Part 2 (1/2)
Amazing pomp! Redouble the amaze.
Ten thousand add, and twice ten thousand more; Then weigh the whole. ONE SOUL outweighs them all.”
VIII.--THE SOUTH SEA MISSION.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Map of Western Polynesia, New Caledonia, Loyalty Is.
&c.]
[Ill.u.s.tration: Map of Samoa or Navigators Islands]
The SOUTH SEA MISSION lies deep in the affection of the Society's friends. Seventy years have pa.s.sed since the first missionaries were landed by the _Duff_ on the Island of TAHITI. After long trial of patience, amid a most depraved and corrupt people, heathenism gave way, the gospel triumphed, and the Society Islands became Christian.
In 1823 RAROTONGA was discovered, and the Hervey Islands, now containing one of the brightest groups of our Christian churches, were evangelized. In 1830, SAMOA received that gospel which has sanctified the gentle habits of its people, and produced in them a zeal in the extension of the church which none of their neighbours have excelled. In 1840 and onward, the efforts to evangelize the dark races of the NEW HEBRIDES were commenced and partly frustrated. In 1848, the LOYALTY GROUP received teachers, and in spite of priestly intolerance, have since been largely christianized.
[Ill.u.s.tration: QUEEN POMARE'S PALACE, TAHITI.]
When TAHITI first fell under the French Protectorate, fears were entertained respecting the stability of its people. By G.o.d's blessing on the means of grace, they seem at the present time to be more spiritual and more firm in their attachment to the truth than ever. Several young pastors, trained in our Tahaa Inst.i.tution, have been warmly welcomed among them, and their numbers are larger than for some years past:--
”The statistics of the year, as far as we can obtain them for Tahiti and Moorea, are as follow:--
Population ... ... ... ... ... ... ... over 9000 Members of Protestant Churches ... ... ... ... 2800 Children in Protestant Schools ... ... ... ... 1260 Roman Catholic Congregation, Members and Scholars, Natives ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 700
”Hence we see the Roman Catholics cannot yet number in their schools, congregations, and churches altogether, in Tahiti and Moorea, more than one twelfth of the Native population as theirs. The other eleven-twelfths are nominally Protestant. Without reckoning the schools and congregations of the Protestants, the Church members alone of the Native Protestant Church are about four times as many as all the Roman Catholics in their schools, congregations, and churches together.”
[Ill.u.s.tration: RAROTONGA.]
In the Hervey Islands, in the midst of their desolation, the churches of RAROTONGA insisted on holding their usual Anniversary, and gave a larger contribution to the Society than in the year before. The SAMOAN MISSION continues to enjoy prosperity and peace; the Seminary at Malua flourishes; an extraordinary demand exists for the Scriptures, which every Christian seems resolved to make his own; the influence of the missionary diminishes the risk of social war; and the liberality of the churches still abounds. SAVAGE ISLAND, becoming more closely allied to the civilised world, through the influence of its beautiful cotton, begins to encounter the greater temptations to which a community of simple manners is by that contact exposed; and the first drunkard has been seen upon her sh.o.r.es. As truly as a pious lad on entering London life needs the daily support of a mother's counsel and a mother's prayers; so do these young communities, exposed to the vices and temptations of stronger nations, demand the help, the sympathy, and the prayers of the English churches from which their piety springs. In the LAGOON ISLANDS and in the LOYALTY GROUP the Word of Christ is winning many dark hearts; but in the latter the fanatic hatred of Romish priests continues to the stricken Christians of UEA that system of oppressive persecution against which they appealed long ago.
Of the SAMOAN MISSION a most pleasing account has recently been given by a writer in _Blackwood's Magazine_, which fully sustains the reports of its prosperity given by the missionaries:--
”We have said that the London Missionary Society has the spiritual care of the Samoan Islands. The first missionaries were established there about thirty years ago, but the group had been frequently visited by them previously to that date. With what zeal and devotedness these excellent men have laboured needs not here to be enlarged upon; and with respect to the success that has attended their labours, it is sufficient to say that all heathen and barbarous practices have been abolished, Christianity is firmly established, life and property are as secure as in England--nay, more so, as theft is almost unknown--the morals of the people have been greatly improved, a general system of education prevails, and the Bible is admirably translated and in the hands of every member of the community. The difficulties which the missionaries in Samoa had to contend with were certainly far less than in many other islands in these seas. Here were no bloodthirsty, ferocious cannibals, but a mild and gentle race, well disposed towards strangers, with no elaborate system of idolatry to overthrow; so that the Mission was established without difficulty, and the progress was rapid and continued. So apt and intelligent are this people, that Samoa very soon became a centre of missionary enterprise, sending forth trained Native Teachers to other islands, of whom we shall presently have occasion to speak.
”A short account of the mode in which the Mission work in Polynesia is carried on will be interesting, not only by reason of the success that has almost invariably attended it in the islands in which missionaries are located, but also on account of the widely-spread influence exercised throughout the South Seas by the agency of the Native Teachers.”
Special mention has frequently been made of the great liberality of the SAMOAN churches. The Rev. GEORGE PRATT thus describes the energetic effort made last year to increase it:--
”In May I paid a visit to Mr. Drummond's district. Very much pleased I was to see the very great improvement amongst his people. At the May Meeting they made a great effort, and challenged Samoa to beat them. I accepted the challenge, reminding them how formerly our people beat theirs in a game of chance just when they made sure of victory. The report of this speech preceded me, and created a _furore_ among my people. They determined to beat; the merchants raised the price of money fifty per cent.; the merchants refused money, or ran short; all in vain; every difficulty was surmounted; and when a most iniquitous discount for bills is deducted, there will still be hard on to 700 pounds for the London Missionary Society.”
The Rev. A.W. MURRAY informs the Directors that the contributions so gathered have been the largest of all. They have amounted to the extraordinary sum of 2,236 pounds 18 s.h.i.+llings:--
”Our contributions for the present year are not quite complete yet.
What remains will be inconsiderable. The full amount will appear in my annual statement of accounts. What has come to hand from the different stations, including our own, amounts to the unprecedented sum of _Two thousand, two hundred, and thirty-six pounds, eighteen s.h.i.+llings_. May I add a word of caution with reference to the amount raised by our people this year. It will be wise, I think, for all of us to say very little about it, inasmuch as the present year will certainly be an exceptional one.”
[Ill.u.s.tration: MISSION HOUSE, MANGAIA.]
Nor are others of our Polynesian Converts behindhand. The Native Churches in Mangaia have also given generous gifts, of which the Rev.
W.W. GILL speaks thus:--
”This sum (217 pounds 7 s.h.i.+llings O pence) is considerably the largest contribution ever made by Mangaia to the funds of our Society; the reason is, that I have this year obtained a better price for the arrowroot. I feel deeply thankful that our people have steadily persevered in their offerings to G.o.d, notwithstanding the acc.u.mulated misfortunes produced by three hurricanes in two years, and their consequent poverty.”
When it became clear from the letters received from the islands that the MISSIONARY s.h.i.+P was really lost, the Directors without delay devoted their attention to the question of securing a new one.