p. 362 | Hawaiian Islands by L. A. Scott

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 17, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 23.

Hawaiian Islands.

By L. A. Scott

SINCE the close of the tent-meetings, and Elder Healey's departure for California, we have endeavored to follow up the work here by visiting, and by the distribution of such reading matter as would tend to awaken a deeper interest in the near coming of the Lord, and the preparation of heart necessary to meet him with joy.

A well-known business man of this place has lately taken his stand for the truth as it is in Jesus; and has, through the press, informed the public of his convictions. He thanked his customers for past favors, asked for a continuation of their patronage, and notified all that, in future, his place of business would be closed on the Sabbath (Saturday). His course in the matter commands, at least, the respect of the right-minded portion of the community, and we trust that his manly action will give courage to others who are also convinced that God still requires obedience to all the precepts of his perfect, holy, just, and good law.

The Sabbath question is still agitating the minds of some in the churches here, as evidenced by the fact that one of the pastors of the leading denomination has felt called upon to spend two Sunday evenings in trying to show how the change was made from the seventh day, and that God now requires the observance of the first day of the week. His argument, however, did not prove the requirement, nor show that Christ or the apostles had anything to do with the change. The weakness of the Sunday cause is never quite so apparent as when its devotees undertake to defend it. The admissions which they are forced to make invariably show the observance of the first day to be of human origin, and the substitution to have been the work of "the man of sin." We hope that the agitation will continue till the honest in heart see the force of 2 Tim. 3:5, and follow Paul's injunction therein; for the end of all things is at hand.

Three weeks ago I visited the island of Kauai, said to be in all respects the most lovely of the group. The climate, judging from my short stay, is indeed delightful, and much of the scenery grand. The soil is rich, and rice and sugar cane are quite extensively cultivated. I went to nearly or quite all of the sugar plantations, finding some at all but one who were willing to read our publications, buying books and subscribing for the periodicals. There are but few English-speaking people on the island. I obtained, in all, thirty-one subscriptions, mostly for the SIGNS; took orders for about thirty-five dollars' worth of books, and held three Bible-readings. The past quarter Brother LaRue has taken thirty-five subscriptions for our different periodicals, visited seventeen foreign ships and a number of local schooners, selling quite a quantity of books to the officers and men, and supplying each vessel with more or less free reading matter.

We are both of good courage in the Lord, and rejoice to have a part in the work of our soon-coming Master. L. A. SCOTT.

Honolulu, May 24.