June 6Ini KopuriaFounder of the Melanesian Brotherhood
One of the most important organisations of the Melanesian church is the MelanesianBrotherhood. It was begun in 1926 by Ini Kopuria. Kopuria was born about 1900 at Maravovo onGuadalcanal, the first Christian village on that island. He was baptised and then sent away toschool, first to Pamua and later to Norfolk Island. Even at that stage he was remarkable for hisindependence and originality. Instead of becoming a village teacher, as expected, he joined theNative Armed Constabulary and was stationed on Guadalcanal.
In 1924, while attempting to make an arrest, Kopuria suffered an accident and was ill for sometime. He underwent an intense religious experience and decided to form a brotherhood ofyoung men who would take Christianity to the pagan villages of Guadalcanal where he himselfhad worked as a policeman. “I have visited all the villages as a police sergeant,” he said, “andthey all know me: why not go to them now as a missionary.”
The idea of a brotherhood arose from several influences. The Anglo-Catholic style of theMelanesian Mission meant it was sympathetic to such an idea. Charles Fox had formed theBrotherhood of St Andrew in 1916 which had lasted for four years, so there was someexperience of a brotherhood in Melanesia. In addition, while on Norfolk Island, Ini had heardstories of early English monks evangelising Germany. There was also a wish to develop anindigenous vehicle for Christianity outside the European-dominated framework of theMelanesian Mission.
The brothers took vows to remain unmarried, to take no payment for their work, and to obeythose in authority. They were to work in pairs and would be organised in “households” of nomore than twelve. On 28 October 1925 Ini Kopuria formally renounced his possessions,marriage, and freedom of action. The brotherhood was established the following year with sixnew members from Santa Isabel, Guadalcanal, and the Russell Islands. The vows were not madefor life, and each Brother annually had the option of renewing the vow or withdrawing fromthe Brotherhood. Later this pattern was modified to be more open-ended.
The first year was not very successful, but by 1935 there were 128 brothers. For many youngmen it offered an opportunity at a time when they were too young to marry and settle downand did not find the alternative of being an assistant teacher attractive. Other secularoccupations were scarce. The Brotherhood became a significant force for evangelism, and theundisputed leadership of Ini Kopuria was a prime factor in its success. He also began an Orderof Companions of the Brothers to foster village support for the Brotherhood, so that it would beindependent of the Melanesian Mission and an entirely indigenous organisation.
Fox regarded Kopuria as one of the ablest Melanesians he had ever known. Fox said this of himin his journal:
Reverent, joyful, sympathetic, wise, these the brothers knew him to be. He was not popularwith the white staff who thought him conceited. There was a little truth in this, for he felt hisown gifts, though I don’t think the conceit went deep; but he was very sensitive to colourfeeling. He thought it all wrong that every Melanesian, because of his colour, should be inferiorto every white man because of his colour. He felt that there was this feeling even within theMission and the Church itself.
When the Japanese invaded Guadalcanal in 1942, Ini broke his vows and left the Brotherhood,joined the American Labour Corps, and then married. The war years brought a time of greatunsettlement for everyone, and for a time Ini went, as the bishop wrote, “into a far country”.That was followed by the sickness from which he died, but not before he had come back to fullcommunion. He served as a village deacon on Guadalcanal for his final years, though he wasnever happy in that position. He died at Maravovo on 6 June 1945.
For further reading:
D.L. Hilliard, God’s Gentlemen: A History of the Melanesian Mission 1849-1942, Brisbane, Universityof Queensland Press, 1978.
For Liturgical Use
Ini Kopuria was the founder of the Melanesian Brotherhood, an indigenous evangelistic order.Ini was born on Guadalcanal about 1900, and after a religious experience in 1924 formed theBrotherhood. The Brothers took temporary vows not to marry, not take payment for their work,and to obey their leaders. Under Ini’s gifted leadership the order became one of the mostsignificant evangelistic movements in Melanesia. Ini left the Order in 1940 in the early stages ofthe war and, like many others, became unsettled. He contracted an illness from which heeventually died on 6 June 1945.
Sentence
The Lord is my strength and my defence and has become my deliverer. Psalm 118:14
Collects
God of all tribes, islands and nations,
you called your servant, Ini Kopuria,
to take the light of Christ to those who lived in darkness:
inspire our hearts with the same love of you,
so that we may become faithful messengers of your gospel,
and in word and action
share the good news of salvation with all people;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jesus, you called your followers friends,
blessed are you in Ini Kopuria,
who worked in a spirit of true brotherhood among his people.
Bind us together as one family,
and our work will not be in vain.
Psalms 97 135:13-21
Readings
Isaiah 51:4-8 The coastlands wait for God
Titus 2:11-15 Sound teaching
Luke 10:1-9 Sent to proclaim the gospel
Post Communion Sentence
Jesus said, “Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:50