Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-05-29
Missionary Meeting at Craftsbury

A highly interesting convention was
held at Craftsbury, on Friday and Sat
urday of last week, under the auspices of
the American Board, and for the purpose
of awakening a deeper interest in the
cause of Missions. The attendance was
probably less than it would have been,
had the weather been less favorable for
the prosecuting Of the springs work,
which is generally very much in arrears.
For that very reason, however, the audi
ence was composed mainly of those who
attach high importance TO the mission
airy work, and would be most likely to
diffuse in their respective localities the
fresh interest they should there acquire.
Besides those in attendance from our own
county, we noticed some from Caledonia
and others from Lamoille.
An hour or more of the morning of
each day was occupied in prayer and in
brief addresses. Among the speakers
were Revs. S. r. Ha |, Pliny II. White,
Thomas Bayne, and A. r. Gray. In
the more formal meetings, Hon. L. H.
Delano, corporate member of the Am
erican Board, presided, and the speakers
were Rev. VIM. Warren, District Secre-
tary of the American Board, and Rev.
L. II. Gulick M. D., missionary in Mi
cronesia. Mr.. Warren's addresses were
somewhat discursive in their character,
treating of missions in their general fea-
lures and results, but introducing many
interesting n cid ents, and presenting
many striking thoughts. He is not an
orator. in the ordinary acceptation of the
term, but his complete mastery of the
subject, his intense appreciation of it, and
the glowing earnestness with he speaks,
give him the orators power over his
hearers, and enable him to make deep
impressions on their minds.
The Rev, Mr.. Gulick is a natural ora
tor; ready in speech, fertile in illustration,
in imagery, easy and appropri-
ate in gesture, and SO plain witlal that
the very child could understand him
His speeches were the great feature of
the occasion, and the closing passages of
some of them belonged to higher order
of eloguence than is often heard in these !
regions. He described his field of labor
as being the great grasp of microscopic
islands under the equator, and southwest
Of the Sandwich Islands. His account
of those islands was of great interest to
the man Of science as well as to the phi
lanthropist. Some of them are basaltic
in their character, being no more nor
less than long extinct volcanoes. 9th
ers are entirely coralline, and all are
either surrounded by coral reefs, or are
reefs, circular in form, an d
great pond of salt water.
Tho inhabitants OF those regions be.
ong to the very lowest grade of heather.
Their dress was described as consisting
IF cocoa leaves and cocoa nut oil. the oil
constituting much the larger part. 1t
was almost impossible to teach them the
oropriety of any better clothing. Mr..
Gulick spoke Of one man, whom be per-
'uaded to put on pair Of trowsers, but
very soon they were divided from top to
bottom, one man wearing one leg and an
'iher the other. Their dwellings, their
God, their whole manner of life, were
If the same low grade. Their minds !
we're stupid to the very last degree, and
was only by dint of the most persever-
ng and continued efforts that any i'm.
'ression could be made upon them. /,
One fact stated by Mr.. Gulick must ,
ave been interesting to spiritualists If :
my were present. Spiritualsm is the
REVEALING irreligion of the Micronesians.
Those stupid islanders have it the natural j
way, and enjoy the utmost possible ben
fits it can confer. Their mediums are
numerous, and the communications they
eceiye are so direct and so correct as to !
cave no doubt that they are the genuine
rticle and no mistake.
II was hardly possible to avoid feel /