The Hawaiian gazette., 1903-08-11
BISHOP WILLIS IS IN
HOT WATER AS usual
At Odds With the King Who Wants Him to
Get Out.--WiIIis Threatens Annexation
Of Tonga to Great Britain.

the Advertiser, depicting q panic
! among the natives of Tonga caused
by Bishop Willis's advent upon the
beach, would seem to be in process of
fulfilment according to the Right Rev-
erend's own tale of woe now running
serially in The Independent, his Homo
lulu organ.
The Tonga Government is revealing
heart of coolest marble toward the
Bishops missionary endeavor. The
people are at least metaphorically talk
ing to the woods at sight of his at
tenuated stride coming for their spir
itual citadels. AS for the sects-to his
lordship noxious insects-the trou-
bles they are giving him are more than
can be numbered.
The Bishops exhibit of the terrors of
foreign annexation to the pigmy king
dom, as he does in his ieremiad ad-
dressed to his former Honolulu parish
Toner, Deacon Tesla. Is too rich for
anything as coming from that source
with it's background of Hawaiian poll
tics.
The reprinting of the narrative is
here resumed, the first part having APP
peared in the Advertiser on Aug z:
THE CHURCH IN TONGA.
1t was under these circumstances
that, in December, 1901, the appeal to
which 1 have already referred was
made to me to come over and help
them. Their reply to the advice tend
cred to them to return to the Free
Church was that they would never do
so; they would carry on service as
best they could in the hope that the
Anglican Church would seek them out.
To obtain a true estimate of this re-
solve, let it be considered that other
courses We're open to them. The Ro-
man Church has a strong organization
in the Islands, and the sect of the
Seventh day Adventists was on the
ground ready to receive them.
1 arrived, with Mrs. Willis, at MI
kualofa on Saturday, June 21st, and
on the following morning found con-
gregation of nearly 100 persons assem-
bled in n corrugated iron shed, built
for making gnatu, the native CLOTH
large bales of which We're stored on
the beams. The building was neither
lined coiled, nor floored, except with
native mats. There was large table
at one end, at which the ofiiciant stood.
Except for his surplice, there were no
outward signs to indicate that the wor-
ship would be conducted according to
the order of the Church of England.
But the manner in which the Morning
Prayer was conducted was surprising
At the proper time the whole congre-
cation knelt upon their knees; the re-
sponses and canticles We're known by
heart, so that, although there was a
paucity of books. this circumstance
did not diminish the volume of sound.
All the choral portions of the service
We're sung, Miss Baker having been
very diligent in teaching chants for
the Venite, TIE Deum, and other cam
ticles. The Tongans are n very musi-
cal people: they have a simple Tonic
sofia system of their own, a system
of figures into which they transpose
our notation. The music in this form
is written on a blackboard, and quick
ly learnt by the whole congregation.
By the second Sunday had an altar
constructed and set on raised plat
form, on which I also placed my chair
which | had brought from my chapel
at 1olani Ono longer needed), together
with altar coverings, cross, and cam
dlesticks. An ecclesiastical appearance
was thus given to the gnatu shed.
l was fortunate in having n young
chief who could speak English very
fairly as interpreter, so that 1 was
able to make it clear at once that none
could be considered members of the
Anglican branch of the Church until,
after making the required promises,
they had been duly received into the
Church and signed with the sign of
the Cross; after which they would re-
quire in due course, to be confirmed,
and be admitted to the Holy Commu-
Mon.
1t was not only in Nukualofa, but in
Vavau and Haabai also, my coming
had been watched for, and at both of
these ports, when it was learnt that
l was on board, representatives of the
in these places took pass
age by the steamer to meet me in Nu-
kualofa.
My first work before the steamer re-
turned from Auckland for the ports |
the Church and confirm those to whom |
intended to give authority to act as |
Lay-readers.
cense as Readers are as follows: in |
Tevita DAVID Ula and |
Felipe CPhilip) Yea; in Haabai, Talai-
Isl Darius) Tulimafua; in Mouga-one,
IN island in the Haabai group, IL miles
east Of Lifuka, Usaia Kanvaka: in
Labe, an island I'm the Vavau group,
siliveinusi Lavulayu. Services are al
10 held in Foa, an island adjoining Li-
'uka in the Haabai group, and In Nina
n Tongatabu. For these two stations
Readers are not yet licensed. In each
If these six stations / have received
very member of the congregation into
he Church. and have held confirma-
ions in Nukualofa and Labe. The
lewly-confirmed in Nukualofa made
heir First Communion on Christmas
lay
But 1t must not be supposed that the
work Is not meeting with opposition.
IN the contrary, a very strong effort
las been made. and still continues to
revent the Anglican Church from TAX
ng root in Tonga, While on the one
and this antagonism Is putting to the
est the sincerity and earnestness If
hose who invited me here, on the 9TH
r It deters many from joining us who
'ould otherwise do so.