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Page 128
Mission - Part 1
Page 128
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117 B/B. 19th April, 1943. Deaconess Heath, Moore River Native Settlement, MOGUMBER Dear Sister Eileen, I acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 12th inst. and note your remarks in reference to the value of spiritual and moral guidance and attendance at the church services. My previous instructions have been very explicit regarding church attendance on Sundays. It is my wish that every encourage- ment and assistance is to be given to you and that natives are to attend church on Sundays, especially at the morning service. This instruction is obligatory at least to all children and native girls. They are to attend church on Sunday mornings. This has been made clear to the Acting Super- intendent. I discussed the whole matter with him a few days ago and he assured me that everything possible would be done to assist your efforts. He erred recently in granting leave to some native girls to go for picnics but he is now aware of my wishes in regard to church attendance and, as previously stated, has assured me that he will assist you as far as possible. There is to be no weakness in the execution of my instructions for church attendance on Sunday mornings. Personally, I cannot understand why there should be any reluctance to attend morning service. The Acting Superintendent happens to be of the same Faith as yourself and, whilst he may have erred previously in allowing certain girls to go picnick- ing, I feel that he is sympathetic to your work and will do everything possible to assist you; at least he has assured me in a recent personal interview that he will co-operate to the fullest possible extent. Every possible action has been taken on my part to enter fully into the spirit of your work and repeated instructions have been issued to the various Superintendents of the Settlement. However, as you know, there has been constant staff changes and quite possibly the present Acting Superintendent was not aware of my feelings in regard to the matter. I cannot understand why there should be any friction between your good self and the Acting Superintendent of the Settlement. He has assured me verbally of his desire to co-operate with you and I feel confident that he will endeavour to do so but consider it advisable that the whole matter might be discussed in an amicable way in order that a plan of campaign and co- operation might be arranged between your good selves. No difficulty is experienced elsewhere in our organisation insofar as attendance at church services is concerned. The whole matter seems to run smoothly at our other centres and I cannot under- stand why the subject should be a problem at the Moore River Native Settle- ment. Due to shortages of staff and the problems which face me in other parts of the state, I am naturally most anxious for a complete settlement of this religious question at the Moore River Native Settlement but feel the remedy lies in the direction of a whole-hearted and happy co-operation by those at the Settlement. Instead of this, since I have been responsible for the administration of the Department the subject of church attendance at Moore River has been constantly before me. This constant repetition of the subject is an added anxiety to my cares of office since I am hard pressed in meeting the requirements of the native situation in other parts of the State. However, so far as the young people at the Settlement are concerned it is my definite wish that they should attend church services on Sunday mornings and that every co-operation is to exist between the staff and yourself in securing this desirability. I can only lay down the principle of my administration. Their detailed execution is a matter for those at the
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