I am tempted to devise something for the poor wretches to do to get a shirt, but my restricted means oblige me to say to hundreds, I have no work for you. They will sometimes hang about the door for hours, in hopes of employment to get just cloth enough to make a shirt. You will say, Let them cultivate the soil. True; if some benevolent persons would only settle among them for the purpose of teaching them how to make the most of their soil, and when done, take the produce and make a market for them, I believe much of the laziness and poverty of this people would vanish in a few years. But missionaries cannot-dare not-ought not to enter on such experiments. It would require too much of their time and energies, and bring down on their enterprise a double portion of the slander already heaped heavily on them. Church Discipline-Death of Kapiolani. The reader will see below the reasons, on the ground of which, missionaries at the Sandwich Islands feel compelled to censure those church members who are addicted to the use of tobacco. the fire, they are burned; if in the sea they are drowned; if on the high-way, they lie till the effects are over, which is not usually very long, and then proceed, if able. Many a native all his days carries the scars gotten during his fits of stupor induced by smoking. I have often asked them to tell me what good they knew of tobacco, and universally they say it is a "Mea ino," a bad thing. I therefore require all candidates for baptism to renounce the use of all deleterious and intoxicating drugs and drinks, among which tobacco is properly ranked. If, therefore, a member of my church drinks a glass of intoxicating liquor, or indulges in smoking, he is regarded by himself and the whole community, as forfeiting his religious character. breaks his vow, and indulges in a practice which all regard as unworthy a Christian. It is needless to say all such are disciplined. He Our beloved friend and mother in Christ, Kapiolani, is gone to her rest. She died May 5th, 1841. Her last end was one of peace and decided evidence that your missionaries have not labored in vain. For twenty-four hours and more, preceding her death, she was de lirious, owing to the violence of the dis ease which fell on the brain. This nation has lost one of its brightest ornaments, and speaking thus I disparage no one. Her life was a continual evidence of the elevating and purifying effects of the gospel. She was confessedly the most decided Christian, the most civilized in her manners, and the most thoroughly read in her Bible, of all the chiefs this nation ever had; and it is saying no more than truth to assert that her equal, in those respects, is not left in the nation. There may be those who had more external polish of manner, but none who combined her excellencies. She is gone to her rest, and we at this station will feel her loss the most. We cannot see how it can be repaired. God is wise and let his name be praised. Perhaps this is the place to say a few words on my church discipline, as I wish to touch on the subject in this communication. Most of us inflict censure for all kinds of intoxication, if induced for pleasure. At this station every person joining the church is required to abstain from the use of all intoxicating drinks and drugs, as luxuries. Among such the natives class rum, brandy, gin, wine, fermented potatoes, awa, a narcotic-root growing here, and tobacco. Tobacco is used here for the same purposes for which it is in the United States. Very frequently it is accompanied with effects similar to, if not more alarming, than those resulting from the excessive use of opium in China, or of wine in America. The wife of a man who is now one of my deacons, wishing to enjoy a good sinoke, about a year after we came here, went out to the fire and smoked till she fell over, senseless and helpless, on the heated oven, and was so severely burned before they got her free, that she died shortly after of her burns. I have not known of many deaths from smoking, but cases of intoxication, as the natives term it, are of frequent occurrence. They become senseless, lose all command of themselves, and drop over wher-mecting held at Honolulu, makes the following ever they may be sitting or standing, statements respecting the church and people LETTERS FROM MR. COAN, AT HILO, Pastoral Visitation and Care--Perils of ON the 5th of July, 1841, Mr. Coan, writing from Hilo, just after returning from the general much like one in a fit of epilepsy. If in under his immediate care. filled with numerous cataracts of from ten to a hundred and fifty feet perpendicular descent. Some few of the streams I was enabled to cross without a rope, by seeking a point where, for a few rods, the water ran less furiously, swimming them diagonally, and landing at a point Our meetings on the Sabbath have been well attended, and a good degree of religious interest has been sustained during our absence. Some of the backslidden professors have been reclaimed, and sinners are now coming to me daily to inquire the way of life. Our spiritual prospects, at the present time, are bright-five or six rods below the one I had left er than they have been for six months past, and I return to my work with heart enlarged and lifted up, with hands strengthened by the mighty God of Jacob, and with eyes waiting and spirit longing for the salvation of