ficting details are often given of the cruelties practised, and the sufferings endured, in the course of this war, which ended by Atua becoming a Toi lalo, or conquered district. The man who was the cause of this war is now an excellent man and a useful teacher. I have often heard him refer to the sufferings endured by the people before the arrival of the messengers of peace. One day, when sailing with him along the shores of the island, on a visit to a distant part of my district, he remarked, "Had it not been our happiness to have the gospel, we dared not have done this;" alluding to our passing by a part of the district inhabited by the Malo, or ruling party. It is a pleasing fact, that many of the principal warriors on both sides, in that sanguinary struggle, are now teachers, and often meet to strengthen each other's hands in the work of the Lord. I have beheld, with a pleasure I shall not attempt to describe, a multitude of men who once met frequently in the deadly struggle, now meeting regularly around the sacramental table. It is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes." Soon after the brethren in the Dunnottar Castle arrived, and had been settled in their different stations, Messrs. Heath and Mills went round this part of the island of Upolu, and at an early period of their labours, an excellent native teacher, named Mamoe, was placed in the village where I now reside. At that time there was not one individual in all the district who even professed to have left heathenism. But a different scene was soon, with gratitude and wonder, beheld; and when the Camden arrived here, on her first voyage, a very large chapel was ready for opening, and was dedicated to God by our late brother Williams, who preached on the occasion from the words, "I will fill this house with my glory." When we arrived here in July, 1840, we found a good congregation assembling in the place where we now reside, besides a great number of smaller congregations in other parts of the district. I have under my charge at present, thirtyfour native teachers, and more than forty villages, embracing a population of nearly 15,000, and extending along a space of about fifty miles. Such being the extent of the district, and the number of inhabitants, it will easily be seen the amount of labour required is not small. Each of the teachers named above preaches once, many of them twice, every sabbath-day, besides one or two sermons in the course of the week. I wish I could introduce a few of these devoted men to their friends in England, and let them plead their own cause. I think there would be little difficulty in realizing the long desired 100,0007. Our services are exceedingly well attended, and frequently an interest, which I never saw exceeded in any country, is visible in the countenances of the people. On sacramental occasions our spacious chapel is crowded; and whilst gazing on the great mass of immortal beings, frequently not fewer than 1,200-sometimes nearer 2,000 -met together for the holiest of purposes; and, remembering their condition but a few years ago, I have felt overwhelming emotions, more especially on rising in the midst of the vast assemblage to deliver the heavenly message; and when I have seen the subdued, but sometimes intense, interest with which it is listened to, I have felt that I would not exchange situations with the mightiest monarch upon earth. Our church is enjoying many marks of the Divine favour. We commenced this year with 189 in communion, and 132 candidates. When we remember that only seventeen months have passed since the church was formed, with no more than fifteen members, and those chiefly teachers and their wives, who had come from other districts, and resided in this division of the island, it will be manifest we have abundant reason to thank God and press forward with courage and joy. There is a spirit of inquiry in every village, which, under God, must lead to good. Numbers are asking, "What must I do to be saved?" I have no doubt many may be influenced by motives which the eye of Omniscience detects as unworthy, -yet it is not for man to judge. It is a source of joy to behold such numbers coming forward and asking the way. I have thus attempted a general account of our proceedings in the station where it has pleased God to cast our lot. We have yet much to do, but we have also much to encourage us. May we press forward, and never weary in the good work of the Lord. Let the churches at home remember us more frequently and more fervently in their supplications before the mercy-seat of heaven. O beg of them to pray constantly for the infant churches in Samoa, and also for us who are labouring amongst them. NEW HEBRIDES. Our friends will be gratified to find, by the subjoined communication, that two devoted Missionary brethren from this country, have commenced their labours in' the last island which was visited by Mr. Williams, previous to his lamented death in November, 1839: (From Rev. Messrs. Turner and Nisbet, Tanna, July 7, 1842.) AFTER long but unavoidable delay, it is at length our privilege to address to the Directors our first letter from Tanna. We left Apia on the 6th ult., and after calling at Rotumah, arrived here on the 30th. We had not long cast anchor, when our teachers came off, and, upon the whole, their report was as favourable as we expected. Since the Camden was last here, the people have assisted them in building a