The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1863-06-11

tory by planting 4 number OF separate stations,
each Of which is meant 70 influence its own little
circle Of heathens. But. from the causes above
mentioned, | am convinced that much Of their
strength Is wasted and | cannot but believe that
greater results may be expected, and with u far
less expenditure of means, from establishing. in
the first instance. ono strong central institution
O. the kind above described, under the immediate
eye Of the Bishop himself. In this l hope we
shall be enabled to practice the younger natives
ia trades Of various kinds, to teach them 10 cul-
tlvate the soil and learn the value of land, and
adopt the habits Of civilized life. We shall also
make 1t our endeavOr 70 train servants, male and
female, for domestic purposes Very little
about that higher religious training which most
missionaries think 80 important to lit men for the
service OF God and the kingdom OF heaven
But the Bishop lad scarcely commenced opera
tiOn- at his new station, when one and another
Of bis teachers, agents, assistants, artisans, and
all, began u leave him, till presently be found
himself almost alone at the head Of his school,
his farm, and everything else. This, however,
did not seem 70 interrupt his study of the native
language, IN which he made rapid and most COM
mendable progress. He now gave much Of his
strength to the writing and printing Of books in
the Zulu tongue. Pity, however, that some Of
them should be iraught with most perniciOus
error and the greater pity, inaSmuch as he and
his cOadJutJrs We're always forward to distribute
them among the native readers at the stations of
other missions. Indeed, the idea was given out
whether by the Bishop or sOme of his par:icu-
lar friends, Is imma terial-that he alone of all
the missionaries had knowledge Of the Scriptures
in the original tongues that ne, in fact, was the
great teacher, and all the rest but shadows or
bows. Hence, also, the nane by which he was
always glad to be known and called among the
natiyes-SOJ0nfu, or - Father Of the people"
But | must not forget 10 mention that, partly
by strong Inducements 10 parties connected with
other missions and partly by the aid OF u Govern
nent official Of tine colony, the Bishop eventually
in getting up u large and, for a time,
Il very furnishing school, numbering some 80 or
10 scholars, mostly boys, whose progress in the
art Of reading and other branches of a common
school education, rs also in learning 10 print, u
paint, and to play the piano-to say nothing of
the instruction which they are reported to have
had IN playing leap-frog, dancing, etc.-all goes
to show ut least the coInmendable capacity of the
people 10 acquire II knowledge Of what they We're
taught.
But while | think many Of Bishop Colenso's
views to be radically wrong; that much Of his
influence and labor in Natal. among both the
white people and the natives, has been highly
to the cause 81 truth and godlineSs
in all that land that many Of his plans were
visionary, impracticable, and that he has already
.ound them TO be SOFT gives me pleasure TO
think and say that he is IL man of much good
of less bigotry than some of his brethren
Of the same denomination, and Il man Of ardent
and energy in efforts To promote what he
'egards as the welfare of the natives of Natal,
not excepting border tribes. He is also Il man Of
Intiring diligence in putting forth books of the
most diverse kinds and character. Neither can
NY one guess. at any time. from his last produc-
ion or position. what his next may be. In fact,
I sometimes happens that an opinion which is
Urged or condemned in the beginning of a book,
renowned or Endorsed. openly, frankly, in the
equel of the same. Versatility marks the man.
SAxToN's RIVER, VI, Feb. -, 1868.