Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-07-12
: REVIVAL AT WAlLUKU,
IN THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.

The Rev. Mr.. Armstrong, one OF tne
missionaries of The American Board, who
is stationed at Wailuku, on the island O
Maui, in letter dated on the 9TH Of Au
gus. last, gives the following account Of tht
recent religious reformation at that station
AS the fruits of this reformation he had re-
ceived TO the church, within twelve months
S3s persons, making the whole number
36s; and the number Of the congregation
had so much increased, that the old meet
ting.house, 20 feet by 90. was too small te
accommodate them, and the people had un
dertaken TO build new house, of stone, 81
fee, by 100, with gallery. The number
of attendants on public worship on the Sab
bath was usually about 1900, and frequently
$500.
Shortly after our return from the genera
meeting in June OF last year, 1t was evIden
tha, our people had a " hearing ear" A
spirit Of inquiry and increased attention
were manifest. Meetings began to be very
full and solemn: But the impressions, Sc
far as could Judge, were not 50 deep and
positive as wished to see. There was
more wakeful attention than real concern
for the soul. Things continued in much
the same state, with perhaps alittle increase
Of feeling, until about the first Of December,
when prospects began to brighten. An IN.
crease of interest, and especially OF !eellng'
was observed in our day. y-break meetings.
and in private conversation. New Years
day was observed as day Of fasting and
prayer, by many out OF, as well as those
In, the church. 1t was a day of fmuch solem'
nifty and much feeling. All seemed TO have
but one mind, viz. an Oppressive sense OF
guilt, in view ofthe amazing mercy OF God
in Christ Jesus. Neglected, despised, re-
,jected mercy was the whole topic. Some
members ofthe church of good character
began to quake, and two of our Oldest and
best members proposed in public to with
draw from the church and absent them.
selves from the approaching communion.
One of them throwing himself back upon
his seat, and with coun,enance full OF des.
pair, said, II have no religion, and the
whole population might as well 60 to the
Lords table as l."
Prayer now began to be offered with
much fervency, and often with strong cry
ing and tears, and the work from this time
assumed decided character. Un'i, now,
we were hoping for a revival, but now We
felt that we were in the midst ofone. We
had heretofore held our morning meetings
in large school house, which will hold
about four hundred persons ); but we were
now obliged to 60 to the Westinghouse ir
order 10 get room. The meetings were
opened as soon as could see 10 read a
hymn. and many Of them were the most
solemn and interesting that ever witnessed.
Though no measures were taken to excite
the feelings, aside from simple declaration
ofthe truth, the house was often scene of
signing and weeping. Finding the hearts
of the people so tender, thought it best
not to aim at exciting the animal feelings.
which are easily reused among the natives,
and as quickly vanish /; but rather sought
to impart correct conceptions of the char
acter Of God, the nature of sin, the plan OF
salvation, the worn of the Spirit, the nature
ioftrue religion, etc. But the topic which !
most of all insisted upon was the sin and
danger Of rejecting an offered Savior. The
truths contained in such passages as these.
"he that believe,h not is condemned al.
ready -" If any man love not the Lord Je:
sus Christ lei him be anathema, maranatha,"
and the like, seemed TO me TO be the most
efficacious in breaking the heart and hum
bling the sinner.
During the last week in January we held
a series of meetings, of six days continu.
ance, in which was assisted by Messrs.
Green and Andrews. A great crowd at.
tended, and very deep impression was
made. Some hundreds manifested con.
cern for their eternal welfare, and quite a
number still appear te have been savingly
benefited. After this meeting gave my.
self wholly up to preaching, and conversing
with the anxious and inquiring. The ex-
element shortly became general and EN-.
braced all ages and classes. The children
in the schools partook largely in the COM
mon feeling and quite number, perhaps
over hundred, yet appear well as Chris.
tians although not over half that number
have been baptised as converts.
In February and March had series
ofmeetings at the two oat.sta,ions, which
were attended by thousands, and results
similar to those above mentioned, followed
especially at Haiku. By the first of April
the whole population around US was under
deep excitement many, perhaps the ma
iority, were not actuated by any real con.
Germ for their souls, but we're moved because
others were and it is feared they will re-
lapse again into their former state of stu.
pidity. Time only can tell how many
have been born Of the Spirit and raised to
newness of life. Hundreds still profess to