house; have frequently brought them food; and in other ways have shown them kindness. Many of them, too, have assembled and listened to the instructions of our teachers, but none have yet given up their heathen customs. The teachers say, and we little doubt its truth, that any attention of the people to them proceeds more from the hope of getting some presents when the vessel comes, than from any other motive. They have been a good deal annoyed by the pilfering habits of the natives; and we, too, have already seen that we must not leave any thing exposed. We do not, however, much wonder at this, in the present state of things. On the day after our arrival, we landed without the least hesitation or alarm, and after giving instructions to assemble the principal Chiefs about the bay, we walked several miles inland. The people every where seemed as happy as they were surprised to see us. On our return, we found the Chiefs assembled in the house of our teachers. We told them our object in coming to them, and received their assurances that they were anxious we should live among them; that they would attend upon our instructions; make our persons and property sacred against war or violence of any description; and give us opportunities of procuring for our subsistence whatever the island produces. Indeed they seemed willing to meet our wishes in every proposal. We fear, however, it is merely with a view to obtain property, and the honour of having white men among them; but the Divine blessing upon our efforts can soon lead them to seek after the "pearl of great price." Poor creatures! they are in a very degraded state; but naked, painted, savages as they are now, we look upon them with the deepest interest and compassion. We do not forget that, like ourselves, they are beings destined for eternity, and that multitudes of them may yet shine in our Redeemer's crown. For this we seek to spend and be spent among them. On the morning of Sabbath last, we had our first religious service in Tanna. Upwards of two hundred people assembled, including the principal Chiefs, around us. We were glad to see several, to whom we have been giving presents, come clothed; many of the women, too, were present, and it was pleasing to see the order observed by all. The most of them were armed with bows, clubs, &c. They are accustomed to go about constantly in this way. We and our brethren, Heath and Slatyer, addressed them, and we trust that our simple yet earnest declaration of the love of God in Christ Jesus was to some extent understood and pondered. As to the other parts of the island, we know almost nothing. Our teachers have never been above a day's journey from this place, and the people here seem ignorant as to them. All, apparently, have been long living jealous of each other, and few tribes unite and have intercourse with other tribes, except for war. We trust, however, that the Gospel of peace will soon open way round the island, and bind into one happy union all its population. Before reaching this place, we were driven about several days off Erromanga. One morning we hoisted a white flag, and stood close in to the fatal Dillon's Bay. On observing a crowd of natives on the very spot where Williams fell, it was proposed to lower the boat and make for the shore, with a view to show some kindness to any who might swim off, or launch a canoe. But as we got near, all ran off to the bush. As our main object was to get to Tanna, we did not delay or bazard a second landing. Many, many, were our prayers for this land of martyrs' blood, as we stood and gazed, with the most indescribable feelings, upon its shores. We hope that the day is not far distant when, by means of Tanna or Nina men, we may obtain a landing for ourselves on this longto-be-remembered island. Since we came here, we have been told by Naurita, a Nina Chief, who has friends at that part of Erromanga where our teachers were left, that his friends there have been wondering why the teachers were taken away; that they were sorry for it; and that they wish to receive others. He has promised, too, that if we send other teachers, he will get some of his friends at Nina to go with them, and see that their object is understood, and that they are well attended to by his other friends at Erromanga. Naurita has of late rather decreased in the estimation of our teachers here; still what he says of Erro V manga is favourable: the door is not to be considered hopelessly shut, and you may rest assured that we shall lose no time in devising and putting into execution some plan for its evangelization. The Lord guide us! SPEECH OF A RAROTONGAN CHIEF. Ar a meeting of the Australian Auxiliary to the London Missionary Society, held at Sydney, in August last, the following speech was delivered by Makea, a native Chief of Rarotonga, then upon a visit in the colony with his respected pastor, the Rev. A. Buzacott, who acted as interpreter on the occasion: Sons and daughters, and those amongst you who are chiefs and members of the churches, your attention I crave while I make known to you a little speech. I think you will not despise me in consequence of my colour, but will have patience while I tell you something of what God has done for me and my people. I wish to make known some of the evils which formerly grew in my own land. The evils of which I wish to speak first are wars; then of cannibalism; then of the plurality of wives which prevailed in my