Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-12-18
Religions Intelligence.



Letter from Mr.. coan, dated at Hilo, Ha.
vvaaa, Jan. aIst. 1889. Continued Prog
reese OF the Revival and Great Additions
90 the Church.
The following letter contains the latest
intelligence received from the station to
which IT relates, though not so late as
what has been received from some of the
other islands. The lidings relating to
what the Spirit of God appears to be do
ing at the Sandwich Islands, is similar 10
what the promises of the Bible encourage
the church 10 expect to hear from all parts
Of the heather world, at no distant day.
lions Herald.
In letters dated March 18th, and Sept.
Goth, 1888, gave some account of the
good hand Of our God upon US, and OF
bis great .mercy to this people. Since
the date OF my last the work has been
steadily advancing. Thus far the con-
verts have, for the most part, stood fast
and appeared well. Some have fallen,
but less, perhaps, than might have been
expected among SO many thousands, es-
peclaily when we remember the ignorant,
besotted, and loathsome condition in which
they have lived from infancy, and from
which they have but just now been res
eued. They are all babes, and they
need the most anxious watching, and the
most tender and patient nursing. AS
their pastor, feel loaded with weighty
responsibility The multiform and innu-
msrable cases which call for counsel, re-
proof correction, encouragement, rebuke,
instructions. ect, fiji up many laborious
and anxious hours by day and by night,
and call for all that wisdom, that meek.
ness, that patience, that fidelity and love,
which poor worm may draw from the
Living Fountain above.
How many Of these converts, as we
now hope they are, will reach heaven,
God only knows. That great multitude
: will, | firmly believe. But thow shall
hey be sancti6ed2 Through the truth
surely, II sancti6ed at all. But how shall
the truth be kept in such constant and
qaickening contact with their minds as to
dlspel their darkness and consume their
lusts9 They are scattered over a parish
OF hundred miles in length, and Of diff
cult access. How shall one weak pas.
tor feed them with knowledge and under
standing2 How shall one fraiI shepherd
lead them all2 How cherish the feeble.
bind up the broken, reclaim the wander
ing, restore the lost, and beat back the
beasts of prey that roar on every side p
Much OF my time is necessarily spent in
making tours through Hilo and Puma,
and this will probably be more and more
the case as the church enlarges. On
these tours | usually spend from two TO
i've weeks. visiting all the church mem
bers in their respective villages, calling
all their names. holding personal inter-
views with them, inquiring into their
state, their hearts, prayers, manner of
living, etc. ,counselling, reproving, and en-
couraglng, as the case may require, and
often breaking bread" from place to
place.
The battle with the prince of the power
Of the air has been very warm and hard
contested. Satan has disputed every inch
OF ground, and "the Spirit that works
10 the children OF disobedience' still raj.
lies his scattered and broken forces, and
returns TO the charge with all the mad
ness OF desperation. But Jesus rides Clio.
rIousy, conquering and to conquer
The kingdom is his and he must reign
till he have put all enemies under his
tcet. Some Of the wicked are desperate
in their rebellion, even denying the Lord
that bought them, and madly rushing up.
on the thick bosses of Jebovah's buckler.
Some have turned bitter prosecutors of
the saints. 10 the land Of uprigh,ness
they still deal unjustly. and will not be-
hold the majesty IF the Lord But he
that sit,eth in the heavens shall laugh,
the Lord shall have them ia derision. ~
The spirit of bitter and open hostility is,
however, confined to few, so far as this
district is concerned. The great mass OF
the people wish to be thought on the side
ot God. but many are still in their SINS
The number on the road to death is, how.
ever, constantly decreasing. and the com.
pany OF the saints multiplying. Beliey-
eTs are daily added to the Lord.
In my letter of September 26th, re-
marked that about 3,400 souls had been
added to this church from the first of jan.
1888, up to the date OF that letter; and
inat the church then numbered tSept. 60
$500 During The month of October
baptized and received 45O; during Nov.
1866 and in Dee. 357 making il all a
traction less than 5000 souls added to
TINS church during the year 1888. Since
tho commencement Of the present month
have received sixty-three The whol,
church now numbers something more
than 500 souls, and 500 more now stand
propoonded for admission to its privileg
IS. Pr2y the Great Shepherd to bring
them alfto his heavenly kingdom, and t
him shalhbe glory and dominion forever
Through the great mercy of God W,
Ill = r. II 4 IL -