SANTA CRUZ. 249 
from the Reef Islands offered for work in Tikopia, Utupua, Vanikolo, 
Taumako, and Santa Cruz. Mr. Blencowe left for England to read for 
holy orders, and the group was left in charge of a San Cristoval native 
teacher, Ben Monongai. Ben Teilo was taken in 1913 to the Solomons 
to read for deacon’s orders, and Bishop Wood ordained him the same 
year. 
For the present all active mission work has ceased in Santa Cruz. 
It is the intention of Bishop Wood to make an attempt to open up 
things there again with Mr. Blencowe in charge, and with that object 
in view he is asking all the friends of the Mission to unite in prayer 
that the reproach of Santa Cruz may be wiped away. Already the 
prayers are being answered. On the main island, Ndeni, school- 
houses have been put in order and the people have shown themselves 
desirous of returning to Christian ways. In the Reef Islands vol- 
unteers have offered to go as teachers wherever they may be sent. 
Up to the present, however, no white men are available to act as leaders. 
Mr. Blencowe is serving as an army chaplain and the smallness of the 
Mission’s staff precludes the idea of anyone being delegated for this 
special work. We can only wait in the certainty that our prayers will 
be answered and that leaders will be forthcoming. 
The difficulties to be overcome are undoubtedly great—climate, 
language, isolation, indifference, instability on the part of the people. 
However, the Christian influence of the past will have made itself felt, 
and there will no longer be the fear of the missionaries’ lives being 
endangered by attacks from the natives. Volunteers are being called 
for among the native Christians in other parts of the Mission, and if 
picked men are sent and provision made for their instruction in the 
various languages, and also for a regular visitation of the stations, then 
it is quite certain that the success which has attended the work else- 
where will also attend it in Santa Cruz. 
Prayer for Santa Cruz. 
“O God, our loving Father, we humbly ask Thee to 
send priests and teachers full of the Holy Ghost and 
of power to revive Thy Church in Santa Cruz, that the 
faithful may be strengthened, the lapsed restored, and 
the Heathen converted, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” 
Amen. 
