Bible instead of ‘war club’
FOR villagers of Naduri in the province of Macuata, Christianity was brought to them by the “hands of war”.
According to a village legend published by The Fiji Times on Thursday, August 8, 1985, an invader gave the Naduri people in Macuata a Bible instead of a “club on the head”.
This was during the period when Ratu Seru Cakobau was trying to gain control in Fiji.
The coming of Christianity in Fiji had always been violent but none was more violent than this for the people of Naduri in 1892.
The Macuata people were facing imminent massacre from Ratu Cakobau’s warriors in the historical invasion of Vanua Levu.
Many villagers surrendered in sheer awe of the power of the invader and this did not seem to be any different for the Naduri people.
But instead of killing the people, the invaders, led by Ratu Namosi Malua, handed a copy of the Bible to the villagers of Naduri and went on their way.
Fast forward to 1985, villagers were in full swing celebrating the Methodist Church’s 150th anniversary in a four-day function.
The Methodist priest in charge of the Macuata Circuit, the Rev Ilisoni Bati, said there was no definite reason for the sudden change of attitude.
“It seems they ran out of water and the people of Macuata were very kind to them,” Mr Bati said.
He said Ratu Namosi was already a Christian and the kindness of the Macuata people had touched him.
The start of the Methodist Church in
Naduri was controversial but eight years after the invasion, a church was built on the village green.
In 1905, a wooden structure was built to replace the grass thatchroof church in Naduri Village.
Two days before the celebrations was reported by The Fiji Times, the Rev Daniel Mastaspha, of Suva had unveiled an anniversary stone to mark the 150th anniversary of Christianity in Macuata.
Meanwhile, two-hundred and five kilometres away from Macuata, everything stood still on the Island of Vanua Balavu for 24 hours as the entire population of the island flocked to Lomaloma Village to witness the biggest celebration to be held on the island.
The occasion was the arrival of the pilgrimage from Suva to kick off celebrations which was to also mark the 150th anniversary of the Methodist Church in Fiji.
Activities on the island had started a day before the arrival of the pilgrimage with special church service at the Lomaloma tikina being hosted by the Mualevu tikina.
After the service, the entire population of the island then marched to await the arrival of the pilgrimage from Suva onboard the tourist ship Mathew Flinders.
As the ship docked, about 300 women lined the shore holding coconut oil and tapa, inviting sailors and members of the ship to come to the shore for a “cere” ceremony.
After special ceremonies to mark the occasion there was feasting and dancing off a magnitude that Vanua Balavu had never seen before.
Apart from the feasting, the people of Vanua Balavu were well pleased with the spiritual message brought by the pilgrimage.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Write to us at letters@fijitimes.com.fj to share your views on this topic
It seems they ran out of water and the people of Macuata were very kind to them. – Ilisoni Bati