On November 6th, 1884, a Protectorate was proclaimed by Great Britain over New Guinea. A British Admiral, with all the vessels of the Australian Fleet, anchored at Port Moresby, and amid the booming of cannon and the screaming of fog sirens, the Union Jack was hoisted and the native chiefs welcomed on the deck of the flagship to hear the proclamation read, and to exchange presents with the representative of the British crown.
A few weeks after, Chalmers accompanied Admiral Bridge in a cruise around the coast, introducing him to the natives and making known to them the nature of the proclamation in their own language. This gave him an opportunity of pioneering new soil, and making observations of some parts of the island which had not been visited.
In an island which he visited to install a new native teacher, Chalmers, in order to show the natives that he trusted them, decided to spend the night amongst them. They had the repute of being very savage, and had massacred a number of Europeans, since which no white man had visited them. Quite at their mercy, in an unprotected house and unarmed, the fearless soldier of the Cross slept soundly, under the shadow of the Almighty’s wing, rolled up in his blanket. Waking in the morning refreshed, with peace all around, he found the natives pleased that he had shown such confidence in them. He says in a letter, describing that visit— “May He who protected us, soon become known to them.” Thus east and west, in inland villages and among uncivilized and barbarous tribes, the Gospel pioneer labored, ever seeking to reach further afield with the standard of the Cross. This was his ambition, and to this great work he bent all his energies. His record of these journeys closes with the stirring words— “So east and west we keep extending, and I trust will continue so do, until New Guinea is occupied with earnest men and women preaching Christ, and leading thousands to Him.”