The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1898-01-11
Gilbert Island Lab0Es Of Rev.
Louis Mitchell.
LEFT HERE IN THE STAR "
Describes Religious and Social Con-
ditions in the Group-A Hawaiian
Minister Warmly Welcomed.

to the Gilbert Islands on the last voy- |
age of the Morning Star, has written
an interesting account of his arrival, |
and the beginning of his missionary
labors.
1t took the Star II days to reach !
Tapiteuea, the southernmost Island in |
the group under the care of the Ha-
waiian Board. There a consultation
was held with the two Hawaiian mis-
sionaries Paaluhe and Kaaia, and it
was decided that Rev. Mr. Mitchell
should begin work on Apaiang, and
remain there until the Star returned
from its Western trip. Then he is to
return of Tapiteuea, and take up the
work there, so as to allow Rev. Mr..
Kaaia and his family to return to Ha
Yaii for years furlough.
August 16, at a. m, the Star eft
Tapiteuea to come North through the
group, leaving supplies for the other
Hawaiian missionaries. The Star
reached Maiana at 9 p. m. the next
day. The next morning, the ships
boat landed Mr. Mitchell at Cape BIZ
karai, where he met Rev. Mr. and
Mrs Mahihihila
The British Commissioner has pro-
hibited night dances and the accom-
panying orgies. Houses were being
built in accordance with sanitary
rules. Roads were constructed the
whole length of the Island. Wharves
were built for ships boats to land
freight and passengers. Parents were
obliged to send their children to
school, either the Government school,,
or the Mission school. There was
more than 80 children in the Mission
school. The church work had been
weakened by the former Commissioner
countenancing dancing. The Mission
school children also attended Sunday
school The school teacher went on
board the Star, with his wife, who
was once a pupil in Miss Hopkins
anxious to see the new hymn book for
the Gilbert Islands, with the music as
well as the words, prepared by DR.. and
Mrs. Bingham. The whole afternoon
was spent in singing, and thirty books
left with Tebara. AS they left the yes
Sc, they sang I'll ka DO" Till we
meet again
Leaving Maiana at II p. M, the
Star reached Apaian, August 10, at 10
a. m. The people were glad to well
come Mr.. Mitchell, though his stay
was to be for only a few months, yet
some were sorry that he had not
brought his wife too who once lived
on that Island, the daughter of a Ha-
waiian missionary, who in one of his
tours to neighboring Island, had
been lost at sea. The King received
him cordially, and the fifty hymn
books allotted to the Island were soon
sold.
The next day, Saturday, Mr. Nit
chell invited the deacon of the church
and about ten others to accompany
him to the district, "Etan tie Aba" on
the north side of the Island. A meet
largely attended by people, whom the
company invited to go to meeting
with them. Some church members
confessed their unfaithfulness and
took up anew the duties of the Christ
ian life. Three, who had never before
been interested in Christian truth,
expressed their desire to become fol-
lowers of Christ
On Sunday, the church was filled.
The next day, the party went to a vii
lige on the south side, about six miles
off, and held a grove meeting. Seven
former church members desired to be
taken back, and four heather express
ed their desire to be Christians. The
remainder of the week, Mr. Mitchell
spent in visiting from house to house.
and in urging the children to attend
school. Most of the children had no
clothes, except the pau. When the
King was urged to enforce the law
of the British Commissioner against
nudity, he said that the people had no
money; all the saleable cocoanuts had
to go to pay off the peoples indebt-
ness. He thought the debt would be
all paid off by this seasons crop of
nuts, and then there would be money
to buy clothing. TIE Kaure, who used
to be DR.. Bingham's assistant is, sup
erintendent of the Sunday school, and
doing good work, and is greatly help
ed by his daughter, Esther TIE Kaulili,
the wife of the King She was once
a pupil in Kawaiahao Seminary.
September TO- Mr.. Mitchell with
eight others, went in a canoe to Cafe
TIE Kawewe at the south point of the
Island After visiting the homes of
the people, a public meeting was held,
and backsliders asked to be restored.
On Sunday two meetings were held,
one at TIE Kawewe, and the other at a
village called Barekarawa Very few
Christians were found at that place.
One unfaithful church member asked
forgiveness and restoration. -Four
heather men asked to be counted
among the seekers after Jesus.
The next morning as Mr.. Mitchell
was getting his bundles together to
return, two girls, nearly grown to wo-
manhood, came and whispered to him
sswe want to 90 with YOU people and