The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1881-05-04

,r;n,;raIss UThe only trouble there
seems to be with the traders is that Of jealousy, be-
cause they get less money from the natives now
that so many of them have become Christians"
Sunday, September 18TH was another day of
unusual interest for the Gilbert Islands. Directly
after breakfast all on board except the mates and
cook went shore to the services held IN the huge
new church. This church is l56 feet long and 66
feet wide, and capable of holding 5000 natives or
more Nalimu and family came with many of hls
people to have united service. As saw the peo-
pie gathering, it brought to my mind the times OF
Christ on earth. And great multitudes came
unto him. having with them those that were lame,
blind dumb. MANNED. and many others, and cast
them down at Jesus feet and he turned him unto
his disciples and said privately, blessed are the
ewes which see the things that ye see. And so We
felt. There were probably over 300 natives pres
t.nt and they had on more clothing than j ever
saw upon Gilbert Islanders before except at
Apemama.
'Mr. Walkup first spoke to them about the
Great Shepherd / spoke next about the Bible
being Gods word, and the rule for their future
lives. One of our Christian sailors then addressed
them after which Kapu and Nalima spoke briefly.
The attention was wonderful for such an audience,
and the singing the best | have ever heard IN
Micronesia. was much impressed with the large
number of intelligent looking old men present.
The multitude of dogs that hapu had the natives
tie up outside the church TO prevent their coming
in die not add TO the interest of the occasion by
their noise. After a rice lunch with Kapu, we all
went to Nalimu's station to see his new church.
winch Is ABOUT the SlLt as ANdiiulu
wife is a nice singer. and she gathered quite a
number of their voting people together and sang
several times for az. 1t IS evident that great
change has come to the people of Tapiteuea
These large churches, built to accommodate the
increasing multitudes that come to hear Gods
word. are good sign of the presence of the Holy
Spirit. Satan becoming alarmed and stirring up
his servants (the traders is another good sign.
There are now between six and seven hundred
hopeful church members upon the island. Both
missionaries are school teaching and have large
attendance, and great interest is manifested in
both spiritual and temporal knowledge
September 10th landed the missionaries
and Nalimu's goods, and took on board eight
scholars for the training school. We left mail
on board the Hazard, which arrived that morning
and expected soon to sail for Honolulu. just be
fore dark we got under weigh for Apaiang to land
Mr.. and Mrs. Walkup with their scholars.
. We had visited all the missionaries, teach
ers and mission stations in this group, and as we
reviewed the work as whole we had every reason
to thank God for what seemed a very decided i'm
provement from last year. Such results from mis-
sionary labor as we witnessed at Apemama and
Tapiteuea should encourage all Who are interested
in foreign missions to continue every present
effort and to add to them every other that Is pos
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