Story of. a Melanesian Deacon : Clement Merest, Written by
Himself. Translated by R. H. Codrington, D.D. (S.P.C.K.)— This is a curiously interesting narrative, first of the young islander's education—he was brought by Bishop Patteson from Merla.v, one of the Banks group—and then of his own labour in the cause. Nothing could. be more simple and unaffected than the story. The writer transcribes his experiences with a fidelity and minuteness which cannot but impress the reader. The admiration of the young catechumen for the Bishop is very touching. " I used to wonder when he slept ; " "I used to think with myself whether this our father was ever hungry or not,—whether, perhaps, he was solid inside, and so could not eat food." Clement ?Liman began evangelistic work at 'Wawa (Contrari6t6 Island, one of the Solomon group). He knew four words of the language. To learn this was one of his cares. Then he began to keep school. From this he went on to speaking to the elders. They thronged to hear him at first, but then fell off. For three years no result seemed to follow ; only the teaching of the boys went on. One of these attached himself to him, and through him Maran began to work. The two between them prevailed upon the boys' parents to come to school. " He and I gave them no rest till they were tired of our entreaties." First they put on loin- cloths and came to school, in the midst of a shower of missiles and abuse from their fellow-countrymen. They remained stead- fast. Then a neighbour with his family were persuaded to come. Then another young man. The whole company of grown-up people was now eight. They cleansed their houses of all super- stitious objects. The next thing was to destroy a sacred grave (a variant parallel to Gideon and Coifi), taking the occasion of a great wedding to do it. As no calamity happened either to the doers of the deed or to the island, the popular faith was shaken. Karen's comment on the matter is this, that he made at first the mistake of trying to influence a number of people, and succeeded only when he began to work on one at a time.
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