'Deeply interested in these children whom you have not seen': the Protestant Sunday School view of the Pacific, 1900-1940

Weir, Christine H. (2013) 'Deeply interested in these children whom you have not seen': the Protestant Sunday School view of the Pacific, 1900-1940. Journal of Pacific History, 48 (1). NA. ISSN 0022-3344

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Abstract

For Australian and New Zealand children in the early decades of the 20th century, much of their learning about the Pacific Islands came through missionary material, often aimed directly at them. This article examines the representation of Pacific peoples and societies in a number of monthly journals, sections within adult journals, books and plays designed to educate and enthuse the Sunday School child about missionary activity. Early attempts were ponderous, but Australasian societies soon followed the example of the London Missionary Society’s News from Afar (available through Australian Congregational churches), which included adventure stories about children in India, China and the Pacific, news of the various John Williams ships, competitions, specialized artwork and a generally child-friendly philosophy. Few were as successful, but some imaginative attempts were made by Methodist, Presbyterian and Anglican authorities to encourage Australian and New Zealand children to identify with the missionary needs of the Pacific.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BR Christianity D History General and Old World > DU Oceania (South Seas)
Divisions:	Faculty of Arts, Law and Education (FALE) > School of Social Sciences
Depositing User:	Unnamed user with email christine.weir@usp.ac.fj
Date Deposited:	02 Apr 2013 02:12
Last Modified:	06 Jul 2016 03:05
URI:	http://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/5657

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