The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-08-09

among the natives of Tonga caused
by Bishop wnIis'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
a heart of coolest marble toward the
Bishops missionary endeavor. The
people are at least metaphorically TAX
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 teremiad adj
dressed to his former Honolulu parish
Toner, Deacon Tesla. is too rich for
with its 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.
II was under these circumstances
that. in December, 1901. the appeal to
which I 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 were 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.
L arrived, with Mrs. Willis, at Nu-
kualofa on Saturday, June 21st, and
on the following morning found a con-
gregation of nearly 100 persons assem-
bled in a 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 fioored, except with
native mats. There was a large table
at one end, at which the officiant 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-
In ha
sponses and canticIes were known by
heart. so that, although there was
paucity of books. this circumstance
did not diminish the volume of sound.
All the choral portions OF the service
were sung, Miss Baker having been
very diIigent in teaching chants for
the Venite. TIE Deum, and other can
ticles. The Tongans are a 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 a raised plat
form. on which I also placed my chair /
which I had brought from my chapel I
at Iolani (no longer neededD, together
with CIOSSs anu can
dlesticks. An ecclesiastical appearance
was thus given to the gnatu shed.
was fortunate in having a young
chief who could speak English very
fairly as interpreter. so that 1 was
able to make il 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-
luire I'm due course, to be confirmed,
and be admitted To the Holy Commu-
lion.
II was not only in Nukuaiofa, but in
vavau and Haabai also, my coming
lad been watched for. and at both of
hese ports, when il was learnt that
was on board, representatives of the ;
in these places took pass
lge by the steamer To meet me in Nu- !
Nv first work before the steamer re-
urned from Auckland for the ports :
was to receive into (
he Church and confirm those TO whom ]
intended to give authority TO act as {
The names OF those who hold my Ii
ense as Readers are as follows: in Y
,ukualofa, Tevita DAVID Ula and !
'elipe CPhilip) Yea; in Haabai. Talai- !
ST CDarius) Tulimafua: in Mouga-one.
n island in the Haabai group, u miles 5
asst of Lifuka, Usaia Kanvaka: in ]
abe. an island in the Navau group, s
ilivefnusi Lavulavu- Services are al I
D held in Foa. an island adjoining LII I
lka in the Haabai group. and in MuS ]
, Tongatabu. For these two stations ]
leaders are not yet licensed. In each e
Z these six stations / have received
very member OF the congregation into 5
ne Church. and have held confirma- {
ons in Nukualofa and Labe. The
in Nukualofa made /
heir First Communion on Christmas c
ay. I
But il must not be supposed thai the i
-ork is not meeting with opposition G
IN the contrary, a very strong effort I
as been made. and still continues to T
revent the Anglican Church from tax Il
lg root in Tonga. While on the one G
and this antagonism is putting TO the