The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-15
TIE oARorrNr rsLhNDs.
The whaling Captain who Established the
first Christian nIIssisn In Them.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: Your article
Of June 10 upon "Tho Caroline Islands" pro-
sentinE evidence of the moral and spiritual
blight that inevitably follows Spanish COLOMBIA
tion and misrule, may mako appropriate somo
facts as to the establishment OF Christianity in
those islands. l obtain them from a memorial
to the Rev. Horace Eaton. d. D., written by his
wife. 1t seems that Ira Lakey OF Palmyra had
learned the watch and clock making business.
hut good offers induced him to enter the whaling
service at Now Bedford. He first went out as a
sailor. was soon promoted. and took command
Of the bark Harvest. On the coast Of Rusaio.
or Strong's Island, one OF the Carolines, no was
stranded on a coral reef, and a hugo rent made
tools with which TO make repairs but such as
HE own ingenuity could invent.
Fortunately, one of the crow could speak the
language of the, people. The King was at that
time Dangerously sick and gladly accepted Capt.
gakeyB ofer to prcscribe for him. He recovered,
Nothing could. exceed his gratitude and that OF
bis subjecta-., They brought to the soainen. day by
pandenus tree, and tho cocoSnut palm. Agrebt
friendship spranE up between the Captain and
o I Ai TSS. I III son, a 0rlght BOY 4 or . yonrs
about the United States and the reason why
the people there were so much better of than IN
read and preach from the Bible 10 them every
Sebbath day. In relating this, the Captain said;
AL 4 could no. az II az well as you, pArson, but l
The wild and unclnd savagos listened with
the utmost attentions; and, whom Capt. Lakey
LETT Rushio. the King obtained q promise from
him that he would do his utmost to send them
missionary teachers. For these he sailed 1000
miles out Of his way to Honolulu, Sandwich
Islands, and presented his appeal. II camo ut just
the right time. 1t exactly met the awakened In
forest otthe SIND wich Islands Christians. They
at once organized a missionary society. In 1889
three missionaries, with their wives and two
Hawaiian teachers, went out to Rusaie. Find.
Ing that they needed "a small ship 10 wait upon
them y" as they cruised among the islands, they
wrote to the rooms of the Missionary Board at
Boston. A responsive thrill went through the
Sunday schools OF tho land, and the first Morn
ing Star, . briEantine costing $ls,351, was
launched November, 1856.
Twenty years after Capt. bAkey's shipwreck
he visited again his old landing place. But how
changed The former King was dead. The
young Prince, n Christian ruler. remembered
him. Under his lead and that OF the mission.
aries, the. people, now neatly dressed. assem-
bled on tho shore in an orderly manner and
formally greeted thor benefactor 10y singing
sweet songs and hymns of praise to God. The
New Testament and Christian books had boon
introduced, the Sabbath was observed, and the
voice OF prayer went up from their families and
their churches.
Tho Capt. LOkcy referred to by Mrs. Eaton
was my brother, long since dead, and her state.
ment ~ the unvHrnished truth in regard to the
first missionary efforts in the Caroline Islands.
CAROLINE LAKEY GOLDSMITH,
PORT GIBSON, June IL.