Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1852-04-17
From the Missionary Magazine,
Sandwich Islanders in California.

The emigration Of numerous bo-
dy of Sandwich Islanders to Califor.
mia has illustrated, in u remarkable
manner, the value of the mission to
that people. The first results Oh
served did not appear uniayorable.-
Numbers became involved in vicious
and ileligious courses. But ,hosamo
is unhappily true of New Englanders
who have gone there, aud would as
really prove the ineficiency of the
Gospel in,9oston as in Honolulu
Subsequent events, however, have re.
yealed brighter side to the picture.
An interesting letter from Rev. L. D.
Hunt, in the Journal IF Missions,
shows conclusively that amid etemp.
tations of their new home the island
ers havs not forgotten the Christian
Instructions and associations of their
native land. Most of them were not
members of churches, and many had
been more or less injured by inter-
course with foreigners before leaving
home. The church members brought
letters commencing them to the o.
yersight of Mr.. Hunt, who maintained
service for them till their departure
for the mining regions, since which
time he has had comparatively few
opportunities of meeting with them.
In tho summer of 1S49, Mr.. Damon,
scamens chaplain at Honolulu, in
tour through California, visited the
encampment of the islanders at the
mines. He found that they constant
" observed the Lords day, refraining
from labor and meeting together for
the reading Of the Scriptures and for
exhortation and prayer. In some in
stances pious Americans took refuge
in their camp to gain religious quiet,
that could not be had among their
own counlrymen! About a year and
half ago large company on their.
way TO the; mines, only a few ofthem
church members, halted at Marysville
on Saturday evening. The next morn
ing found them under an oak tree,
with their testaments and hymn books,
for worship. There they spent the
day, while the whole village was as,ir
with business and parties of Ameri-
cans moving on to their destinations !;
and while disturbance was going on
III gambling saloon, that ended in
the murder Of ono Of our ceuntfymen
by the hand Of another.
Three or four months since, a new
interest in religion was observed a.
mong them. Parties came down from
the mountains to see Mr.. Hunt and
gain instruction, Of some of whom lie
INDUCED the hope that they were tru-
" converted. AT their request gen
eral meeting was held at Sacramento,
the second week in November, in con-
ncction with the meeting of the Pres
bytcry Of San Francisco. More than
hundred assembled, who, if not tru-
ly penitcnt, were sincere inquircrs Of
ter the way of life. Fifteen church
members were present, to whom the
Lords Supper was administered
They desired that u church might be
organized, and raised money to pur-
chase a supply of books at theislands
for themselves and their countrymen.
There is reason to fear that many
professed Christians who went from
New England to Calitornia,have borne
far more equivocul testimony of their
piety than have these men so lately
raised up from the slough of heGtlcn-
ism. Their fidelity to their profession
and to their unconverted countrymcn,
has had rich reward, aud. is at once
an example and an encouragement OF
those who, with fuller knowledge, and
wider opportunities of usefulness, may
be said to constitute the advanced
guard of the church in that growing
Pacific empire.