FIRST COMMUNION ON ANIWA.
AND this leads me to relate the story of our First Communion on Aniwa.
It was Sabbath, 24th October 1869; and surely the Angels of God and the
Church of the Redeemed in Glory were amongst the "great cloud of
witnesses" who eagerly "peered" down upon the scene,--when we sat around
the Lord's Table and partook the memorials of His body and blood with
those few souls rescued out of the Heathen World. My Communicants' Class
had occupied me now a considerable time. The conditions of attendance at
this early stage were explicit, and had to be made very severe, and only
twenty were admitted to the roll. At the final examination only twelve
gave evidence of understanding what they were doing, and of having given
their hearts to the service of the Lord Jesus. At their own urgent
desire, and after every care in examining and instructing, they were
solemnly dedicated in prayer to be baptized and admitted to the Holy
Table. On that Lord's Day, after the usual opening Service, I gave a
short and careful exposition of the Ten Commandments and of the Way of
Salvation according to the Gospel. The twelve Candidates then stood up
before all the inhabitants there assembled; and, after a brief
exhortation to them as Converts, I put to them the two questions that
follow, and each gave an affirmative reply, "Do you, in accordance with
your profession of the Christian Faith, and your promises before God and
the people, wish me now to baptize you?"
And--"Will you live henceforth for Jesus only, hating all sin and trying
to love and serve your Saviour?"
Then, beginning with the old Chief, the twelve came forward, and I
baptized them one by one according to the Presbyterian usage. Two of
them had also little children, and they were at the same time baptized,
and received as the lambs of the flock. Solemn prayer was then offered,
and in the name of the Holy Trinity the Church of Christ on Aniwa was
formally constituted. I addressed them on the words of the Holy
Institution--1 Corinthians xi. 23--and then, after the prayer of
Thanksgiving and Consecration, administered the Lord's Supper, the first
time since the Island of Aniwa was heaved out of its coral depths! Mrs.
M'nair, my wife, and myself, along with six Aneityumese Teachers,
communicated with the newly baptized twelve. And I think, if ever in all
my Earthly experience, on that day I might truly add the blessed
words--"Jesus in the midst."
The whole Service occupied nearly three hours. The Islanders looked on
with a wonder whose unwonted silence was almost painful to bear. Many
were led to inquire carefully about everything they saw, so new and
strange. For the first time the Dorcas Street Sabbath School Teachers'
gift from South Melbourne Presbyterian Church was put to use--a new
Communion Service of silver. They gave it in faith that we would require
it, and in such we received it. And now the day had come and gone! For
three years we had toiled and prayed and taught for this. At the moment
when I put the bread and wine into those dark hands, once stained with
the blood of Cannibalism, but now stretched out to receive and partake
the emblems and seals of the Redeemer's love, I had a foretaste of the
joy of Glory that well-nigh broke my heart to pieces. I shall never
taste a deeper bliss till I gaze on the glorified face of Jesus Himself.
On the afternoon of that Communion Day an open-air Prayer Meeting was
held under the shade of the great banyan tree in front of our Church.
Seven of the new Church members there led the people in prayer to Jesus,
a hymn being sung after each. My heart was so full of joy that I could
do little else but weep. Oh, I wonder, I wonder, when I see so many good
Ministers at home, crowding each other and treading on each other's
heels, whether they would not part with all their home privileges, and
go out to the Heathen World and reap a joy like this--"the joy of the
Lord."