land; and the way in which God has been pleased to remove these evils. I do not wish to dwell upon them, because they are now abolished; but to make known to you how God was pleased to send his messengers, who came with the word of life in their hand, and said, "This is the word of God;"-though we did not know what was meant by it. After Papeiha, Mr. Williams, who is now dead, arrived among us, and idolatry was abolished; but not the evils connected with it: they still remained, and were practised secretly in a very great degree. When Mr. Williams arrived, he explained more fully the love of God in sendhis Son Jesus Christ; still we were in partial darkness as to these great and wondrous things. When the teachers explained more fally the true God, some of the people said they were deceiving us, that Jehovah was a deceiver, and that their gods of wood were true gods; but now these things are more clearly revealed to us, and we have abandoned our gods of wood and stone. understand what I have already said, that the gods we formerly worshipped were deceivers; but it was not soon that we could abandon the evil things connected with idol worship, and had it not been for the power of Jehovah, these things would still remain : this power has operated not only in an outward manner, but in showing us the evil of our nature, and in leading us to abandon our evil courses. I hope you will bear with me while I endeavour to explain the means God employed, in causing the good word to grow in our land, and in destroying the evils which remained. You The people had embraced Christianity in name, but knew little of its power; but they have been visited by affliction, and these afflictions have been great, and they have been sanctified. After Mr. Williams left us, God was pleased to make Mr. Buzacott an instrument of explaining more fully the love of Christ in dying for sinners-this has been the means. Here I stand before you as a Christian, and to what are we to attribute it to your love? to your compassion? No, it is in consequence of the love of God -the mercy of a Saviour-that I have been made a Christian, and stand before you this day as an evidence of what the work of God has been among us. You are well acquainted, dear friends, with that passage of the word of God, spoken by Paul, and which well applies to us, "We were once darkness, but now are we light in the Lord." Formerly we had bad gods; we were bad men; had bad clothes, bad bread, bad water, and lived in bad houses; but now we know the true God, and have good clothes, good food, good water, and good houses to dwell in. You are white-you know the good God, and have good clothing, and everything good-these all follow in the train. But, though we are of a different colour, God does not look at that. He has not prepared heaven for one colour only-we shall not be rejected in consequence of our colour-God is no respecter of persons-He looks at the heart. Why is it that you have not understood the command of Jesus Christ, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." England has sent the Gospel and missionaries that have taught us respecting the true and living God, and by this means we have become his professed people. Who has observed the command of Christ-who has obeyed it among you,"Go ye into all the world?" How is it that none from Sydney have been sentthat none from the church here have been qualified for this great work? Why leave it to ignorant natives, such as myself? We may do very well to go before, to prepare the way, but missionaries are wanted. At every land we come to the door is open : every one is saying, "We want to know what is the word of God:" let them not die for want of help. I have one little word more for you, and shall then have done. I am much delighted to look upon your faces; I have seen something which neither my father, my grandfather, my great-grandfather, nor any of my ancestors, have seen; they all perished in darkness, and only saw evil, such as killing and eating each other; but in consequence of knowing Jehovah as the true God, I stand before you, and see this beautiful house-these beautiful lights-which your hands have made, and behold these friends who make my heart rejoice. I have only one little word more to say, that is, I commend you to God and the word of his grace. Do not forsake the word of life -do not follow that which leads to death; but every one of you seek that which leads to life-and again I commend you to God, now and for ever. Previously to sitting down, Makea's attention was called to the money lying upon the table, in reference to which he observed: This is what I have to say-these are the subscriptions from the churches at Rarotonga-it is very little; but we have not money as you have-what we get we are happy to give. Mr. Williams told us something about what the people of England did how they collected money for the Society to send forth the Gospel: when we knew this, our desire began to grow for other heathen lands who knew not the true God; and, therefore, having been told how we might set to work, we planted some land, and sold the produce. This is the result-the sum amounts to about 901. THE OPIUM TRADE IN CHINA. THE following resolution of the Board of Directors of the London Missionary Society was read by the Chairman, at the Special Meeting on behalf of China, held at Exeter Hall on the 17th of January, but was inadvertently omitted in our last