Polynesian., 1850-09-07
For the Pulynesian.

7
For the Poynesisn.
Mr.. EDIToR:-I have been silent this sew
sral months. Poor health with great pres
sure Of business has been the cause, and not
change Of views on the subject of my former
numbers nor the arguments which have been
presented against them.
The best, and indeed the greatest objec-
ton to leaving the service of the Board at
present, is that it will result in that Body re-
linquishing its work at the islands before it
has attained the object it had in view in the /
tianizing the nation, the planting, fostering
and carrying forward the institutions Of our
holy religion to the point, where it would be
safe to leave them in the hands of the people /
without hazarding retrogadc motion, or
loosing the ground they had obtained. In
other rords, 10 The point at ,rhich the people
should be both able and ,ciLling TO sustain those
institutions themselves Could the aim in the
establishment ofthe mission have been bound
ed by narrower limits than these? Admit
ting it could not; the question arises, has this
aim been realized? Has the Board carried
forward the christian religion-or the institu-
tions of the gospel at the Sandwich Islands
to point at which it is safe to intrust them
to the care of the natives-and at which its
help and watchful care are no longer need
ed, The answer to the question as it seems
to me cannot with truth be made in the aflir-
native After the Board have relinquished
the work it must be carried on either by the
missionaries who have left its service or by
the people themselves. "he former will
doubtless do all they can. But how can they
secure the. progress of rcligion-its success
in the nation in its present circumstances
They might keep the stations supplied were
their ministers running too and fro as arc
lawyers, and statesmen, and merchants
But this is not the fact; the office of pastor If
| it become vacant must remain so, as in that
track there are no adventurers Suppose
for instance the pastor. of Wailuku were TO
throw himself unto his people for support,
relinquish the Board and thus release that
institution from further responsibility in re-
spect to that station. In case fthe removal
of the present missionary either by death or
otherwise where is the man to supply his
4lace? Each of the other missionaries has
his hands, full and cannot supply the defect.
No one has been on the ground preparing
fer the work, no society to whom application
may be madc-and the only alternative IN
the case will be to leave the care of the sta
ton to the natives themselves. But adopting
this alternative would be but little better than
the sacrifice of all that has been done there
/ Among the natives of these, or any other
station there is neither light nor piety-nor,
with but one or two exceptions, pecunIary
means enough TO enable them to support &
foreign minister without foreign aid. viii
lingness and strenuous efforts TO support The
Gospel. especially to make great sacrifice:
for its support-suppose degree OF knowi
edge of its intrinsic worth, and an intellect
lual perception Of its claims upon them, which
very few if any of this people possess. IL
describing the almost blank ignorance OF th'
great mass, as it respects the grounds o
faith in the inspiration of the scriptures, ant
in the religion they profess, there is LITTLE
danger Of exaggeration Nor is this ignor
ance an evidence fremssness in their teach
ers, nor of any peculiar obtuseness OF mIn'
, in the people. Thirty years ago not ra.
/, from the moral and religious world had fall
!, en- ON these shores. And as it respects
} clear perception of the profound principle
; of religion, can nation be born IN day.
The progress ofthe people in christian knowl
edge is wonderfui-it would have been NOR
wonderful stiI-it would have been almos
, miraculous had they arrived at a poInt.whcr
, they had such clear view of the nature an
!. obligations of religion as TO secure from then
, its constant and future support. Their Piet
therefore, though genuine, is grounded i
shallow soil not ,leep-rooted, has not strengt
to support and propagate itself. 1t sti
needs foreign aid But Of this aid, the disc
luton of the missionary s connection with tn
, Board will in all probability deprive it
This might not be the result with regard
some two or three stations, but to the ;naJor
4 ity of them the removal of the missionar
would be followed by permanent distitutio
a of foreign pastor Should the station {
Wainica become vacant, for its immedIat
supply the Board is responsible. Would tn
same be true with regard to Makawao: 0
to any other station whose connection TO In
: Board had been Dissolved by the withdrawa
OF its missionary? We Will stop amomen
q and take a summary view oil both sides oil II
n question. side by side Look first upon tn
: plan of holding onto the Board. Here W
!, see every pastor connected with, and respon
= sible to. The Board, and continuing so unt
!, missionary operations at the islands are n
. longer needed Each feels the influence @
a missionary character and the importance q
q sustaining it. The Board S force IN the hei
!, remains unbroken and so far as moral lore
i is Concerned, its Influence undim,n'shed,-
-IWhen this force is broken by death or otne
q causes. the breach is without dlfficuity re
, paired be i, n-what part it maya statIo
lbeco,nes yacant--aIl are intent IN seeking
supply-and the Board is responsible
!, Ehouse. and other conveniences are at ITS dis
). nosal for the successor-noe house is TO b
|built. the mission house has not been alIeua
!; ted ia the former incun,bent Each mission
ary y sstiin. his support, as far az possible