Twenty-Second Report of the London Missionary Society.
TWENTY-SECOND REPORT OF THE LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
THE revolution of another year has again convened the numerous Members of this Society, united for the sole purpose of promoting the Kingdom of Christ in the world. Appreciating, in some degree, the incomparable value of the Gospel, as the Word of Life, to which you owe all your hope of immortality, you feel constrained to exert your most vigorous efforts, in order to convey to your fellow-men that inestimable blessing which you yourselves enjoy. In pursuance of this grand object, you have cheerfully devoted to God a portion of your worldly substance, and constantly presented at the Throne of Grace your ardent supplications. Having entrusted to the Directors the management of your Missionary Concerns, you are now assembled with the reasonable expectation of receiving from them an account of their stewardship; which, with all readiness of mind, they will proceed to lay before you.
It is with great satisfaction that the Directors are enabled to commence their Annual Report with a favourable account of those interesting islands, in the Southern Ocean, which first engaged the attention of this Society.
For two successive years they have had the pleasure of stating, that the aspect of our affairs in EIMEO, an island adjacent to Otaheite, has greatly improved. The intelligence received during the past year is still more encouraging. In a letter, dated Jan. 14, 1815, the Missionaries say, "Our congregation increases apace: our stated hearers are about three hundred, and sometimes many more." Their School also, which consists chiefly of adults, is well attended; the number of scholars was then two hundred and ninety-five. Large parties come over from Otaheite, and other islands, to hear the Gospel, and to obtain instruction in the School. The number of those who have desired that their names may be inscribed among the worshippers of Jehovah exceeds two hundred, exclusive of those who have removed from Eimeo, and of others who have died in the faith.
Nor is it only in the Island of Eimeo, where the Missionaries now reside, but in Otaheite, Huaheine, Ulietea, Raiatea, Tahaa, and other islands which they have occasionally visited, that the Word of God has been heard and received with pleasure. Several of the Chiefs have expressed a wish that their islands also should be favoured with Missionaries.
Many persons, especially in Eimeo, having openly renounced idolatry, now observe the Christian Sabbath, meet together to worship God, and are distinguished by the name of "bure atua," or "the praying people." This public profession has excited, as might be expected, the spirit of persecution; so that some of their houses have been burnt down, and their persons exposed to danger. Still, however, Divine Providence interposed in their favour, by inclining some of the principal inhabitants to become their protectors, who, although idolaters, alleged that they were innocent people, and ought not to be injured.
The number of those who, in the different islands, have openly renounced the worship of idols, cannot be less than five or six hundred, including most of the principal Chiefs.
These Missionaries, who have long borne the burden and heat of the day, and whose strength begins to decline, express an anxious desire to be reinforced by additional labourers. With this reasonable request the Directors most readily complied; and have sent out, favoured by free passages in Government Vessels, Four Brethren, with their Wives, to assist in the growing work required in the Society Islands: and they are preparing to send out four more, as soon as possible; for the Missionaries assure us that there is much encouragement to commence Missions in several others of the Society Islands, and that it is ardently desired by the Chiefs themselves.
The Brethren have composed, in the Language of the Natives, a History of the Old Testament, and another of the New, which have been printed at Port Jackson. They have also composed a Catechism, including all the Principles of Christianity; and Hymns, which the people sing with delight. It affords our Brethren an ample reward for all their toils, to observe these converted Pagans pouring out their souls in prayer at their social meetings, and to hear the praises of the Redeemer sung by their melodious voices. They are proceeding in the important work of translating the Scriptures; to facilitate the printing of which, a press has been sent out. One of the Missionaries now on their way was previously instructed in the art of printing,
and the British and Foreign Bible Society has kindly provided paper for the intended impression.
The vessel which the Brethren, under many disadvantages, have long been building, will, we hope, soon be finished: they will then be able to visit all the neighbouring islands, and preach to the people all the words of this life; while, by their friendly intercourse with the Natives, they will promote their civilization--an object which the Directors press upon their Missionaries uniformly to keep in view.
Mr. Marsden being decidedly of opinion that religion will never flourish in the islands without the encouragement of industry among the Natives, and that commerce will prove the best stimulus to industry, has long expressed his earnest wish that a small vessel might be employed for the purpose of carrying on barter with the people: by which thousands who are now idle might be rendered active and useful; while, at the same time, valuable facilities would be afforded for visiting the Missionaries, and conveying to them necessary supplies. Deeply impressed with this conviction, Mr. Marsden has purchased a small vessel, called the Active, which has already made three voyages to New Zealand on account of the Church Missionary Society, and which he proposed should sail to Otaheite in August last. Toward the support of this vessel, Mr. Marsden proposed to the Directors that this Society should pay 250l. per year, for two or three years: to this reasonable proposal the Directors readily acceded; yet expecting that the finishing of the vessel at Eimeo will hereafter supersede the necessity of employing any other. 1
