The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-05-03

been Iaboring. In June of 1864 the work Of
translation was interrupted by the complete
failure of nv health. At that time the trans
lation had reached Philippians. The hrst
portion ever printed consisted of the first
eleven chapters and a part Of the twelfth OF
the gospel of Matthew. This was done here
in Honolulu under the supervision OF Rev.
E. W. Clark, early in 1860, and reached Us
at Apaiang, June Odd, being brought by
Capt. Gelett. Early in 1854 we printed on
a little press a, Apaiang the whole gospel OF
Matthew and the epistle to the Epheslans,
and had very nearly completed the reading
Of the proof of John, when suddenly left
with Capt. Bates of the DsSden3ond for
EooE in pursuit of health. The remaining
pages were read by kanoa and Mahoe.
1t may be here remarked that about one
fourth of all the letters were Is, and ks are
very numerous. As our font of type was
very limited we were obliged to cut off the
DIS for additional as, and 10 cut a nick IN
the right hand part of our hs for addi-
tional ks.
The interesting circumstances of the land
ing of the first press in the Gilbert Islands in
November 1863, and the providential provid-
ing of a ship-wrecked printer who had sailed
six hundred miles in an open boat TO reach
lilA' SAOuP "AA AOA5 ~ ~
mission there.
While we were in the United States, in
1866, Matthew, John and Ephesians were
reprintedd at the Bible House in New
York in an edition of 1000 copies and
formed a part of the cargo Of the Morning
star No 2, around Cape Horn. For the
purpose of confirming my health | continued
in command of the vessel fourteen months,
and did not resume literary work for the
Gilbert Islands, until 1868, and this was the
revising and enlarging our hymn-book. In
June of 1865, we printed extracts from the
gospel of Luke, which we took with Us that
same year to the Gilbert Islands.
In January 10, 1869, after our return from
a missionary visit to our group, | entered
upon the reUtsiOa of the first three quarters
of the Testament. lets was printed at the
Government press. Next followed Mark.,
printed by Mr.. Black, in Rhodes building.
These portions we were able TO send by
Rev. J. F. Pogue, Delegate of the Board, in
July S, 1869, in the M0r71iag Star, TO the
Gilbert Islands, as our own health did not
permit of a visit that year.
luke was printed in October 1869 by Mr..
Whitney, and was sent to the Gilbert Islands
by the 4nnie Porter, about the first of
March, 1870. Early in that year Romans
was revised. 1t was printed in April, and
with US to the Gilbert Islands on board
the U. S. S. JuD1est0lcn, Capt. TruXtun.
These four books were revised with the aid
of John kanimako, one of the early converts
on Apaiang, now gone to his rest. We re-
turned to Honolulu on the schooner AHnie
in October 1870, and on November 9, coIn-
menced with the aid of Joseph Ekeuea TO
revise the translation Of LIST and 2nd CORN
Galatians, Matthew, John and Ephe-
In June 1871, these had been printed,
and five hundred copies were bound with
previous portions, and thus we had the first
three quarters of the New Testament, con-
tanned IN a single volume. This we took
with US in July of that year TO the Gilbert
We returned to Honolulu in January of
1872, and on the 29th of that month, | en-
tered with great Joy on the translation of the
remaining quarter. The work has since
continued with very little interruption in &C
cordance with the wish of my missionary
directors and associates till by the favor of
to-day the last verse has been translated
md printed, and 1t is my great privilege 10
present TO the Hawaiian Board this evening
he first copy of the entire New Testament.
Of each book of tle Testament no less than
me thousand copies have been printed, but
he balance now remaining c. some of the
books will enable US to prepare for present
Use, not more than 400 copies of the whole
Testament. A large portion OF this we hope
o take with US by the next trip of the Morn
Star. That there may be such eager
for the Word of Life among the Gilbert
ISLANDERS, that "a new and improved edition
nav be soon called for is our earnest wish.
No one can feel more deeply than myself
hat the present translation is not all we
ould wish it to be, but have the comfort of
that all is the best which | could pro-
.uce in the years which have been given to
t, with weak eyes and frail health, which
ave not permitted more than two hours and
half of daily use.
Such as it is, | commit it to your care.
n after years it may perhaps furnish some
elp to some missionary OF your Board who
lay be called upon TO prepare q revision or
} re-translate the New Testament. In the
lean time let us hope that this portion of
rods word may be blest to the conversion
nd edification Of some of our fellowmen
DIV wandering in gross darkness upon those
oral shores. Should 1t be the means of the
of a single soul, or the cheering
{ a single Christian pilgrim on his way to
lie New Jerusalem my labor would be fully
ewarded, and [ would have occasion through
eternity to bless my Lord and Master for
le privilege and | desire here publicly to
idnk and praise Him for His gracious
reservation of my life, and of my manu-
from dangers among the heather, and
ON dangers among the deep, and from dam
ers from fire, and especially for the preser-
alton of the life of my dear companion who
as been of invaluable assistance to me as
4 amanuensis of large portions of manu-
and as an associate proof-reader of
early the entire Testament, and no one on
nth can ever know just how many sugges-
ons of hers have added TO the clearness of !
-ficult passages. Let me thank God for