the Lord. on the opposite bank. Some of the rivers were so fearful as to make one almost quail at the thought of struggling in their fury, although aided by a rope extended over the surface of the stream and fastened to rocks or trees on the opposite banks. While in the strength of the current, it required great calmness and presence of mind, together with great energy and muscular effort, to retain one's grasp of the rope, and not to be swept away by the devouring billows, whose foaming crests often dashed over the head. To let go of the rope, in such circumstances, is instant and inevitable death. At one of the rivers we During the missionary year which has recently closed, I have made five tours in Hilo and Puna, all of which have been laborious, but they have been attended with important results. My former practice of calling the church roll and of inquiry into the state of every individual of my flock, has been pursued through the year with great advantage. The general history of my labors on these tours, such as holding protracted meet-spent three hours in finding a place ings, administering the Lord's supper, where we might, with any degree of preaching, baptizing children, personal safety, extend a hawser across, and in conversation with inquirers, attending to getting our little party to the opposite church discipline, looking after all class- bank. The streams, you are aware, are es and every individual within the range narrow. A stone may be thrown from of my influence, etc. etc., has been so one bank to the other. They are all at often detailed to you that it would be su- the bottom of ravines of greater or less perfluous to repeat it here. Suffice it to depth, and their banks are exceedingly say, that, though my labors are varied by precipitous. In many places they are time and the ever changing circum-perpendicular precipices of basaltic rock. stances of the people, yet they are not abated, nor in the least lightened in the pressure of their solemn and overwhelming responsibility. But not to protract a subject of little relative importance, and on which I have already said more than I intended, I would simply remark, that after travelSome of my tours have been most ar-ling two days in the manner here deduous, and, as it regards health and life, not a little perilous. The last tour I made in Hilo exceeded all former ones in this respect. Great and continued rains fell during my absence, and the numerous rivers became so swollen and furious that the very sight of them was fearful. But I was away from home; my appointments were made; my day of return was set; news came that my family were sick and needed my presence at the earliest hour; I had already exceeded the time of my absence; and there was little prospect of a speedy cessation of the rains. So I prepared myself to encounter the raging streams, which crossed my path about once in half a mile, for a distance of about thirty miles, on my way home. Taking ropes and obtaining the voluntary services of a company of powerful and dauntless men, I set my face homeward. Most of the rivers, when swollen, run at the rate of twenty or thirty miles an hour, and they are scribed, I reached the station in safety at nine, P. M., but not without many marks from the rocks and snags, with which I came in contact in swimming the rivers, nor without an exhaustion of physical energies from which it required several days to recover. I almost shudder, when I look back to the perils through which I passed, and I would as||cribe all the glory of my preservation to Him who has "set his right hand in the rivers." Our common schools, during the early part of the past year, were in a feeble state; but during the latter half of the year they were revived, and they are now in successful operation. Nearly every child of a suitable age is embraced in these schools. But as this is Mr. Wilcox's department of labor, it will be out of my province to enlarge upon it. He has, however, been absent from the station for more than three months, and as he will doubtless be absent at lea four months more, I fear the schools will, suffer. They are now thrown upon my hands, and with all my other cares I see not how I can do much for them. I trust that Mr. Lyman keeps you well informed of his boarding-school. We consider the school as well conducted, as rising in importance, and as promising great good to the people. Mrs. Coan's boarding-school for girls has continued to prosper through the year. Health and happiness have pervaded the school; and the improvement of the young misses in books, manners, music, needle-work, domestic affairs, etc. etc., is very gratifying. Thirteen of the twenty are members of the church in good standing. No member of the school is suspended or excommunicated. As formerly, the school has been sustained by the voluntary contributions of the people. It is now vacation in the school, and as our old school-house had become somewhat leaky and uncomfortable, we have pulled it down for the sake of building a better one. Mrs. C. is encouraged to go on with her charge, who have become very dear to us; but how long her strength will be adequate to the task we know not. I have many fears on that score, especially as her domestic cares are becoming more numerous and pressing. My Sabbath school for children numbers more than four hundred. The average attendance