Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-08-31

the kahunas, who had supposed him
immortal took his body 10 the Helan
and llayed the flesh from the bones,
which were TO be preserved as sacred
relics, His heart was placed In Gala
bash. also to be preserved, as sacred,
During the night a boy stole IL and ate
IL, the boy supposng II TO be heart
of one of the hogs that had been Killed
that day, in preparing the feast gten
In honor of Lono. When 1t was learned
that the boy had eaten the heart OF
Lono--a god--he was anointed the
great high priest--kahuna-of our ma
ton" This statement Is confirmed by
all the reliable native historians.
Considering the fact that this man
had been sulking for over thirty yeais
or since the nation renowned heathen-
ism and accepted Christianity, he APP
peared to be very intelligent, and well
posted In the early history Of his peo-
pie,
Having now thrown off this morose-
ness and talked freely. we yentured 70
ask him to explain, If he would, some
thing of their ancient religion, their
rites, ceremonies, etc He seemed rather
reluctant TO talk on that subject. We
assured him that II was not with a
view 10 criticise or reVile their ancient
modes of worship, but simply for IN
formation. So finally he did, answering
many questions we put TO him, In re-
gard to sacrifice, he said Eyes. we Of
fered sacrifices of swine, fowls fishes
and many kinds of fruit to the lesser
gods" you used IN your worship,
images OF wood and stone; also wor-
cbtntaI fha NnlaDnn ehgpNg thunder
lodges of rock, etc, we have been told,
VIII you please explain your ideas In
regard to these things As il has al
ways seemed a mystery TO US how in
telligent persons could believe that
Deity could be represented or exist IN
those hideOus idols, or in the volcano,
sharp, rock, etc?" At these questions
he broadly smiled and said. I'VE be-
lieve there is one great God, who Great
ed the heaven and earth, man and
every living thing; we also believe
there are many lesser gods and god
desses. When the great God is angry
with man whom he created, he pun
fishes them for their wickedness, and
as means to that end he may cause
one people TO go to war with another,
in which many are slain, He may cause
the volcano 10 burst forth, destroy life
and devastate the land. Thunder
and lightning, cause great rocks
TO break loose from the over
hanging lodges, destroying towns and
terrorlzing the inhabitants. The vora-
cious shark, TO swarm in the bays, eat
ing up the people when they 90 in to
battle and fish. In paying alteration
ana Offering sacrifice 10 these instru-
ments Of death and calamity, II is sim
ply TO appease the wrath OF God. AS
for the images OF wood and stone,
which we did make with our own
hands, and which we place I'm the
Heian and around the affairs. they are
simply to remind us of the lesser gods
they represent; and who ofiiciate as
medlators, In our behalf, with the great
God. We do not think those things are
gods. or that God dwells in them. From
these explanations, we could see why he
smiled.
did you not offer human sacrifices
also?" Yes, on certain great and
special occasions, such as war, pesti-
lenoe and famine II a sacrifice Of
swine, fowl, fruit, etc, would appease
the wrath Of God. in the case OF those
other calamities. you have mentioned,
why not IN lllc OlntfS 1ou Stt
said he; ut was necessary 10 make
the sacrifice commensurate with the
greatness Of the aiiiiction Offerings OF
swine. fruit, etc. were more common
things, and would not be acceptable 10
the great God In case of those general
calamties Therefore IL required the
greatest Offering we could make-a
human being"
To the charge Of image worship the
Hawaiian will reply; Are the Cath
olics also image worshipers? DO they
not adorn their cathedrals. and place
around their affairs, numerous images
and paintings, representing various
Saints; both male and female?" DO