No. 123. New Series. WESLEYAN MISSIONARY NOTICES, &c., MARCH, 1849. ANNIVERSARY OF THE WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY is approaching; and the Committee earnestly hope, and respectfully request, that they may be cheered and gratified by a numerous attendance of their friends and supporters, both at the General Meeting in Exeter-Hall, in the forenoon of Monday, April 30th, and at the Preparatory Religious Services, during the preceding week and on the last Sabbath in April. They especially invite and urge the presence of Country Members of the Society, from various parts of Great Britain and Ireland. The Committee take the liberty of suggesting, that the assemblage of the Society's most active and generous Members and Friends, at the London Anniversary of the Parent Institution, is, in various ways, highly beneficial and important to the common cause. The Society is thus advantageously seen and recognised in its more collective and aggregate character; and its friends go forth, with increased information and zeal, to resume, in their several spheres of distinct and particular labour, their advocacy of its claims, and their exertions in behalf of its funds. The usual details of the arrangements for the ensuing Anniversary will be given at length in our Number for April. In the mean time the Committee have great pleasure in thus early announcing, that THE REV. DR. NEWTON, PRESIDENT OF THE CONFERENCE, THE REV. NORMAN M'LEOD, A.M., MINISTER OF DALKEITH, THE REV. DR. DIXON, OF BIRMINGHAM, AND THE REV. WILLIAM BARTON, OF LEEDS, have kindly promised to preach the Four Annual Week-Day Sermons before the Society on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, April 24th, 25th, 26th, and 27th; and that, in addition to the eminent Ministers first named, the Rev. Dr. Hannah, of Didsbury, the Rev. John Greer, of Ireland, the Rev. F. J. Jobson, of Manchester, the Rev. William Arthur, late of Paris, and the Rev. Matthew Gallienne, from Switzerland, and several of the London Ministers, are expected to afford their valuable assistance on Sunday, April 29th. May the blessing of Almighty God be vouchsafed to these several engagements! The ANNUAL MEETING of the Society will be held in Exeter-Hall, Strand, on Monday, April 30th, at eleven o'clock, when the chair will be taken by SIR EDWARD N. BUXTON, BART., M.P. for South Essex. With peculiar satisfaction the Committee add, that THE REV. JOHN JORDAN, A.B., VICAR OF ENSTONE, has obligingly consented to preach for the Society, on Thursday Evening, April 26th, in the Episcopal Chapel, Gray's-Inn-Lane, kindly granted for that occasion by the Rev. Thomas Mortimer, B.D. VOL. VII. NEW SERIES. MARCH, 1849. D POLYNESIAN MISSIONS. FEEJEE. WE now publish the concluding portion of our Extracts from Mr. Lawry's deeply interesting and important Journal. That portion contains the narrative of his Return from the three new Stations, (described in our Number for February,) to what may be called the Head Quarters at VEWA, and of the very perilous circumstances in which he and his excellent companions were placed, in the course of their voyage, by the striking of the vessel on one of the coral reefs, so common in those seas. This narrative, and the subsequent one, announcing Mr. Lawry's safe arrival in New-Zealand, are interspersed, it will be seen, like our preceding extracts, with various illustrative incidents, reflections, and remarks; and include some general views of the actual results and hopeful prospects of the Feejee Mission, and of the loud calls and promising openings for its speedy extension and enlargement. Mr. Lawry's observations on this subject, conveyed in his own graphic and felicitous style, may be safely left to make their due impression on all Christian readers, and need no enforcement from us. To two points only will we now particularly direct attention:-First, The report of the Missionary Ship "John Wesley," and of her efficient adaptation to the general purposes to which it is devoted, is very satisfactory and gratifying. "She does great credit," says Mr. Lawry, "to all concerned in her building and outfit;" and we must here add our tribute of merited praise to the management of Captain Buck, and his officers, and ship's crew:-Secondly, We are bound, on the review of this whole document, and of the proceedings which it records, to call upon our friends to unite with us, not only in fervent prayer for the continued blessing of God on our Polynesian Missions, but in devout and solemn thanksgivings for the protection so signally afforded, and the grace vouchsafed, to Mr. Lawry, and the other labourers of the Society, in those fields of evangelical toil and enterprise. Surely we should all afresh thank God, and take courage. Extracts from the Journal of the Rev. Walter Lawry, during a Missionary Voyage from New-Zealand to the Friendly-Islands and Feejee, begun May 29th, 1847, and completed by his return to New-Zealand on the 21st of December in the same year. (Concluded from our NOVEMBER 22d, 1847.