The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1881-02-12
Micronesian Missions.
THE GILBERT ISLANDS. APEMAMA.

had been greatly delayed IN Der voyage U ID dc-
count OF light wind and Gains. She reached
Butaratari, July 10, finding nothing encouraging
on that island. Although six persons have
recently united with the church, the king and the
people seem given over to drunkenness. On July
20 the Star reached Apaiang, where the mission
aries met with q hearty reception from the king
and the people. Mr.. and Mrs. Walkup and Mrs.
Taylor Immediately took possession of the house
which the Rev. Mr.. Bingham had formerly oecu-
pied on Apaiang. while Mr.. Taylor went on in
the Star to visit the southern islands of the Gil
bert group. They reached Apemama August II,
and found that a remarkat lie work had been in
progress under the care of Moses, the native
teacher.
Mr.. Taylor, under date of Apemana, August
II, writes -
- We came to anchor at the southern end OF
this island on the 18th, and l went ashore and
was met by a long file of natives, all clothed, who
each shook my hand. There must have been two
hundred, for when | got on the beach the men
brought me each n shell of native molasses. one
hundred and fifteen shells in all. and there were
about as many women as men. L commenced the
examination OF inquirers at once, and Sunday
morning at half past ten, one hundred and seventy
seven had been examined. We then had a meet
ing. | married thirty-onc couples, baptized
seventy-one individuals, and administered the
Lords Supper. This took till nearly two. |
found out afterwards that L was tired. Yesterday
morning | went ashore for another service, in
which [ gave them some instruction. Eight more
came forward at that service, and had their names
enrolled as inquirers. Moses, the native teacher,
has been a faithful worker, and it has been a
great privilege to be permitted to gather in the
Erst-fruits of his seven years labor into a church.
After meeting yesterday morning l left for a visit
to the king, at the other end of the island, to see
about taking a scholar to the ApaIang school.
After "a long and pressing argument he yielded.
He seemed surprised when | made a personal ap-
peal to him to give up polygamy and become a
Christian. lie spoke in English What, me be
a Christian? Yes, l said, I want you to be a
Christian Why, said he, | tell people to all
hear Moses, and be Christians. But | want
SO, by and by No, noU. want you to be a
Christian nOoo.' He looked sober. remembering
what | had before said to him about his giving up
p~olygamy. After a while he said soberly 8 Well,
YOU pray for me every day. L will try to be a
Christian. Me like God He likes to be spoken.
to in English, but a number of times | had to
speak in the native tongue to make him under
stand. Catching the idea quickly, he would
brighten up and respond at once.
" There were about $50 gallons of oil. and ia
pounds of Irvine mere, all given in the Monthly
Concert contributions. Pray for these people just
organized into Il church, for the teacher and for
the king. l could sit up all night, and did till
almost midnight, to do such pleasant work. 1t
pays for all the WEAKNESS it occasions, and much
more"
THE GATHERING OF THE CHURCH.
Captain Bray writes more fully than Mr.. Tay-
Tor of what he saw on Apemama, and as the story
is of such interest, his account is also given. He
says:
80 1t is good to be here. We have been quick
ened in our own spirits by seeing the Lord king
dom extending in the hearts of these heather. Mr..
Taylor has had Il busy time. A church has been
organized with seventy-one members, and there
are many others wishing to unite, but it has been
tb,,,ht host 10. than, tn init onafhar nan 7
cannot make it seem like one of the bard Gilbert
Islands, for it seems more like the work OF the
Mortlocks and LOsap and Nomr, but nevertheless
it is true, and we praise God for his salvation
that makes such Il change in sinners.
They thought here that the Morning Star was
lost, 20 late was she in arriving. She was at last
hailed with joy, and the king sent his boat ten
miles to sea to meet US. and see if any one had
come to organize a church. This seemed to be
the one great desire of all, and it was q pleasure
to us to witness the satisfaction expressed when
they heard that Mr.. Taylor had come for that
purpose. We were not boarded this time by
naked ~heathens, but by well-dressed Christians,
and instead Of heather songs we heard psalm tunes
hummed by those about the decks. and inquiries
as to when we had our prayers, and if they could
stay to them, etc. A Christian pilot took us in.
Sunday was a day long to be remembered by those
in the Morning Star. After our arrival Mr.. Tay-
lOr was busy night and day examining candidates
up to 10 A. NJ. on Sunday, when we all went to
the church. The first exercise was the marriage
OF thirty-one couple by Christian marriage. Then
followed the baptism of the seventy-one who were
to unite with the church. After the baptism
they were all received to the church, two deacons
were chosen, and the Lord Supper was celebrat-
ed for. the first time on this island.
1t was q solemn service. The Holy Spirit was
manJeStiy present, and we felt assured he had
taken up his. abode in the hearts of these heather,
and we perceived that God was no respecter of
persons but in every nation he that leareth him,
and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him
We have a great respect for and confidence in the
teacher, and admire the judicious manner in
which he has conducted the work, given advice,
teaching school while preaching the word. He is
a huge man, of 800 pounds weight, and ungainIy
as possible, but when he appears before the Lord,
although l cannot understand his language, l feel
that only a little child is there in trust and SIM
plicity, and one more filled with the HOLY Spirit
than are ordinary men. There was a congrega-
ton of over 200 present, and l did not see one
among them who was not respectfully dressed.
There was no staring, nor any of the usual gaping
and sleepy attitudes, but every face expressed an
earnest desire to hear all that was said. A more
respectful and attentive audience will not be
seen at nome. ''-MisSiOnarg Herald.