The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-03-30
From lions Waterman.
Sandwich Islands.

SanuWlCn lslanuSs
Between seven and eight thousand souls, in these
islands, have, within short time, been converted
TO God And Immediately preceding this Won
derful outpouring of the Holy Spirit the mission
aries bore their united testimony against the crying
sin of American slavery. And is this the reason
why some of the religious papers, in this country,
have never yet said any thing about the work
which God has recently wrought in those islands
Ertract from a general letter from the Sandacich
Island Mission, prepared at the meeting Of dele
gates from all the islands, and dated
Honolulu, (HawaiD June 2Oth 1885,
The past year has been one ofuncommon inter-
est through all the Sandwich Islands. Though
the enemy of souls, with his commissioned agents
has opposed the progress ofuuth and righteousness,
yet the spirit of the Lord has lifted up standard
against him. There has probably been no period
since the commencement of the mission, when the
progress of truth has been so rapid and the victo-
ries of the cross so numerous and glorious as du-
ring the year that is past. At every station there
has been revival of religion. A great multitude
have professedly turned to the Lord The work
of the Lord has been great and marvellous among
US. The proud and rebellious have been humbled,
and some of the most hardened and proAigate have
been brought to bow to the sceptre the Prince of
Peace. The Lord has been with US in truth
The exhibitions of his power and glory in the con-
version of souls have been such as to warm, cheer
and strengthen our hearts. 1t is a fact worthy Of
remark, prehaps, that while the communications
from the board and others have not been of nature
calculated to encourage our hearts, or further the
the objects of our mission, but rather of kind to
damp our ardour and darken our prospects, and to
throw down the walls of our sacred institutions
which we with much and labour have for
many years been endeavoring to build the COM
muncations and assistance from on high have ten
ded to raise our thoughts above the adverse cir
cumstances into which we were thus thrown. at
is betterto trust in the Lord than to put condence in
men,. 1t is better to trust in the Lord than to put
confidence in churches even though professedly
belonging to him, and devoted to his service and
glory.
"The Lord has done great things for US, where
of we are glad" and praised be his name. Not
unto us, not uuto US, but to thy name give glory,
for thy mercy and truths sake
The revivals with which we have been blessed,
and some of which are now in progress, have en-
braced all ages from the advanced in years to
children. There are many children and youth
among those who, we hope, have been born Of the
Spirit. In former revivals it was not So But
few of the children and the young were affected
by them. Our churches hitherto have consisted
mostly of the aged and middle aged.
The means which have been used by us in
these revivas, are those which God has appointed
for the salvation of souls: the preaching of the |
gospel conversing with the people in small COM
panies and with individuals, and visiting from
house to house, and the prayers of the church.
Protracted meetings have also been held at all
our stations during the year, and at some of the
stations number have been held at different
lines during this period AT most of our stations
also, protraced meetings have been held. These
meetings have been greatly blessed, and in most
instances have been accompanied by revivas of
eligion. The Holy Spirit was evidently present
o raise the fallen, to strengthen the weak, TO op-
m the eyes of the spiritually blind and 10 quick
m the dead in sin. Many, we trust, have yield
ID to his gracious influences and have forsaken
he service of Satan, and commenced the service
# the Lord.
About 5000 have been received to the church
ince our last general meeting, lin May, 1897
nd there are about 2400 who now stand pro-
ounded for admission and there are many
nore who exhibit some evidence of having given
heir hearts to the Saviour. This large increase
the result of these gracious visitatons from OH
Ugh. The standard fpiety in our churches has
cen raised, and their purity promoted, and an in J
'S"SS
owever, the increase of numbers. We fear also Z
lat we have erred in judgment, in some cases. in
sceiving too hastily TO the church those, who pro- y
SIS to have been converted and we may have n
'caSion hereafter to regret having done So we G
ar we may find hereafter, that many have de- G
lived us and themselves in this important matter
I'd that they will live with the veil upon their y
carts in this state of deception, till the hight OF
ernity shall tear it from them, and reveal to E
EN- their true characters, The seal, however, y
a blessed one, The Lord knoweth them that 81 s.
e his.' D.
In the common and station schools, there have r.
zen several hundred hopeful conversions, The
,mber of children in these schools who have been D.
ceived to the church, is not far from six hun g.
ed. In the boarding school at Ho, II in the ~ ~
visionary Seminary at Lahamaluna, 8 and in Ca
: Female Seminary at Waikiki, 10 ; in all 35. Br
lividuals. Hi