The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-10-17

This certainly is no secession flag, although the eight
stars might be interpreted by silly bodies TO mean
eight seeded States, and the eight letters some signi-
fcant cyphers. The stars, we were given to under
stand, designated the eight principal islands of the
group. The letters meaning " Church of Jesus Christ
Latter Day Standardization Islands" " !Salra-
ton" in the center.
We then asked whether there was any foundation
for the report that they had surveyed the harbor Of
kahului, harbors on Molokai and harbors on Lanai.
This Capt. Gibson also denied, and said that the only
harbor that they had taken s~oundings in was one on
Lanai, for the purpose of seeing whether a small
vessel which they were building could enter it, but
found it too shallow for that purpose. We remarked
that the survey Of the harbor on Lanai was sufficient
to give rise to the report referred to. On the other
hand. We are informed by persons residing at Kahu-
lui, that s~oundings have been taken at Mr.. Eddy's
instance, i'll the harbor and on the reef at Kahului-
But this, as stated before, is denied.
W. next asked whether al oath of secrecy CT ale
glance had not been exacted from those natives who
entered the secret meetings held in the evening.
This report was also denied IN toto. On the other
hand, we were assured by \ native whose brother
was admitted AT the meeting that he was only admit
ted after taking an oath of secrecy, which oath was
exacted from every one who entered the lodge. And
for that reason he refused to state what trans
pired at it. Among the natives it was reported that
the subject of discussion was a defalcation in the
funds of the Mormon church, while others report
that the civil war in America was talked over. But
there is no good ground for crediting either report.
The house may have been guarded against the admis-
sion of outsiders, as the natives say was the Case.
Capt. Gibson stated that he had no animosity
against the Protestant religion or missionaries, but
against the spread Of the Catholic faith, or rather
against the spread of the French influence at the
islands, he was opposed. He believed that the French
would subiugate this race if they could, and on that
account he opposed them. Although his mother was
4 Catholic, and he Wa. early taught to venerate that
church, he himself believed in no creed or sect what
ever. We took the occasion TO ask whether his adj
miratiOn of Brigham Young and the Mormon reli-
gion arose from the favors shown to him while in
Utah, or from an examination of the doctrines Of
Mormonism. He replied that he had not studied
their doctrines OF books, but had becomed convinced
that the system, Of social polity practiced by them
was the best TO be found on the globe. We concluded
there was some truth in the remark made by MIR
Havekost to Capt. G.: You are no more = Mormon
than | am."
The doctrine of ~po'ygamy coming up, We inquir-
ed concerning its working. So far as he had observ-
ed, it worked we'll. Then, We suppose, you will
teach it to the natives. Oh, no, he replied, we shall
teach nothing contrary to the laws. But where the
Mormon church is supreme as in Utah, they preach
and practice it. Well, then, when all our islanders
are converted, and become Mormons, and they con-
troll the government and legislature, We may expect
polygamy here. Perhaps so.
We asked whether he held out to the natives the
hope generally entertained by Mormons OF migrating
10 some particular locality or country. He said no,
though the MormOns generally embrace that as part
Of their belief He assured US most positively that
he intended nothing against the existing government,
but that they were loyal and obedient TO the laws.
We inquired the number of native Mormous now
on the islands, and learned that advices from the
churches reported that they were as follows:
on Kauai,
On Oahu. q"
ON Mgokai. Maui and Lanai.
On Hawai-, Jo
Making = total OF
They formerly numbered 1000, but this is the num-
Der who now class themselves as Mormons. At the
meeting on the sth there were several baptized, and
Can't. Gibson thinks that At the end Of two years.