islands Of this
group. and ali the islands Of the Marshall and
the Gilbert groups. are Of coral formation. ris-
ing only a few feet above h~iGh-water mark.
The low islands are not ordinarily fertile and
they are 30 unhealthful to white persons that
missionaries seldom try to reside permanently
on them. The high volcanic islands have a de-
lightful aud salubrious climate and. with little
pains In tho way OF cultivation beyond the
clearing of the land. produce in abundance ev-
cry variety OF tropical plant and fruit. The La
drones. the fourth and northernmost group in
the Micronesian Archipelago. are all high vol
canic islands, Here. owing to the occupation
OF the islands by the Spanish. the American
missionaries have never been able to obtain q
foothold.
"Micronesia-the name means Little ISL
nnds '--is composed OF these four groups which
lie between latitude 2o' north and A. south.
and longitude 140' and 1879 east OF Green
witch. The nearest islands. those OF the Mar
shall group, are about 1000 miles southwest
from Honolulu. They comprise about 1000
islands. with q total population Of $4,000
people. The Protestant missions. established
and maintained by tho American Board of
Commissioner for Foreign Missions. extend
over an area measuring $500 miles from east
TO west and 1900 miles from north to south.
The Hawaiian Evangelical Association works
in unison with the board in the Gilbert and
Marshall Islands.
THE inhabitants OF tho Micronesian Islands
are of tho brown Polynesian race. having
straight hair. Tho Gilbert Islanders number
about $4,000. the Marshall Islanders about
14,O0). the Caroline Islands have a popu-
lation OF $4,000, and the Ladrones. whore the
Spaniards have nearly exterminated the native
people. have a population OF about 10000.
Almost every inhabited island has its chief.
whose authority is hereditary. All the Micro
nesian Island groups have been seized by
European powers. England holds the Gllberts;
in 1885 Germany took tho Marshall Islands
and disputed with Spain for the Caroline ISL
ands. BY decision OF the Pope, to whom the
matter was referred for arbitration, the Caro-
lines were awarded to Spain. and in the sum-
mer of 1886 the Spaniards took possession of
Ponape. Up to that time Ponape had been the
headquarters OF the Caroline Islands mis-
Bions. But the next year there arrived at that
island a Spanish Governor with troops and
six Capuchin priests. Then began the I'M
doing Of all that had been accomplished
by many years OF patient mission work.
True to their record in all history, the
Spaniards began at once to Cypress the ma
tives. and they seized some Of the mis-
aiNn rpnnrfv Nj. n0o.a - Az hal - -
mission, was arrested and taken to Manila for
trial on trumped-up and absurd charges. The
Spanish Governor at Manila dismissed the
charges against Mr.. Doane. who was returned
to Ponape. Still the oppression OF the natives
continued. One encroachment followed an
other until. exasperated by the wrongs they
had suffered. they rose against their oppres-
sors. Strengthening many Of them. The mis-
sionaries who had tried to maintain tho peace
were banished from the island and the mission
houses burned. Though the Spanish Govern
ment agreed to Wy an indemnity for tho mis-
alon property destroyed. 1t has not permitted
the missionaries to return or to hold any COM
munication with the Christianized Ponape ma
tives.
No American Missionaries now reside in
either the Gilbert or the Marshall group. The
training schools for both these groups are on
kusaie. where foreigners can dwell with much
less peril to health. The foreign missionary
laborers among the Gilbert Islanders are all
Hawaiians, and the work there is conducted by
the Hawaiian Evangelical Association in CO.
operation with the American Board. No other
Protestant missionary organization Is engaged
In Micronesia exccptthe London Missionary So
ciety. which employs a few helpers in the south
ernmost islands of the Gilbert group. in con-
nection with its Samoan mission. In the
Marshall Islands there are a few German
Catholic missionaries. and there are Spanish
Capuchin priests at Ponape.
ITO give an idea OF the extent OF the Protes-
tant mission work in Micronesia. 1 will say that
there are in the archipelago, under the auspices
of the. American Board. 131 places of stated
worship, 40 churches with 4.700 church mem
beers, and % common schools. taught by native |
theological students. with an attendance of
2,757 pupils, There are two training or theo-
logical schools and a girls school at Kusaie.
the central mission, station for the western
Carolines. For its Mlcronesian work the board
~ white missionaries. Z men and II women.
G3 native pastors and 3 native school teachers.
up communicatiop with Honolulu. the base
Of supplies for the Micronesian missions. there
in The South Seas as the missionary navy. It com
priSes th 3 vesseismthe Morning Star. q bark;
steam, Witch carries @a mail and pG SUPPLIES 9y ss's yes ahg
from Hopolulu to all the central stations, and
carries the white B missionaries on their annual
- -'N~'A N'S 'ANAAAA INV vi w. IVA III. 1
a %iftty-ton schooner. built for tho use OF the
missionaries at Ruk, and the Hiram Bingham.
a tiny schooner. fitted both with sails and an
auxiliary vapor engine, which Is the house and
home as well as the transport OF Mr.. Walkup. !
the missionary who has charge OF the work IN
the Gilbert group.
Star spends at Honolulu, ~reftting and taking
on board the supplies for her cruise and for the
years needs of the missions In the islands. car
ryinR supplies, mail. and sometimes passengers.
she sails about Jnne 70. going 4Tst to the 81;
the ,furthest station. Bpk. which Is $500
English miles "a an airline from Honolulu.
the Morning Star returns to KusAie to
take the missionaries. and theological stu
dents OF the Marshall Islands station on
a ten weeks cruise through the Mar
shall group. in which they visit the outlying
stations committed, to the charge OF native
preachers and teachers. and found new sta
lions wherever the field looks promising. Re
members Of the Gilbert Islands station on a
cruises ended. the Morning Star waits at Ku-
gale for The mail to be made up. then goes to
Ruk. where she remains for a month. II re-
Suested. at the service Of the missionaries
she arrives usually in the first half OF April. TO
Teht, load and repeat her round of the year.
Let me describe to you ZONE OF the features