The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-05-25
WILLIS AND
THE TOhGANS
Continued from page Ii

made me by the Minister of Lands
So one great difficulty in our way is
now removed.
This change in the attitude of the
Government is due to a visit we have
had from his Excellency the High
commissioner of the Western Pacific
Mr.. E. i'm Thurm. who spent here six
1t had become necessary for the Brit
1t had become neces Sary for the Brit
ish Government to act the part of
" 1Sltor to save the little Kingdom
from the ruin it was bringing on it.
sell by NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. There were
debts at home and abroad. salaries of
officials We're from six to twelve
months in arrear, all Government con-
tracts We're given to d Jewish firm in
Auckland. at their own figure. which.
1t IS needless to say, was exorbitant.
etc. The remedies administered byshis
EXceliency, though somewhat drastic.
were most effectual, and now. though
month has not elapsed since he re-
turned to Fiji. all arrears of salaries
to the end of 1904 have been paid up.
and natives ask where has the money
come from? It is the result of stop
ping the leak in the Treasury safe.
which was done by filling the offices
of Treasurer and Auditor General with
Britishers instead of Tongans The
Tongan Government has now a new
lease of life, the occupation of the
Jew in Tonga is gone his Majesty
King George Tubou H. will have to be
content with his appointed revenue,
and the general outlook for the future
is promising. The general feeling is
one of satisfaction in which those who
are out of office cannot be expected to
share. AS regards the Anglican Church
the disabilities we laboured under dis
appeared with the change of Premier
Now to give you a brief record of
last years work. 1t is a matter of no
small Importance that the year 1904
saw the lines laid down on which the
development of the Anglican Church
in Tonga may proceed. The First An
nual Council of the Anglican Church
in Tonga was held in Nukualofa from
May oath to June 1st. AT this Council
l gave to the Church a Constitution
a simple framework of government
providing for the ordering of the af-
fairs, the management of the property,
and the promotion of the discipline of
Giles. Art l.. declares that the Angii-
can Church in Tonga is in communion
with the Anglican Church throughout
the world; H.. that the Bishop is the
Ecclesiastical Authority; III and W..
provide a Council and define it's mem
bership: V, VI. and VII, define the
respective duties of the President, Sec
rotary and Treasurer; VIII, orders
that the Council be opened with "a cele-
bration of the Holy Communion: TX.
gives the Council power to raise money
by assessment; X. and XII, touch the
Interpretation and Alteration of the
Constitution. The Council being duly
organised enacted Four Canons No.
1 constituted the Bishop and Council
the Board OF Trustees of the property
and funds of the Anglican Church in
Tonga. Under this the ownership of
all Church buildings, and all the furni-
ture therein, will be in the Bishop and
Council, not in the congregation. as is
the case in the system to which they
have been accustomed. No. provides
for the government of missions No.
8 lays down the duty of giving tithes
of the produce of the land, as well as
offerings. according as God hath pros
pered them. No. 4 established the Table
of Forbidden Degrees, and forbids the
marriage of divorced persons. The
records of the Council were kept both
in English and Topgan.
VISIT TO FIJI.
On June {, accompanied by Mrs. Will
lis. | started for visit to Fiji, the
voyage occupying a week. If there
were boats running direct. the passage
would only occupy two days. Up to
sixty years ago, and perhaps later.
Tongans used to sail across in their
in three days. the return voy-
age against the trade wind being a
different matter. But the Union S. S.
Co.'S boats go round by Samoa TO pick
up copra and so seven days are con-
sumed. AT Levuka there was the new
church, erected through the
energy of the Rev. w. Floyd, of which
I laid the foundation stone on August
18th. 1899. to be consecrated. The con-
secration took place on the third Sun
day after Trinity. June 18th in the
presence of crowded congregation,
the church being dedicated to The
Holy Redeemer." At evensong TWEEN |
-y-one persons were presented for Con-
irmation. From Levuka we went on
to Suva, which is the seat of Govern (
nent. Here twelve persons were pre-
;ented for Confirmation by the Incum |
Dent of Holy Trinity, the Rev. Horace |
Packe. After having had only gnatu |
she'd to worship in for two years it |
vas a pleasing change to be able to |
axe part in the well-rendered services |
n Suva and Levuka. There are no |
,ther churches of the Anglican Com |
nunion in the Colony but these two |
After pleasant stay of eight days in |
1evuka and sixteen in Suva. we took
cave of our hospitable entertainers,
md We're back in Nukualofa on July
9Th
\ NEW PLACE OF WORSHIP IN
NUKUALOFA.
On the following day. which was
sunday. it was gratifying to find the
congregation assembled in new place
f worship. the use of the gnatu shed
aving become a matter of ancient his
CRY. What had happened was this. |
IN the Sunday evening before leaving
or Fiji. the boat being due next day,