Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1884-03-29
The Missionary sfeo ,,ep.
Toledo, Ohio, March !, 1884.

| EDITOR SATURDAY Press Sir I'm
closed please hnd some accounts regarding our
new vessel, which thought perhaps you
would like to have.
I am to remain at home to take the new
vessel, and Captain Garland to make another
voyage in the present Star The new vessel
| is TO be I5o feet long, 20 feet beam. with ~
foot hold is to have an auxiliary steam
power Of seven knots per hour, and will regis.
ter about 42S tons.
The Press comes TO me regularly. and it is a
source Of great pleasure. look for it with
interest. Most Of my time is spent visiting
Sunday schools, not for the purpose of raising
funds ior the vessel, but in answer To calls
from them to see the captain OF their vessel.
Cordially Yours,
ISAIAH BRAY.
ALL ABOUT THE VARIOUS "sTARs."
Among the many Christian missions sup.
ported by the American Board Of commissioners
for Foreign Missions is that in Miconcsia, the
islands in the Pacific Ocean. 1t was begun
many yeas ago, has been carried on with grow
ing success, and is in many respects one OF the
most interesting missions there IS In one &c.
spect II has been for years a childrens mission,
for one of the most useful features in its work
ing machinery has long been little ship called
the Morning Star. built by aid OF contributions
from the Sunday School children OF America.
There have been three vessels of this name, all
Of which did good service in plying among the
islands, carrying the missionaries and their
families from place to place as was required,
bearing supplies and making connection be-
tween the scattered laborers, far from their
native land and dear friends, who sought to
bring the untutored and savage natives into
the light of Christian truth.
But the first missionary vessel which sailed
from America was no, included among these
three, nor is the writer able TO state whether it
was built by the children or not. II was very
small craft TO make such distant voyage as il
was obliged to make, in order TO reach the scene
Of its usefulness, being scarcely more than
large sail boat Its length was 4o feet and its
breadth I3, its measurement being a little
more than 80 tons The departure was made
from Boston in January, 1926, James Hume
we'll being master Of the vessel. The passage
around Cape Horn, difficult and dangerous
one for even large ships, was made in safety,
though the little craft narrowly escaped ship.
wreck, and Honolulu was reached in October,
the passage lasting nine months and one day,
during which time the vessel anchored in
twenty different ports and habors.
The FIRST Morning Star was a little brig built
in 1876. A missionary packet was needed for
the building of new Morning Star. the old
name being retained. Among the contributors.
who numbered about 10000 were three or
four thousand Hawaiian Sunday School chill
dren Tho amount eventually subscribed TO-
gether with the sum received for the old vessel,
was sufficient 10 build the new vessel needed
the work being done in East Boston. The
entire subscriptions. when completed amour.
ted to SOS. .6o6. ~. The vessel sailed Noyem.
Der "a. 1906. and reaching Honolulu ON March
*. 1907. was welcomed by 1000 of the Ha
wai,an children. Her career was useful bu,
brief. shipwreck ON Kusaie cutting short her
usefulness on October rs. 1860
Again the children were called upon to help
in the good work of the missionaries, and
again the response was general and generous.
The present Morning Star, vessel of 1871
tons, was the result, this also being an East
Boston craft. She sailed from Boston in 1870,
and is still in active service, having been ply
ing among the islands thirteen years. Capt.
Isaiah Bray. who has commanded her since
1873. is now in this country on leave of
absence, and since his vacation began has been
very active in promoting the movement to
build new ship. which took shape soon after
his return. The mission in Micronesia has
grown, and a larger ship has been needed for
some time. During the past two o, three
years the Morning Star has necessarily been so
overloaded as to make her voyages very uncom.
Portable and somewha, dangerous, and now she
is quite unable to carry ali that needs 10 be
carried.
A new vessel being necessary, the fact was
taken into consideration in projecting plans for
such vessel that much valuable time could be
saved during some of the voyages by employing
steam power in case of calm weather, and for
entering the narrow passages into the lagoons
1t was determined, therefore, that if sum
sufficient for the purpose should be subscribed