Josua Mateinaniu
Encyclopedia
Josua Mateinaniu was a preacher and catechist (teacher) in the Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma
A wanderer and a sailor at first, he drifted in his travels to Tonga
, where he became a Christian.
In 1835, Mateinaniu helped William Cross and David Cargill in their linguistic preparations for the mission to Fiji. He became a preacher and came back to his own land with Cross and Cargill, and was himself a most important factor in the missionary impact made on Lakeba
from the start. He went ahead of the first missionaries to Somosomo
, and preached there with some success among the Tongans, who were in the service of Tui Cakau
at that time, thus making it possible for Hunt
and Lyth, to establish that station.
Of Mateinaniu, Cargill wrote the following in his wife, Margaret's memoirs:
"Joshua Mateinaniu, the person mentioned in the preceding paragraph, is a Feejeean (Fijian), and is related to the principal
family in Vulanga, an island to the south of Lakemba, and containing about one thousand inhabitants. He accompanied Vuki, a Tonga
Chief, to the Tonga isles, in order to teach the Tonguese (Tongans) a Feejeean dance and song, called wesi. He never accomplished
his design; and he has frequently expressed his gratitude that, instead of being permitted to teach the Tonguese a foolish and
useless dance and song, the Missionaries were instrumental in teaching him to sing the songs of Zion. After his conversion he was
employed as a local preacher, and accompanied Messrs. Cross and Cargill to Feejee, to aid them in publishing the glad tidings of
salvation among his ignorant and perishing countrymen. He is a man of few words, and great meekness. He is a willing labourer, and
is faithful and zealous in the discharge of his duty. He has been honoured by God as an instrument of good, as a subordinate
agent of the Mission in Feejee. He was sent as a Missionary to the Tonguese who were sojourning with Tanoa at Thakaundrove."
He preached in Bau regularly, long before it was really opened to white missionaries. At the time of Hunt’s death, he was stationed at Viwa; he and his wife personally cared for Hunt’s family during the long weeks of that final illness.
One of the four houses at Lelean Memorial School
, a Methodist church secondary school located at Davuilevu
, Nausori, is named in honour of Mateinaniu.
Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma
The Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma is the largest Christian denomination in Fiji, with 36.2 percent of the total population at the 1996 census...
A wanderer and a sailor at first, he drifted in his travels to Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
, where he became a Christian.
In 1835, Mateinaniu helped William Cross and David Cargill in their linguistic preparations for the mission to Fiji. He became a preacher and came back to his own land with Cross and Cargill, and was himself a most important factor in the missionary impact made on Lakeba
Lakeba
Lakeba is an island in Fiji's Southern Lau Archipelago; the provincial capital of Lau is located here. The island is the tenth largest in Fiji, with a land area of nearly 60 square kilometers. It is fertile and well watered, and encircled by a 29-kilometer road. Its closest neighbors are Aiwa...
from the start. He went ahead of the first missionaries to Somosomo
Somosomo
Somosomo is a chiefly village in Taveuni, which is the island where the international date line crosses on land in Fiji. This island is part of the Cakaudrove Province and the holders of the title of Tui Cakau, the Paramount Chief of the Tovata Confederacy, are historically and traditionally...
, and preached there with some success among the Tongans, who were in the service of Tui Cakau
Tui Cakau
The Tui Cakau is the Paramount Chief of Cakaudrove Province in Fiji. In Modern Fiji this chiefly title is regarded as the most senior in the Tovata Confederacy, and the third most senior in the country.-Recent history :...
at that time, thus making it possible for Hunt
History of Fiji
The timeline below shows the history of Fiji, from ancient times to the present day. For a more detailed analysis, follow the links under each heading to the related articles.- Pre history to 1820 and recent archeology :...
and Lyth, to establish that station.
Of Mateinaniu, Cargill wrote the following in his wife, Margaret's memoirs:
"Joshua Mateinaniu, the person mentioned in the preceding paragraph, is a Feejeean (Fijian), and is related to the principal
family in Vulanga, an island to the south of Lakemba, and containing about one thousand inhabitants. He accompanied Vuki, a Tonga
Chief, to the Tonga isles, in order to teach the Tonguese (Tongans) a Feejeean dance and song, called wesi. He never accomplished
his design; and he has frequently expressed his gratitude that, instead of being permitted to teach the Tonguese a foolish and
useless dance and song, the Missionaries were instrumental in teaching him to sing the songs of Zion. After his conversion he was
employed as a local preacher, and accompanied Messrs. Cross and Cargill to Feejee, to aid them in publishing the glad tidings of
salvation among his ignorant and perishing countrymen. He is a man of few words, and great meekness. He is a willing labourer, and
is faithful and zealous in the discharge of his duty. He has been honoured by God as an instrument of good, as a subordinate
agent of the Mission in Feejee. He was sent as a Missionary to the Tonguese who were sojourning with Tanoa at Thakaundrove."
He preached in Bau regularly, long before it was really opened to white missionaries. At the time of Hunt’s death, he was stationed at Viwa; he and his wife personally cared for Hunt’s family during the long weeks of that final illness.
One of the four houses at Lelean Memorial School
Lelean Memorial School
Lelean Memorial School is one of the largest co-ed schools in Fiji today. It was established in 1943 and is run by the Methodist Church of Fiji. It is co-located at the Davuilevu Methodist Compound with the and the Young People's Department, which runs training for Methodist catechists...
, a Methodist church secondary school located at Davuilevu
Davuilevu
Davuilevu, the name of the site upon which three Methodist Church of Fiji institutions are located, can be translated as "the large conch shell"....
, Nausori, is named in honour of Mateinaniu.