The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-05-19

as to eventually come TO his death 4
their hands.
Seven years later Capt, Metcalf Gar
American) visited the islands, but tht
visit ended in bloodshed and hostility
leaving two white men Isaac Davi:
and John Young) prisoners on the
islands, but who were destined &c
WELD great influence with the isl
and people as they became counselors
of King Kamehameha and cast their
influence on the side of law, justice
and order.
Three times during 1924 the isl,
ands were visited by the great explor.
er Vancouver, who did much to undo
the evil wrought by the visit of Cap
tain Cook He set ashore the first
sheep and cattle, discouraged the in.
cessant wars, told them of better
religion and afterwards requested that
England send Christian teachers tc
them, The first missionaries came to
the islands from America however, in
1920, and the people quickly yielded
to the influences of Christianity. Two
years after the landing OF the mis-
sionaries the native language had been
reduced to writing and the arrival OF
a party of English missionaries gave
new impetus to the work. The Ca
tholic religion followed the Protestant
in 1927, French Catholic mission
being established in Honolulu that
year. In 1929 the Hawaiian govern
ment required the Catholics to close
their chapels and some OF the priests
were confined in irons, while others
were not permitted to land; but
France sent frigate to Honolulu
and compelled Kamehameha III to
declare the Catholic regilion free to
all.
There were many wonderful con-
versions in those early days but best
of ali is the story OF Kapiolani, high
chieftess who lived rs years ago, in
temperate and dissolute in youth but
an example of virtue to her country
women in later life. Up to her time
it had been taboo" for any woman
to ascend to the volcano, or to pick
the ohelo berries, sacred to Pele. Al
ter her conversion to Christianity, Ka.
plolani determined to break the spell
Of faith in Pele. She made a Journey
Of $50 miles mostly on foot and on
approaching the volcano, she met the
Priestess of Pele, who warned her
1ot to go near the crater, and predict
ID her death if she violated the taboo
1f the Goddess.
Kapiolani quoted passages from the
Sculptures until the Priestess was sill
,nced. Then with company of 80
persons, she descended over 500 feet
0 the Black Ledge and, in full view
II the terrific action Of the inner
rater, she ate the consecrated ber-
les and threw stones into the burn
ng lake, saying, Jehovah is Ny
1od." This has been called one of
lis papers a poem in honor of this
anne heroine:
Carlyle compares her act to that
# Elijah, at Carmel, and after Tenny-
on's death there was found among
'ers poem in honor of this same
eorine:
Noble the Saxon who hurled at his
idol
valorous weapon in olden England; |
1reat, and greater, and greatest Of |
women,
sland heroine, Kapiolani,
,lumb the mountain and flung the
berries,
md dared the Goddess, and freed the /
people Of Hawaii"
Education has diffused itself among
hem to an extent unexampled in the
experience Of any other aboriginal
ace. Free schools and churches
ourish over the islands and there is
carcely a Hawaiian of proper age,
Tho cannot read and write in his own
lnguage and usually also in English.
'hese conditions are due to the ef-
orts Of the missionaries who united
ducation with the gospel.
The people now maintain their
hurches by voluntary contributions
nd are extremely liberal in their
upport of all religious and charitable
lovements. There is a tendency
owever, to retain their old supersti-
ons and to adopt those of other
aces that come among them.
A few of the missionaries who have
lbored in this field with such won.
erful results are Titus Coan who
Dent raar1,, Sn ,,a,r. ,.,a. H: