The Martyrs of Papua New Guinea

THE MARTYRS OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA

(A sermon for 2 September)

In 1935, a young bespectacled clergyman with a long neck, and ears that were a trifle large found himself sitting in the London office of the Secretary of a Missionary Society when another clergyman came into the room. He was the English representative of the Anglican Bishop of Rockhampton, a diocese on the east coast of Australia. He asked: “Can you find me a man for the Bush Brotherhood in Rockhampton?"

The Secretary pointed to the clergyman with glasses, the Revd Vivian Redlich, and said "Yes", and so Vivian sailed for Australia on the 27th April 1935.

The Bush Brotherhood in Australia was a quasi-religious community in which members gave themselves for a certain number of years to work in the widespread outback of that vast continent. Together with another colleague, he worked in a parish the size of England, often involving round trips of over 1600 miles.

In 1940 Vivian offered himself for work in Papua New Guinea.

Papua New Guinea, was first explored by the British in the 18th century. At the end of the 19th century, the London Missionary Society sent out two missionaries - James Chalmers and Oliver Tomkins. Sadly, they were eventually killed by tribesmen in 1901. However, their martyrdom led to an increase of missionary activity and, by the time of the Second World War, there were over one million Christians there, mostly Anglicans and Methodists. So the saying of one of the early church fathers came true: 'the blood of the martyrs are the seed of the church'.

Vivian was appointed to the mission station at Sangara about 60 miles from Port Moresby on the South coast of the island. Upon arrival, he found 140 Catechumens ready for Baptism. He soon found himself applying his 'do it yourself’ skills, not only in making a font out of beaten copper, but also building a cottage hospital and his own generator to provide lighting and power.

Unfortunately his health broke down and the Bishop took him back to Dongura in order to recuperate. Whilst there, war broke out and Papua New Guinea was threatened with Japanese invasion as they swept across the islands of the Pacific. On the 22nd July 1942, the Japanese finally landed at Gona in New Guinea and began to advance across the island towards Port Moresby. Their advance took them right across an area where the Anglican Church was working and this caused great concern for the safety of the mission staff.

Obviously, this was no time for Vivian to be away from his people, so he returned to his mission station at Sangara by boat at night. Unable to reach the Mission Station because of Japanese military activity, he went into hiding in the steaming hot jungle. Here the Papuans built him a lean-to shelter of leaves on the side of the hill. They posted watchers along the track and brought him food and news. The Japanese boasted to a village policeman: "Tomorrow is Sunday. We will smash up the Mission".

To this challenge Vivian replied, "Tomorrow is Sunday. I shall say Mass and anyone who wishes may communicate". Under cover of darkness, he, together with Harry Bitmead, a Roman Catholic doctor, salvaged the communion vessels from the Mission for the Sunday service.

By dawn a large crowd had assembled to receive communion. As he was vesting, a native boy arrived and cried out "Father! Doctor! Go; do not wait. During the night Embogi came and had a look where you are, and has gone to tell the Japanese".

Unmoved, Vivian Redlich merely replied: "Today is Sunday. It is God's day. I shall say Mass". He asked the Roman Catholic if he would remain. "Yes", he replied "but no sermon”.

Dr Harry Bitman later remarked: "I do not think I have ever witnessed a more devout congregation. The fervour on those faces would have equalled that of the early Christians assisting at Mass at the risk of their lives.

"The dense silence of the jungle was broken only by the sound of the priest's voice praying for his people. Then came the rustle of movement as those bare brown feet moved near the altar at the time of Communion. He who was about to go down to his own bitter Gethsemane and passion offered up for the last time before the throne of God for his people, the saving sacrifice of Christ".

The following day Vivian wrote a hasty letter to his father, a Rector in Leicestershire:

"Dear Dad

The war has busted up here. I got back from Dongura and ran right into it and am now somewhere in my parish hoping to carry on, though my people are horribly scarred. No news of May, and I am cut off from contacting her - my staff OK so far, but in another spot. I am trying to stick whatever happens. If I don't come out of it, just rest content that I have tried to do my job faithfully. Last chance of getting word out: so forgive brevity. God bless you all".

A few days later, he, together with the mission nurse and teacher, Marjorie Brenchley and Lilly Lashmur, were captured as they tried to cross a river to a new hiding place. With them were also Henry Holland, a priest, John Duffill, a teacher, and a Papuan Evangelist, Lucian Tapiedi. They were handed over by Embogi and his gang to the Japanese who beheaded them on Buna Beach. Their bodies were thrown into the sea and never recovered.

The "May" of whom he spoke in his final letter was May Hayman, an Australian nurse who refused to leave the country and was later killed whilst hiding in the jungle near Papua delta.

Fortunately, Dr Harry Bitmead survived and so we have this record of the death of Vivian Redlich.

Why have I told you this story? Two reasons.

Firstly, our theme this Sunday is the "Suffering Community" which acts as an annual reminder that Jesus never promised us a cushion but a cross, to quote the First War Padre, Studdart Kennedy. Being a Christian is not a bed of roses and may often involve us in some form of suffering as we seek to remain loyal to Jesus.

Just as Jesus was called upon to suffer for his belief, so those who choose to follow Him must not be too surprised if they too find themselves suffering for their belief, just as the Martyrs of Papua New Guinea did. Whilst we in the UK may not face organised persecution today, the same is not true for many of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Secondly, the 2nd of September, is observed in the Australian Prayer Book as the Commemoration of the New Guinea Martyrs who include Vivian Redlich, besides John Barges, Margery Brenchley, John Duffill, Leslie Gariadi, May Hayman, Harry Holland, Lilla Lashman, Henry Matthews, Bernard Moore, Mavis Parkinson and Lucian Tapiedi.

In addition to these Anglican martyrs, there were 15 Lutheran, 24 Methodists and 188 Roman Catholic missionaries and church workers. In total 333 Christians of all denomination lost their lives during the Second World War in Papua New Guinea, and their memory is perpetuated in the martyrs school, built in their memory.

Those who have died for their faith in Papua New Guinea are men and women who have said "Yes" to God, no matter what the cost might be.

And that raises a question for each of us as God invites us to say "Yes" to some particular ministry in His church. Are we prepared to pay the cost of saying "Yes"?

Almighty God,

by whose grace and power your holy martyrs of Papua New Guinea

triumphed over suffering and were faithful to death;

strengthen us with your grace,

that we may endure reproach and persecution

and faithfully bear witness to the name of Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord,

who is alive and reigns in glory, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

One God, now and for ever, Amen.