9
Sir S. W. Griffith did a wise thing (on their own account) in re-introducing them for a term of years,"
The Rev. A. A. Maclaren, Church of England clergyman, at Mackay, and afterwards head of the Anglican Mission to New Guinea where he died, wrote:—"These boys are happier here (Queensland) than they would be in their own island: and they are more amenable to the influence of religious instruction on account of the civilizing process to which they have been exposed."
The Rev. J. Mc L. Mackintyre, Missionary in the Mackay district, after giving a general account of his labours, on fourteen plantations and recording 250 baptisms in four years adds "there has been a great and growing appearance for good amongst the boys morally and spiritually. They assemble of their own accord at various plantations on Sabbath mornings for prayer and to hear addresses by their own countrymen, one of whom travelled 40 miles for this purpose … In nearly all the plantations there are native teachers who conduct services every Sabbath … Many young men among them are able and willing to take part in Christian work."
The Rev. J. L. Knipe B.A., Presbyterian Church, Maryborough, writes on 7th November, 1892, as to his district "A missionary has week night classes in town and visits the plantations besides preaching on Sabbath. The Church of England also has a class for boys, and the Church of England Missionary at Bundaberg comes over to hold a service every fortnight. Almost every evening a large house that has been given to them is filled by the boys who meet for a religious service—all professedly Christian boys, and ever showing themselves most eager and attentive. Besides this on two of the largest plantations, classes are conducted by ladies resident there. All the planters speak highly of the good that is being done and say that the boys who attend the classes do not fight, as they formerly did, do not drink, do their work better and are more easily managed."
The Rev. J. E. Clayton, Church of England clergymen, at Bundaberg, writes on 5th November, 1892, "I visit regularly over ten plantations. I have taken the trouble to find out the average number of islanders who did not attend school or receive any religious instruction before they arrived in Queensland, and out of 255 whom I personally interviewed I found only 68 had been taught anything about religion, an average of 26 per cent. I have 336 Sunday attendances, and 216 week night attendances, and about 30 baptisms annually."
The Rev. C. F. Johnson, Missionary, Bundaberg, holds week night and other services, has an attendance of 900 annually. While his colleague the Rev. Mr. Eustace has 1306 annually. About 127 are baptized annually, and from 20 to 30 "boys' help them in the work as native teachers in every plantation where classes are established." Mr. Eustace speaking of Dr. Paton calls him "a sort of mad enthusiast
