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sent address, as a reason for increased effort for the evangelization of these islands, is the conduct of masters and crews of vessels from different parts of the world, who come among these islands for purposes of traffic, together with persons of the same class, resident among the natives.

I allude to persons engaged in whaling, to such as go in quest of sandal-wood, seasnails, tortoiseshell, &c., &c. There are some happy exceptions among whalers, and some few also among those differently employed; but it is notorious that the great body of the persons in question are anything but friendly to the natives; and that they are the determined opposers of whatever tends to the amelioration of their condition. They go among them determined to serve their own interest, and whatever opposes the carrying out of their plans and intentions, (no matter how unjust and unreasonable these may be,) they seem to think themselves quite justified in opposing. They are generally bent, moreover, on the gratification of the vilest passions, and cannot brook the slightest restraint. Indeed, their insatiable avarice, their utter disregard of all law and justice, their cruelty and oppression among the natives, and the degree to which they abandon themselves to work all manner of abomination, are such as would hardly be credited by those who have not had the unenviable satisfaction of seeing for themselves. Now it is obviously important that Christian missionaries should, if they cannot get in advance of these characters, follow as speedily as possible in their track. Wherever we can get before them, let us by all means do it; where we cannot, let us lose no time in pursuing after them. Whatever may be their intentions, the mournful results of their intercourse with the natives are just the exact reverse of what are the legitimate results of missionary labours. In proportion to their numbers and influence, the natives melt away before them; or, they become tenfold more the children of the devil than they were before. I speak strongly, but facts will abundantly bear me out. What then is the obvious duty of the friends of missions? Surely to endeavour to bring the remedy for these evils to bear on them as speedily as possible. What that remedy is, those whom I address need not to be informed. They know that if anything can save the poor natives from the destructive influence of their rapacious, cruel, and licentious visitors, it is the glorious gospel of the blessed God. This can do it, and nothing else. And the writer is happy in being able to adduce the testimony of his own experience in confirmation of this. He has seen the influence of such persons completely destroyed by the influence of the gospel; and themselves compelled either to

abandon their evil courses, or betake themselves to some land of darkness, where they might find a moral atmosphere more congenial to their depraved taste. Of all the remedies, either for keeping such characters away from the islands altogether, or for keeping them in check when they have obtained a footing on them, none is half so efficacious as a high state of moral and religious feeling among the natives. To secure and perpetuate this, then, let our best efforts be employed, and doubtless this, like all other obstacles that oppose the spread of the gospel, will be overcome. The cause of truth and righteousness shall triumph. "He shall reign till he hath put all his enemies under his feet." What then is to be done? What is the specific object at which this address aims? It is to induce those, who have the ability, to furnish the means of sustaining and extending our missions among these islands, to afford us their aid to an extent proportioned to the exigencies of the case, and to put it in our power to improve, to the utmost, the present juncture. What is most urgently needed at the present time is a ship of considerably larger dimensions than the "Camden." Without further aid in this way, we cannot effectively follow up the work already begun, much less extend our labours to new fields. It is with you to decide, (I address the friends of missions generally, and those of the London Missionary Society in particular;) it is with you to decide what is to be done. The matter is before you, and on you rests the responsibility of deciding, whether the glorious work of evangelizing these islands is to go on, or to be interrupted; whether we are to impart to their perishing thousands the knowledge of the Saviour, or leave them to perish in their sins. Our native converts are ready to go; the heathen are waiting to receive them; the eyes of your own agents are anxiously directed to you to furnish them with the means of conveying their blessed message to the perishing thousands around them. What then say you, Christian friends and brethren? Do you start at the idea of having two vessels employed under your auspices in missionary work among these islands? O why should you? I feel perfectly assured that the day is not distant when there will be a very different feeling in the Christian church. And why should not that feeling begin with us? Think, I beseech you, how many vessels constantly plough the seas in search of the poor trifles of this passing world. See how we send them forth, by hundreds, to all parts of the world, for commercial and other purposes. Our ships of war, our vessels of discovery, our whalers, our merchantmen, push their adventurous way to every region of the known world. They brave every danger,

they surmount every difficulty, and for what end? What are those potent motives that impel them forward in their hazardous course? We would not indiscriminately condemn their motives, nor would we underrate the importance of the ends at which they aim; but, O what are these motives? What is, or ought to be their power to impel to action, and inspire with courage, compared to those which the missionary enterprize supplies? Yet, alas, how much more readily do men respond to the calls of the one than the other! Let the enterprize be what it will, if it only hold out a promise of temporal advantage, there is no lack of adventurers; but, when the object is to

"Spread a Saviour's fame,

And tell his matchless grace !"

