The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-08-07

ture ether than the Wesleyan transla-
ton Of the Bible, the Tongans had no
means OF arriving at the truth. 1t IS
mot the policy of Wesleyanism in lis
missionary work. any more than it vas
the policy Of Rome in the middle ages,
TO let in too much light.
In 1885 there We're internal dissen-
sions among the Wesleyan leaders
which led to the creation of the Yves
leyan Free Church of Tonga" which
became the State Church. 1t was the
creature Of the State, the term Free
being adopted to signify that it was
free from the control of the Wesleyan
Conference in Sydney. But so far from
being free coercive measures were
employed by it's author, the Rev Shir-
ley W. Baker, sometime Wesleyan mis-
sioner, and at this time Premier of
King George Tubou I, and practically
King himself, to force the whole ma.
ton into il. Many who refused TO
join were fiogged, many were Danish
ed TO Fiji. Is it surprising that the
Tongans should have begun to ques-
ton whether it could be the true
Church of Jesus Christ that was plant
ed amongst them? 1t would be we'll
for those who today question the pro-
priety of the Anglican church entering
into Tonga to consider that the Free
Church of Tonga" the largest religious
organization in the kingdom, is a reli- |
gious body having no connection with |
any other religious body under the sun. |
The head of it is the Rev. Mr.. Watkin, |
who was DR.. Bakers right-hand man /
in it's formation. There is no other |
white man among its ministers, so that
IL t. Il -
tinue beyond the life time of Mr.. /
WatlSin. In providing for the worship
of his Free Church, DR.. Baker borrow
ed largely from the Prayer-book Of
the Church of England.
1t was in January, 1887, when he was
at the zenith of his power, that an at
tempt was made on DR.. Bakers life;
a son and daughter who were driving
with him being severely wounded by
the bullets intended for him. They
both recovered. For this offence four
natives were condemned to death and
shot. In 1890, DR.. Baker was deported ]
from Tonga by the High Commissioner
Of the Western Pacific, Sir John Thurs
ton.
Returning to Tonga in 1899. he en- y
1eavoured to obtain the appointment
Of head of the National church in Ton :
ga Failing in this he gave out that
Turing his absence in Auckland he had
become a clergyman of the Church OF
England He commenced holding ser Ii
vices at Lifuka in the Haabai group in 7
and in Nukualofa in No
yember. In both places he had large
of natives. Hoping to
obtain Episcopal recognition, he en- {
cred into correspondence with me at T
honolulu Ny reply did not give him
he satisfaction he desired, and our q
dropped. His letters
showed how ready the people were to p
Welcome the Church of England. 1t /.
lad been said to me in 1897 by an old
esident of Nukualofa, that the reli- "
ious future of Tonga must be either
he Church of England or the Saiva- t
ion Army drum. The following that e
Or. Baker had obtained gave hopes of
that might be done under proper lead Is
rship. DR.. Bakers career as cler-
yman Of the church of England was O.
cstined to be of short duration. In II
he autumn of 1901 a marriage of
r;tish subject solemnized by him ac-
ording to the rites of the Church of l.
ngland. was declared invalid by the
ritish Consul. the off1ciaut not being NJ
.gistered in the High Commissioners >,
curt. This opened the eyes of the -
atives. and finding they had been i'm
osed upon, they withdrew from DR.. al
aker almost to n man, and both in
ukulofa and Lifuka found fresh n
Iaces in which to carry on their wcr-
1iD.