HIS WAY OF PROVING THE EARTH ROUND. 77 Upon the publication by the missionaries of a little treatise on the true principles of geography and astronomy, surprise and doubt were expressed by some, and they disputed before Hoapili about the figure of the earth. "Stop," said the old chief; "do not be so quick with your objections to the foreign theory. Let us look at it. This is what I have always seen. When I have been far out at sea on fishing excursions, I at first lost sight of the beach, then of the houses and trees, then of the hills, and last of the high mountains. So when I returned, the first objects which I saw were the high mountains, then the hills, then the trees and houses, and, last of all, the beach. I think, therefore, that these foreigners are right, and that the earth is round.” The influence of Hoapili and Hoapiliwahine his wife was valuable and excellent many ways. Among other things, they taught the people at Lahaina to be liberal to their ministers, and it should be said to their praise, that they are more than usually attentive at this station in bringing poultry, fruits, vegetables, dried fish, &c., as marks of their aloha (love) both to Christ and their worthy pastor. This liberal spirit can be easily encouraged and turned to good account, so as entirely to support among them the institutions of the Gospel. The Church at this station, by the annual report for 1849, numbers 637 members-ordinary attendance on the Sabbath at the meeting-house, twelve or thirteen hundred. Some of them are, for Hawaiians, men of considerable substance; are owners of horses and cattle, make molasses from the sugar-cane, have lands on which they raise potatoes for ships, besides kalo-patches that furnish their own food, and are officers of government. Almost the same may be said of their pecuniary ability at Honolulu, and particulars might be given of the ways in which Hawaiians at these ports can now get money, and of the ease with which much of it can be applied to support the preachers of the Gospel. They make out a strong case why the missionaries at these places, the two central stations first taken, and from which there is constantly emanating a powerful influence throughout the entire group, should have been supported by the people for two or three years past;* and the late action of the American Board in 1849, is altogether wise and feasible, that proposes to the Sandwich Islands Mission to become independent of the home treasury, and to throw itself upon the people for support. The readiness of the missionaries to accede to this proposition and to make the experiment of self-support, trusting under God to the generosity of the people, is worthy of all praise, as it is in keeping with the character they have won before all the world for ability, zeal, and devotion. The general success of this experiment can hardly be doubted, though it may fail at some particular stations for reasons purely local. We do not think the objection valid, that you cannot *The whole amount of contributions for all benevolent and religious purposes, in the two Native Churches of Honolulu for the year 1850, is $1733.92. HOW MISSIONARIES SHOULD BE SUPPORTED. 79 expect the people to give seven or eight times as much. to their teacher as it takes to support one of their own families. Hawaiians know the wants of foreigners are more than theirs, are glad to have it so, and would be unwilling that their teachers should live like themselves. And as to any natural scruples at receiving from people so poor, and that live so miserably destitute of the comforts of civilized life, we think they had better be set over against the contributions of many at home, who give out of the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty, by rigid economy, and the voluntary deprivation of luxuries which are missed far more than the poor Hawaiians' hapaha, or hapalua, or dollar would be, if given to his minister. Ships put in circulation here a good deal of money, spent by sailors, and in lieu of fresh supplies. Many of the reals, and half-dollars, and dollars so distributed, fall into the hands of common church members, who being supplied, for the most part, otherwise with food, and having as yet few artificial wants, might as well as not bestow many of them upon their teacher. In this connection, we cannot help saying, that we think it would be far better for American missionaries everywhere to be allowed to hold property, and honorably help themselves, and to be in every respect upon the same footing as ministers at home; and that they should be enjoined to urge the people to whom they preach to contribute all in their power for their support. We think there would in this way be more economy, and more manliness and proper independence both in the missionary ministers and their families, and in the churches. The dangers of undue acquisitiveness, neglect of missionary work, and worldly-mindedness might be guarded against. Missions generally, certainly those that are so far advanced as the Sandwich Islands Mission, would thus cost the Board less, and do the people more good, by stimulating them early to maintain their own religious institutions. This always leaning upon America, David Malo says, is not good. If America should give way, we should break our backs. We had better learn early to stand alone. It is upon the Hawaiian democracy mainly that the support of the Church at these Islands must henceforth depend; for with the decease of Hoapili and Kapiolani the race of godly chiefs seems to have become extinct. Few are surviving that can boast of chiefs' blood. Hoapili died without issue. The governor of Hawaii dies childless. The king and the premier (Auhea) have no offspring; nor is there a high-chief living that has a lineal heir. Most of the chief boys and girls in school at Honolulu are half-breeds, or adopted heirs, and the children of the former premier Kinau. It is a remarkable fact, and would seem to argue somewhat of Providence and destiny, that so large a body of rulers by birthright should so soon give out. Their rapid extinction is even more manifest and significant than that of the people. Perhaps in the mysterious counsels of the Most High, their days are numbered, and the end of their existence as a nation is near. If it prove to be so, it will remain to be re VISIONS OF THE FUTURE MILLENNIUM. 81 marked how the date of their depopulation and decay, like that of all the other islanders of the Pacific, and the tribes of North and South America, synchronizes with their discovery and the offer made them of the Gospel. Through their acceptance of the latter, although they now become extinct, the prophecy will be made good, that in him (Christ) shall all nations of the earth be blessed. Redeemed unto God out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and tribe, and nation, there shall be some to sing, "Thou, Lord, art worthy." With thanks and everlasting joy the ransomed Hawaiian, the Indian, the Hottentot, the South Sea Islander, the "natives of Ormus and of Ind," shall come up to the general assembly and church of the first-born. From every isle, from every clime they come, To see thy beauty and to share thy joy, O Zion! an assembly such as earth Saw never, such as heaven stoops down to see! COWPER. |