O then what thinking, and calculating, and hesitating is there, as if that were an object of doubtful propriety, or questionable utility; and when, after long urging and persuading, the church is induced to do something, O how trifling is that something! I blush to think of it! Vessels employed in our own service crowd the seas, while we feel as if we had made a mighty effort when we employ one single vessel in the service of Jesus Christ! O what will succeeding generations think of our conduct, when they contemplate it in the light of the latter day glory? and what does He whom we call Master and Lord think of us now? and how will he receive us when we shall be called to our account?

O friends of the Saviour, Christians of wealth and influence, will not you consider afresh the claims of the missionary cause? and will not you do something for your Saviour that may bear something like a fair proportion to these claims, and to the obligations you owe to Him? Christians of every rank, I entreat you to consider the claims of this cause-consider them in the light of eternity, and in view of the solemn account which we must all so soon render. The opportunity is now before you of imparting to these islanders a knowledge of the blessed gospel. Do not, I beseech you, dismiss the matter lightly. Think how soon your season of labour will be at an end; think what the Saviour has done and suffered for you; think of your own happiness, present and prospective, in virtue of what he has done for you; think of the miseries of the wretched heathen; think of the happiness you might be the means of imparting to them, and of the glory that, through their conversion, would redound to the Saviour; think of the accession it would bring to your own happiness and glory in

that world where "they that be wise shall shine as the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." Think of these things, and hasten to the help of the Lord; hasten to encourage those to whom you have confided the management of your missions, to send us forth a numerous reinforcement of labourers; and to furnish us with the means of sustaining and extending our labours. It is a trite, but true remark, that we live in eventful times. Our times are indeed eventful. A crisis is evidently approaching. The contending powers of light and darkness are calling forth their respective forces; the conflict is every day becoming more and more decided; and events conspire with the sure word of prophecy to assure us what will be the issue. Yes, blessed be God, the issue is not doubtful; the world shall be brought to the feet of Christ, and that ere many years have passed away; and we, Christian friends, we are allowed the high privilege of taking a prominent part in the conflict which is to lead to such a glorious issue!

O shall we not avail ourselves to the utmost of the proffered privilege?¦ ¦ If we do not, others will; the work shall be done. God will find instruments to accomplish his own gracious purposes of mercy and love. He now puts it to our choice, whether to remain in inglorious ease, whether to waste our precious opportunity in indolence and self-indulgence; or to take a prominent part in a warfare, whose issues involve all that is really important in time; and whose results, both to ourselves and others, are important beyond all that thought can conceive, or tongue express. Come, then, my fellowChristians, let us gird ourselves for the conflict. Our period of service will speedily close. Time is on the wing, eternity is at hand, and we shall very shortly lay our arms aside; and if faithful unto death, shall wear the conqueror's crown-shall obtain the conqueror's palm; and, far from the scene of conflict, be present with the Lord; and, from the heights of bliss watch, it may be, the progress of this warfare, and wait its final issue at an infinite remove from everything that can hurt or offend. "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me on my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father on his throne." May the God of missions pour out abundantly of his Spirit on all the churches of the saints, and increase their zeal in this blessed cause a thousand fold; and may the whole earth speedily be filled with his glory! Amen, and amen.

November, 1842.

VOL. XXI,

2 x

MISSIONARY MAGAZINE

AND

Chronicle.

[graphic][subsumed]

VIEW OF THE MISSION-STATION AT APIA, IN THE ISLAND OF UPOLU, NAVIGATORS ISLANDS.

UPOLU.

OUR engraving for the present month represents the Mission-station at Apia, in the island of Upolu, with its surrounding scenery. We are indebted to the Rev. W. Mills, who has charge of the station, for the drawing from which it has been copied. The scene, while beautiful in itself, possesses additional interest as containing the burial-place of our departed Missionary brethren, Williams, Harris, and Barnden. The spot, which encloses their remains, will be im mediately perceived, in the engraving, by its appropriate emblems. In adverting to the subject, Mr. Mills observes :

"The accompanying view of my station is very correct, and furnishes a characteristic specimen of the scenery of the Islands. It represents a spot of intense and hallowed interest. On the wild sea-shore, which forms the foreground of the picture, the beloved Williams first set his foot when he landed in Upolu-on that shore he bade us his last farewell-on that shore we received the few remains of his body, which savage hands had spared, with those of his companion, the amiable and much loved Harris-and upon that shore do they lie at rest together, until the day when they shall be raised again and not an atom of their dust shall be lost."

In the same enclosure which contains the recovered remains of Williams and of Harris, there is a second grave in which the last earthly relics of our devoted Missionary, the Rev. George Barnden, await, with those of his martyred brethren, the morning of the resurrection.

Among recent instances of the divine blessing upon his labours, Mr. Mills relates the following:

"Since my last report, three of my church members have left this world, giving in their death bright evidence of a strong faith in Jesus: one of them, the daughter of our Chief, long resided in my family, so that we had every oppor tunity of observing her exemplary walk and conversation. Throughout all her illuess she evinced great resignation and enjoyed much happiness.