number : : "Resolved, That the Board being deeply convinced of the multiplied evils that have arisen from the opium trade with China, and being painfully apprehensive that the continued importation of that drug into the Chinese empire by British merchants would be highly derogatory to our national character, and a most formidable obstruction to the progress of Christian Missions, will promptly use means for obtaining from their Missionaries, and others, such information as may guide them in the adoption of the best means with a view to aid in the suppression of that evil." SPECIAL MEETINGS ON BEHALF OF CHINA. THE Directors are gratified to find that the efforts of the metropolis, for the introduction of the Gospel to China, have been very cordially responded to by friends in the country; and they rejoice to state that they continue to receive from various quarters the most encouraging assurances of sympathy and support in their endeavours to promote this sacred and commanding object. On Thursday evening, the 9th of February, a special meeting on behalf of China was held in the new Public Room, Bristol. Though capable of holding seventeen hundred people, the place was crowded to excess; and so lively was the interest felt on the occasion, that great numbers were unable to obtain admission. W. D. Wells, Esq., presided; the Rev. Messrs. Crisp, Jack, Tidman, Davis, (late of Taunton,) Roper, Lacroix, Haynes, Lucy, and Gregory, addressed the audience. Seldom has a meeting been held at which the sentiments advanced have met with a more cordial response: this applied especially to the speeches of the Deputation from the Parent Society, Messrs. Tidman and Lacroix, whose powerful allusions to China and India called forth the strongest sympathy. The Chairman allowed his name to be announced for 501. towards this special effort; other considerable sums were mentioned, and measures are in progress which, it is hoped, will make the total amount in some measure worthy of the grandeur of the object contemplated. At Reading, Leeds, and Edinburgh, public meetings will shortly be held; and, in several other parts of the country, private efforts on behalf of the Chinese Missions are in progress. Anniversary Sermons in May. NOTICES. THE Directors have great pleasure in announcing to the Members of the Society, that TO THE AUXILIARY SOCIETIES IN LONDON. The Officers and Committees of the Ladies' Auxiliary Societies in London and its vicinity are respectfully requested to meet at the Mission House, Blomfield-street, Finsbury, on Wednesday, the 29th instant, at twelve o'clock at noon, to pay their subscriptions, and the amount of their respective collections, &c. The Rev. JAMES SHERMAN is engaged to preside and to deliver an Address on the occasion. The Officers and Committees of the other Auxiliary Missionary Societies in London and its vicinity, are respectfully requested to pay in their amounts at the Mission House on or before Friday, the 31st instant, the day appointed for closing the accounts. The lists of contributions should be forwarded to the Mission House on or before that day, in order that they may be inserted in the Society's Annual Report for 1843. TO AUXILIARY SOCIETIES IN THE COUNTRY. The Officers of the Auxiliary Societies throughout the country are respectfully requested to transmit their contributions, so as to be received at the Mission House on or before Friday, the 31st instant, together with correct lists of subscribers of ten shillings and upwards, alphabetically arranged for insertion in the Annual Report; also distinct statements of the sums collected from Congregatious, from Branch Associations, and by Deputations sent from London. They are also requested to mention the number of Reports and Abstracts, respectively, that will be required for Subscribers, and how many of the latter, at seven shillings per hundred, will be wanted for circulation, to be stitched up with their own Local Society's Lists of Subscribers and Officers. The Abstracts are printed in an octavo form for that purpose, and the Directors recommend to the Auxiliaries the purchase and circulation of them on the principle of economy. JUVENILE MISSIONARY MEETINGS. AT the public meeting of the Sabbath-school and Juvenile Associations, held last year at Exeter Hall, considerable inconvenience was experienced, owing to the distance of the place of assemblage from many of the localities to which the young people belonged; and also from want of room to receive the vast numbers who attended on that deeply interesting occasion. To remedy these disadvantages, the Directors, at a subsequent period, resolved on the adoption of means for holding the future meetings of their juvenile friends in different parts of the metropolis; and it now affords them great pleasure to state that, by the kind concurrence of the ministers and officers of the several places of worship deemed most suitable for the purpose, they have been enabled to make arrangements for the following meetings, to be held on Tuesday, the 18th of April:-Central District, at Finsbury Chapel; Eastern District, at Sion Chapel; Western District, at Craven Chapel; Northern District, at Spa-fields Chapel. The Directors hope that, for the Southern District, the use of Surrey Chapel will be granted, but they have not yet received a final answer to their application for that place of worship. Further particulars will be communicated in our next number. |