The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1901-07-31
THE WORLD MISSIONARY
TOUR.
WITH MIR. GElL IN SAMOA SUNDAY IN
THE SoUTH Seas.

y
THE SOUTH SEAS.
To write history of civilization in
this Polyuesian archipelago is simply
to give an accurate account of the
missionary work done in Samoa.
Here seven thousand miles from home,
| invite you to come with me and We
will spend Sunday together in one of
the two hundred and twenty villages
in this group of South Sea Islands.
Remember we are now in the most
notorious sea of the world. In these
waters the foulest murders, the widest
barbarian antics, and the most I'M
scrupleps traders have had their way.
Samoans, however, were the mildest
heather and the kindest savages about
which We have any truthful record.
In list the French navigator, La
Perouse who visited Tutuila NOW
part of American Samoa and contain
ing the finest harhor i'll Polynesia
describes the natives as the most
atrocious savages in the universe,
whose shores ought not to be ap-
preached Eleven of his men i'll IL
water party which had landed were
murdered, but he it remembered not
until native who had come of to the
ship had been treacherously assassi-
mated. Good "a they We're in heathen-
ism, kind IN contrast with others,
still the Samoans were savages.
After an early breakfast tthe tables
all wear necktics that the ever present
ants may have their way obstructedl.
we FASTENED to the morning service MT
IA at al the London Missionary So
ciety' = churches. This service was on
Tutnila, near the L. $. Custom house.
The bnilding was packed, If anything
there were moro men than women,
md two chief members of the church
were present, one sitting i'll front to
the right of the pulpit among the
boys, occasionally directing their at
tention to the sermon by vigorous
stroke in the back of the neck. Small
girls sat under the table, and bnt for
that the crowd could not have been
c O IN or n b Y accommodated. Tho
women wore vnriously hued hats,
some seemed to hnve been hewed too.
Tho men wore understands, and lava
lava, the latter cloth two feet wide
wound about the body. All used
more clothing than ON week days, nj
least twice rs much. OF course each
came with mt and sal ON the floor
cross legged. Most of the eengrega-
ton Ind hymn books and Bibles in
Samoan. The best translation of the
Bible in the Pncilic is this Samoan
translation, and probably over LOG, 900
of the Holy Book have been sold. The
natives pay for their books and re
ligioua privileges. This translating
Of the Scriptures was a stupendous
task. In 1896 before the six mission
aries landed from the 'Dunnottar
Castle they apportioned the Bible
among themselves to translate as soon
M possible This first band of mis-
siunaries was determined to give II
literature and written language To
the people and Of course the Word of
God was translated as soon ns possible.
The place Of the Bible has been so to
the front that when the Roman
Catholics began To intrude, the natives
called the Protestant workers bible
Missionaries in distinguishing them
from the priests
The singing was tremendous, never
heard such song service. The men
and women took their several parts
with promptness, and best of all with
christian spirit. 1t was thrilling when
the full voices of the men struck the
high notes. Indeed the praise ser
vice ecipsed anything of the kind |
have ever heard. Few old folks were
present, nearly all being III the prime
of life.
The preacher was native. educated
through n four years course at the
college Of Halna, where 1900 young
men have been trained without II cent
of contribution from white people for
their support. The University IL near
Apia, has 400 acres of ground, 1000
coconnnt and 1000 bread fruit trees
besides banana and taro (which take
the place of our potatOesl. The
etndents work the farm aud earn their
living. One day week is taken for
teaching and prncticing the trades, so
that when church IL to be built the
pastor literally takes off his shirt and
goes to work. The fact ls that the
two hundred odd villages not only
have a church building but an edu-
Gated pastor, who pulls the bell each
day, teaches the children rs well ns
breaches ON Sunday. The parson
wore white garments and no foot gear.
| The sermon was powerful. The Samoan
! tongue lends itself easily to oratory.
The two texts were Feel. liz and II
! I. The discourse was in two parts
First, consider your days and that theJ
are short; second, do not go carelessll
through life and then at last find i
too late to repent. He entreated then
(the sermon was especially ADDRESSED
to the young men so he announced a
the START to 'listen to the striving o
the Holy Spirit and geek after sal
walton and wisdom at once. Twic'
the audience laughed and swayed a
an audience will when completed,
aroused. lie told two anecdotes.
am telling all this that you may hay'
an idea Of what kind Of teaching il Oh
out here. This is the mcresi skeleton
The speech held the people aud die
them good The following is the frs
anecdote: A Young man was told bl
| l.. e. i,, I,at.n lao MI n,