"The other female that died was one who greatly assisted Mrs. Mills as she resided at a distant settlement, she was useful in watching over the conduct of the females in the several classes. I have never met with any native, and, indeed, but seldom with any one at home, who appeared to feel more keenly when the Saviour was reviled in her presence. I was with her at the time of her departure, but from the active nature of the disease, she could only say little, but that little expressed her firm trust in Jesus.

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"The other member was a young man, and one of my teachers. He was to go in the schooner to Savage Island, when the attempt was made to introduce the Gos pel into that dark land; but, owing to the rough weather which they encountered, and exposure to cold before reaching Tutuila, he was taken ill. Consumption was the issue. He lingered for nearly a year, but during that time he grew daily in grace, and died, giving every evidence of the happy effect of the Gospel upon

his heart.

"These are but brief records; but they tell of facts, pleasing to ourselves, and which must be pleasing to those who contributed to send forth the Word of truth. For what do we labour, but that souls may be saved from going down to death? and to gain that object, but in a single instance, far more thau compensates every sacrifice of money and of labour, and would well repay even the sacrifice of life."

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

PUBLIC MEETING AT FINSBURY CHAPEL, AUGust 24, 1843.

THE arrival of the Rev. Thomas Heath, with two native Christians, from the Samoas, was intimated in a former number of the Missionary Magazine. We have great pleasure in presenting the following report of the Meeting, which was held for the purpose of publicly receiving our brother on his return to England, and of affording to the friends of Missions an opportunity of hearing his important statements relative to the condition and prospects of our Missions in Polynesia. It will be seen that the principal object of his visit is to procure a larger vessel than the Camden, which has not been found sufficiently large, for the service and extension of the Missions in this part of the world; and he hopes that the christian liberality of the friends of the Society will enable him to accomplish his desire. The meeting was most numerously attended, and proved of a highly gratifying character; and we are assured the appended account of the proceedings will be read with interest.

On Thursday evening, the 24th ult., a special meeting of the Directors and Friends of the London Missionary Society was held at Finsbury Chapel, to welcome the Rev. THOMAS HEATH, Missionary from the South Seas, on his return to this country, and to receive from him interesting and important communications, relative to the state and prospects of the Society's Missions in the Navigators Islands, Tahiti, the Hervey group, and other Islands in the South Pacific. Mr. Heath was accompanied by a Christian Chief, and a Native Evangelist from Samoa. The services commenced at half-past six o'clock, by singing a part of the eighth hymn, Missionary Collection.

The Rev. J. ARUNDEL announced the order of the proceedings, and stated that they were to be strictly devotional; and the Rev. A. F. LACROIX read the Scriptures and prayed.

The Rev. J. J. FREEMAN then introduced Mr. Heath to the meeting, and was followed by the Rev. G. COLLISON, (Mr. Heath's former tutor in the Hackney Theological Seminary,) who briefly noticed the events of his early history, his course of preparatory study for the Missionary work, and the progress of his labours in the Navigators Islands.

Mr. HEATH, in the course of his reply, explained the circumstances under which he was induced to visit this country, and his principal motive in so doing; namely, the hope of being enabled to procure a larger and more commodious Ship than the Camden, for the service and extension of our Missions among the South Sea Islands. He concluded by introducing to the meeting the two native Christians, respecting whom he said :—

The name of the Tutuilan Chief is Leota. His island is governed by an oligarchy of seven Chiefs, of whom he is one. He is also a Chief, in common with others, of a district of 500 people in the island of Upolu. He comes from the district under the pastoral care of our brother Slatyer. The native teacher, on being baptized, received the name of Aperaamo, which is

Abraham samoanised. He is one of the first seven individuals among whom that very remarkable moral and spiritual movement commenced in Tutuila of which you have heard.

LEOTA, (the Tutuilan Chief,) then addressed the meeting in his native language, which was afterwards interpreted by Mr. Heath to the following effect:-He gives thanks for the grace of God, by which our voyage has been prospered, and terminated in safety. He addresses you as the churches and chiefs in Britain, and gives thanks for that favour, and that kindness which you have shown, in consequence of the grace of God conferred upon you. He next alludes to the results of the measures taken in sending Missionaries to the Samoas. Prior to that, they dwelt in darkness and in the shadow of death, and they did not know the truth; but through your kindness in sending men of God to their land, they, who formerly dwelt in the shadow of death, now see the light. Formerly they delighted in war, and in dancing; and in many kinds of wickedness and folly; but now the land is turned: it is like a mountain which has been thrown down and levelled. He again thanks God, and then urges that you will not cease to prosecute your work of love in Samoa. He begs that you will be strong in prayer; and send more Missionaries into the South Sea Islands, to spread the Word of God. He

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