Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-12-14


Tonga in 1881 to enter upon his new
duties as Premier In his calling, MS
such during the follow ing ten years,
he was cmincntly successful, AND
the laws which he issued to be enacted
and the Improvements which were made
under his advice aud direction will ever
make him live In history as one OF the
most remarkable and influential men
who ever figured In the affairs OF the
South Pacific Islands. Under his pro
lection and influence. also. the Wesley
ans OF Tonga broke entirely of from
the parent church, and established them.
elves as the Free Church OF Tonga"
with the Rev. J Il. Watkn, formerly a
regular Wesleyan minister at It's head.
This was done In 1855 But as the old
church held leases 10 the church edifces
aud refused to give them up, the Free
Church found itself obliged to erect
new meeting houses and chapels all
over the islands; and thus we find today
duplicate Protestant houses Of worship
IN all important villages and towns 10 tho
Kingdom even IN places where there Is
not church going members enough to
hall I'LL one. Mr.. Waikin claims that
seven cights Of the inhabitants Of the
Islands are members Of the Free Church
leaving only between two and three
thousand for the Catholic and regular
Wesleyan membership. lie also told Us
that since the secession In 1855 the Free
Church had bmt $50 houses Of worship
on the Islands without the least assis
lance from any outside source. To the
Wesleyans Of the old school belong the
credit oil ttauslating the Bible into the
Tongan language, 1t was printed at Lon.
don. England, and several editions have
already been published. The Wc5leyans
have also published several schoo.
books In the Tongan language, and In.
tfoduced splendid school system
throughout the kingdom. The Free
Church is now publishing q periodical in
native, entitled Hoe Jisii Tauataina"
THE Free Church edited by ne Rev.
]. b. Watkin. Il Is printed in Auckland,
New Zealand, as these IS no printing
Office IN Tonga.
As might be supposed the secession
Of the Tongan disciples from the regular
Wesleyan Church has called forth much
comment; and the Wesleyan ministers
especially have been very outspokcn In
their unqualified condemnation Of the
actions OF Mr.. Baker and Mr. Waikin.
On the other hand the members Of the
Free Church feel perfectly justified in
what they have. Mr. Baker, IN defining
his position IN the matter to "a news
paper correspondent, seven years ago,
said; "The Wesleyan Church ns" at.
tempted to usurp as much authority as
the Church OF Rome did Ia the old days,
and has been as dangerous to individual
liberty; ! would not attempt TO compare
myself to the Protestant reiormers, but
IN establishing the Free Church OF Tom
"a, and Mt. Watkin have but done
what John Wesley himself did In Great
Britain. Aud kilg George has but
done, what Henry the Eight did ior
Protestant England, but from far differ.
ent motives, The king Tor the sake Of
his people, would not submit TO the
dictation OF an outside body like the
New South Wales Conference No one
can defeat the sending away Of such
large sums OF money TO Australia Mr..
Baker. being a British subject, was ex-
He'd from Tonga about 1891, through the
influence OF his enemies, aud since that
time natives have filled the position OF
Premier; but they have not come up to
Mr.. Bakers standard. And there Is now
an almost universal desire IN favor Of
Mr.. Bakers return. Mr.. Matkiu, as the
head OF the Free Church OF Tonga Is
not responsible to any Ccciesiastical
authority above him on the earth. This,