—We weighed anchor at sunrise, for the purpose of threading our way against the wind between the reefs on our way back to Vewa. Before the anchor was up, two canoes, filled with lotu natives, came off about three miles, and joined with us on the quarter-deck in our usual family devotion: after singing (and they greatly delight to hear our singing) and reading the Scriptures, I prayed in English, and Mr. Hunt in the native language. They then saluted us affectionately, and we parted. After a dead beat of nine hours, we came to anchor in an open roadstead, Number for March.) called Mataikara, in seven fathoms water. The day turned out wet, and the clouds hung heavy on the attracting mountains. The slopes of these looked green; and I should incline to the opinion that, for purposes of grazing, the land of Feejee, where there is so much wet and heat, must be admirably adapted; one acre here producing more grass and herbage than ten do in New South Wales. Fencing would not be at all difficult, as fine stone and timber every where abound, with excellent streams of water. The Friendly Isles are very rich in soil, and generally level; but they lack timber, stone, and water. They abound in trees; but still they are deficient in useful timber. It is rather singular, that neither in Tonga nor Feejee will the natives sell their land, although they cannot use one acre in twenty of what they have. When the anchor was down this evening, I proposed to Varani that we should go ashore; but he said enough to satisfy Mr. Hunt that our flesh would be swallowed by the crowds as soon as convenient after we landed. We have a native Teacher near them, and the kingdom of God is come nigh unto them. Their country would contain more than twenty times its present population: but they are still fighting among themselves, and eating one another. Yet for these the Saviour died, and his Gospel grace is even now displayed among these savages. We have a Christian native called Benjamin from this very place, who will shortly come to his own people in the character of Teacher, for which he has been receiving instruction and training at Vewa. The Lord has "his way even in poor Feejee, and bright will be the splendour, when his train shall fill the evangelical temple, now in course of building among these outcasts of men. come 23d. We weighed anchor early this morning, and beat up to the roadstead under Moturiki, and the high island of Ovalau. At this latter place we have a small church of steady members, who, when they first embraced the Gospel, were sent for by King Tanoa, to to Bau and be cooked." Their answer was, "We We are here, and you can cook us if you please; but we shall not give up our religion to save our lives." The King spared them. Unhappily, a war is now troubling this fine island; and the high peaks of the cloud-capped mountains are the places where the people take refuge when their enemies are too strong for them. Cannibalism is still rife at Ovalau: but its days are numbered; for the Gospel is preached unto them, and, therefore, a voice is heard saying, "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." "Keep her away! A rock right ahead!" This was instantly attended to by Captain Buck, who had the helm; but it was too late. In an instant on we went, "bump, bump, bump," on a small coral rock, having deep water all around, and with an ebb tide. She hung by the middle, about one-third resting on the rock. The ballast was thrown overboard; but as the tide fell, the vessel heeled over, and her bilge struck hard at times upon the rock. We were all exceedingly terrified. There was, however, no help, but in putting our hands to the ballast, and praying to the Lord for assistance. As the people were in the hold, they could see the stones heaving, as though something were forcing its way up through. So much did they heave, that at times they were rattled one against another. This, of course, told a sad tale as to the contact between the side of the vessel and the rock. While things were in this posture, two canoes bore down upon us; the men being perfectly naked, and savage in their looks. They were ordered not to board us, as the vessel was at present tambu (sacred): they went off at first, but soon returned with an aspect of increased hostility. They were allowed to come very near then our fire-arms were shown to them. At this exhibition, I shall never forget the glare of their eyes, as they made all haste to push off before the wind. They did not come near again. No doubt they intended our destruction; but God put the fear of our arms upon them. Meantime, there we lay upon the point of a small sharp rock, so much heeled over as not to be able to stand on the deck without holding on. From ten in the morning till seven in the evening were very anxious hours with us, during which period many prayers were offered up; and I am well satisfied to-day that, by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. As the ship had been considerably lightened during the day, the flowing tide, at seven in the evening, floated her off under sail, "bump, bump, bump," until we were in deep water. What damage may have been done, is yet unknown; but she makes no water. Never can I forget that moment, when