at the present time is from two to three hundred. I also maintain a regular weekly lecture for children at the station. At nearly twenty places in Hilo and Puna regular meetings have been maintained on the Sabbath, and on other days of the week by native helpers. I might write you a long chapter on my medical practice, etc., but it is unnecessary. Very much of my time is occupied in administering to the sick, and I always take medicines with me when I travel. Perhaps I might be called an arrant quack, did I make any pretensions in the science of medicine. But while I have little time to read on the science, I am, by the want of a physician and surgeon, and by the objects of distress which stare upon me at every corner, driven to a practice as extensive as that of most physicians in the United States. On house, and it only remains at this time, Voluntary Labor of the People in erect- feel it his privilege, during his incuming a Meeting-House. bency, to make noise enough for all the rest. About once in half a mile all stop You have already been informed of to rest, and then proceed again. If the our efforts to build a substantial meeting-company become languid or lazy, which is apt to be the case after an hour or two, choosing to walk erect and to hold the rope loosely, then the brilliant marshal has a thousand smart things to say to arouse their zeal and provoke their muscular energies. I will give you one sententious phrase: "Bow the head, blister the hands, sweat." If the marshal finds his voice exhausted before noon, which is often the case, then he resigns, either voluntarily or through the modest hint of a friend, and another is chosen to fill his place. All is done in good na ture. Besides drawing the timber six or seven hundred dollars have been subscribed to pay carpenters, to buy lumber, etc., for the house. Carpenters are now at work on the frame, and we hope it will be raised ere long. It is to be covered with thatch, but it must necessarily be a long time before it is completed, as it is done only by voluntary effort, and amidst a multitude of hindrances and burdens such as were not once known here. Nearly all the meeting-houses at the Islands have been built by order of the chiefs; and as, in that case, every man is required to work, a house may be completed with dispatch. Statistics of the Church and District. You will see by my report for 1840, that this church then numbered 7,028 in regular standing. Of these 316 have died in hope and gone, as we trust, to join the "great multitude before the throne." Six hundred and seventy have been under church censure, mostly for the use of tobacco. Sixty-five have been dismissed to other churches. One hundred and fifty-four have been received by baptism and profession of faith in Christ. The whole number now in regular standing is 6,402. The whole number of communicants who have been removed from this church by death is 584. If one half of these have gone to glory neither your labor nor ours has been in vain in the Lord. But I will dispense with further statistics here as I intend to give them more fully in a tabular view at the close of this letter. The tabular view adverted to above shows that only forty-three persons have been excommunicated from this church, and that no case of excommunication occurred the year ending with the date of the letter. Only twenty remain excommunicated, the other twenty-three having been restored on evidence of repentance. The whole number of children baptized is 2,476, of whom 100 were baptized the last year. The number of marriages during the year was 144. On the Sabbath Mr. Coan's usual congregation is 1,500. Mr. Coan adds that he has just completed the census of what he calls his parish, including the two districts of Hilo and Puna, and he finds that the number of adults of both sexes over eighteen years of age is 7,357, and the number of persons of both sexes under eighteen years is 3,493; making a total of 10,850, as the popula tion of those two districts. If the letters of Mr. Coan, describing the territory from which his church is gathered, are correctly understood, they present this remarkable fact, to which there is probably no parallel in the annals of Christianity, that out of a population of 10,850 souls, 6,402 are members of the church of Christ and give hopeful evidence of having been born of the Spirit of God. Need of Additional Missionaries. The letter given below was written by Mr. Coan, by direction of the mission, when assembled in general meeting, in May of last year. The statements which it contains show that the religious interests of the people in the several districts named urgently call for the missionary laborers requested. Should all these places be supplied, the parish for each would be far more extensive and the people more numerous than those under the care of common New England pastors. You will see by our report on a future reinforcement of this mission, that a large number of helpers are still needed in this field; and that we still pray the Lord of the harvest, and those who are coworkers with him, to send forth more laborers into this harvest. In view of the large reinforcement called for in the report, the mission appointed me to make a brief statement of the facts and reasons which led us to call for so great a number at this time. I begin with Puna on Hawaii-This