TAHITI, SOCIETY ISLANDS.
By E. H. Gates
I ARRIVED at Raratonga, Cook Islands, August 7, after staying one week at Auckland, New Zealand. Though the prospects looked dark a few months ago in Raratonga, the Lord has turned the opposition of the enemy to the furtherance of the truth. Last January, by act of the island parliament, the true Sabbath, which has been kept in this group since the introduction of Christianity, was set aside at the instigation of the Protestant and Catholic clergy, and the Sunday established. A fine of ten shillings was the penalty for Sunday work. Very few of the natives wished the change made; but after being heavily fined, and threatened with imprisonment, most of them submitted, and now profane the Sabbath. Generally, the fines were not for working on Sunday, but because they continued to meet on the Sabbath, as they had always done. One aged native preacher was fined five pounds, and several of the deacons were fined four pounds each, for keeping the Sabbath—NOT for Sunday work. Across the island, at Titikaveka, is a large native church, forty or fifty of the members of which persisted in keeping the Sabbath. Most of them were fined by the courts. A church building, which they erected at their own expense, and for use on the Sabbath, was nailed up by order of the araki (native chief), who is also a minister, laboring under the immediate direction of the London Missionary Society clergymen. These Sabbath-keepers sent to our brethren, asking that a minister be sent to them. Foreseeing the opposition that would arise, the brethren refused to become their teachers while they remained in the London Missionary Society. Forty or fifty of them withdrew from that church, and sent another request for help. Dr. Caldwell went to their assistance, and has continued to teach them till the present time. When I went to the island, Dr. Caldwell requested me to unite with him in labor. We proposed to these native brethren that we hold a general meeting for the benefit of all the Sabbath-keepers on the island. They were a little fearful that the authorities might try to break up their meetings, and so I decided to visit the British Resident and set the situation before him, telling him what we proposed to do. He treated me very courteously, and assured me that if the meetings were interfered with, he would see that the natives’ rights were respected. Our meetings were a success. When the matter of the sanctification of the body was presented, some decided at once to give up tobacco. The tobacco habit is almost universal among this people. The subject of baptism was then presented, and a few expressed a desire to receive the ordinance. On the Sabbath we presented the subject of the church of God, its high and holy character, and what God expects of those who connect with it. Those who desired baptism were then called together, and were given opportunity to tell their experiences and wishes. One young man at once arose and confessed his sins of intemperance, theft, adultery, etc., but said that God had touched his heart, and now he wished to show his death to sin by being buried with Christ. Others made similar confessions. Sunday afternoon we gathered on the beach of the beautiful lagoon, and buried eight of these repentant natives in the likeness of Christ’s death. The last Sabbath of my visit we had another meeting for those who wished to give themselves to Christ, at which ten more offered themselves for baptism. Most of these had already given up the use of tobacco, and the remainder promised to do so. Most of the women wore a profusion of gold and silver jewelry; but when they were shown that this is a relic of heathenism, and forbidden by the Scriptures, they at once said they would give it up. In the afternoon the baptism was administered. One of the men was recovering from a broken leg, and had to be carried into the water. Another, who had been a deacon in the London Missionary Society, will probably become a public laborer among us. The six female candidates came to the baptism neatly attired in white dresses. On the same day we effected a church organization of twenty members, not including our mission families, who expect soon to labor in other fields. The Lord has certainly done wonders for some of our native converts, and we expect to see others unite with them. A young brother and his wife from Australia are expected in Raratonga next month, to take the place of Dr. Caldwell, who expects to labor among the Maoris of New Zealand. Leaving Raratonga, I reached Tahiti, September 6. The new church building had just been finished, and is a credit to the cause of truth. It is twenty-four by forty-eight feet, and is the neatest house in the island. Sunday, September 9, dedicatory services were held, the house being well filled with an attentive audience. It certainly was a mixed audience, there being present Americans, Englishmen, Frenchmen, Germans, half-castes, and natives. The English and United States consuls were also in attendance. This is the second church building erected in this group, but it is expected that another one will be built at Paia within a few months. Though the Sabbath-keepers are not numerous, we can see that the truth is slowly gaining ground.766 We have here a number of intelligent young people, who, if consecrated to God’s service, will be a power for good. Most of them are able to talk and read English, French, and Tahitian, and stand well in their classes in the schools. A few of these youth expect to go to America to attend one of our schools when Elder Cady goes in November. We held several meetings with them, setting before them the responsibilities and duties of the young, and the vast possibilities before those who whole-heartedly choose God’s way of serving him. We then organized them into a company of volunteers to work for the young people who are out of Christ. Elder Cady will spend several months in America, attending the General Conference, trying to secure help for his school, and will then return to carry on work in new fields. We feel hopeful about the future work in this field. E. H. GATES.