district has been frequently described to you. Its probable extent on the coast is fifty or sixty miles. Population, according to a census just completed, is 4,371. Most of the inhabitants live in villages along the shore, though many hundreds are scattered over the interior, from five to twenty miles from the sea. There are now nearly 3,000 church members in Puna, in good standing, together with about 150 under church censure. There are two good locations for stations in Puna, viz. Kula and Kaimea. These places are twenty miles apart, and thirty miles from Hilo. The latter place is forty miles from Hilo by the shore road. Each of these places is now an outstation, with a thatched meeting-house and a congregation of 1,000 souls. There are no harbors in Puna, but boats and canoes can land in many places in a still time. No foreigners live in the district, and hitherto the people have been comparatively free from corrupting foreign influences. The present pastor, even supposing his health and the health of his family to be good, can visit the district only four times a year, at the most. A minister and teacher, or two ministers are therefore requested for Puna. ment. The present station is twentyfour miles from Waimea, and ten miles from a harbor. Should a second be taken, it will be fifteen miles from Waimea. Kau-Contains a population of 4,000 souls. It is a large field, and is naturally divided into two districts or parishes, each about fifteen miles in extent. Mr. Paris intends to go to that field and commence a station there; and should you think best to suffer him to remain there permanently, a thing in itself greatly desirable to us, we will then request that you send on a teacher as his assistant and associate; but should he Hilo. A physician is requested for leave the field, we will then pray for a this station, and for the following rea- minister and teacher to occupy it as soon sons: 1. In case of sickness and emer- as possible. In many respects it is an gency, no physician can now be obtain-inviting parish. It has a fine climate ed in less time than one week, and perhaps the requisite term would oftener be two weeks: 2. A physician at Hilo might supply Puna and Kau, should stations be occupied in these districts: 3. A devoted physician at Hilo might supply the place of a teacher and superintendent of schools. Hamakua on Hawaii.-This district is forty miles long and three or four wide; population 4,000; church members 1,100; schools fifteen; scholars 700. There is no resident missionary in the district. It is under the care of Mr. Lyons, whose station is twelve miles from the nearest part, and forty miles from the most distant part of the district. There is no convenient harbor, within twenty-four miles. Supplies must be carried by land. and a fertile soil, is quite removed from foreign influence and from the bustle of the world. The people are anxious for a missionary and would now do many things to help one. There are 200 church members in the district. There is an anchorage for small vessels here. Koolau on Maui-is an isolated, fertile, and well watered district, on the windward side of East Maui, between Wailuku and Hana. Its population is supposed to be 1,000 or 1,500. It contains a harbor for small vessels, but cannot be entered on horseback from any point. There are forty or fifty church members residing here. The people are anxious for a missionary, and one is requested for this station. Haiku. This is now an out-station, about fourteen miles from Wailuku, and was, as you are aware, once occupied by Mr. Armstrong. It is a beautiful country, with a cool and healthful climate, and a fertile soil. A substantial stone meeting-house has been built here, and a respectable congregation assembles on the Sabbath. About 100 members of the Wailuku church reside here. It is a de and one which would promise a rich harvest to a faithful spiritual laborer. One missionary is requested for this station. Waimea.-A physician is needed here, who might do much for schools, etc., and who, from his central position, could easily supply the medical wants of Hamakua and Kohala. The physicians of the mission are at present so situated and so distant, as to afford little or no aid in seasons of trial on North Hawaii. Kohala. This district contains a popu-sirable field for a missionary's residence, lation of 7,000 souls, sprinkled over a verdant country, from the shore to five or six miles inland. A station has been taken and a house built in this district and Mr. Bond is located there alone. Another missionary or a teacher is therefore requested as his associate, or to take a new and eligible station about ten miles distant, in a populous part of the district, but so remote from the present station as not to attend the regular preaching there. Should a new station there would be a congregation 00 to 2,000, with a church of members at the commence One teacher is requested at Wailuku, in order to take charge of the station and common schools, as Mr. Bailey is now devoted to the female seminary. Kula. This is a fertile district on East Maui. It is a high, cool, and healthy region, eight miles from the sea, with a population of 2,000 or 3,000. The climate is supposed to be excellent for invalids. The district is of easy access on horseback from Lahaina and Wailuku. It is eighteen miles from the latter place. |