from our deck the rock appeared astern of us. and eyes were lifted up in amazement and thankfulness to God for such a deliverance. I felt power with God in prayer, and many a precious promise passed through my mind during the day. But that day was a day to feel one's own littleness, and to ascertain the 25th. How truly perilous is the condition of such a voyage as ours in Feejee! Yesterday morning we began our work in the usual way, beating up to `Vewa, which we fully expected to make early in the day. Varani and the second Mate were on the fore-topsail yard, looking out for danger; and soon enough they found it. At ten o'clock in the forenoon a cry was heard from the tops, All hands small comparative value to be attached to property and to life itself. In one minute all was calm cheerfulness; in the next we were thunder-struck, and filled with dismay and horror. In the early part of this day we made our way to Vewa, where we have to lay in wood and water, and to get the vessel ready for sea, on her homeward voyage; if it do not turn out that serious injury has been done to her while on the rock. During this trip among the Feejee group, we have planted three new Missions, and placed some native Teachers in populous parts of the islands; where, though for the most part second to none in vice and ferocity, there are a few who are desirous of hearing about revealed religion, and some who have already bowed the knee to Jesus. Twenty-one times we have come to anchor; once we ran upon a rock, far from land; and it is impossible to say how many others we escaped by the skin of our teeth, as it were, while loud cries from the topmast, of, "Keep her away: we are almost on a rock!" caused every face upon deck to turn pale. Scenes like these shake my nerves; but at the same time they lead me to the Saviour, whose work I love, and by his grace shall pursue until he shall say, "It is enough: come up higher." 26th. Vewa is tranquil; but war is in the neighbourhood, between Rewa and Bau. Two captives were killed and eaten within sight of our vessel, so late as yesterday; and two hundred others have been taken alive in the fall of a town called Notho. Many were slain and eaten; the town was burnt; and the captives await their fate. A Chief in another part of the island, not at war, said to one of his people, "Go, get me some bread-fruit, and cook it forthwith." The man went, and found none, which he reported on his return to the Chief; who replied, "Very well, make haste and prepare the oven.' "The man did so accordingly, and, by order of the Chief, was himself cooked therein at once, for no other cause than his not finding bread-fruit when his superior was hungry! 27th. Joshua, our native Teacher, who had been sent over to Rotumah in an American vessel when I first arrived at Feejee, has returned, and reports that he found our Teachers all well, and about eighty members in the society, anxiously looking out for a Missionary. The population is estimated at about one thousand; and many of them would lotu if a Missionary could reside amongst them. Some irregularities had crept in among the Tonga Teachers, and also among the people, which were corrected by Joshua. He reports that two Popish Priests have been landed there by a French ship of war, with this injunction, "Feed and treat these men well, because we shall call again, and, if there be any complaint, we shall punish you." But Joshua says the entire population strongly dislike Popery and the Priests, and that not one person has joined himself to them. But to us they turn their speaking eyes in supplication for a Missionary. I beg that one may be sent to poor Rotumah, if the state of your funds will permit you to incur the extra-expense. Both the master of the "Auckland" bark and Joshua state the following facts: Two vessels from Sydney, of which the name of one was Velocity," a schooner, had been engaged in obtaining men from islands hereabout at two pounds a-head by the year as wages; as they are designed to be shepherds and labourers in New South Wales. It is stated that forty of the natives, from an island called Uea, near New Caledonia, were on board when these vessels touched at Rotumah; where, not liking what they had met with on board, they all swam ashore. The Chief was applied to, in vain, to give them up. He said he would ot meddle with it. He did not bring them there, and should not interfere, this way or the other. The Europeans then resorted to harsh measures, with a view of compelling the Chief to send back the escaped natives. A scuffle took place between the parties, and some were shot on both sides. The vessels hereupon sailed without the men, whom they had brought from their homes. I have no ground to doubt that these facts are substantially correct; and the AntiSlavery Society should use its influence to obtain full information on the subject; because the Government will not permit a system to grow up which is so deeply degrading to human nature, and so thoroughly anti-Christian and anti-British. Sunday, 28th.-The Lord is visiting His people in several places, and in separate islands. Showers of gracious influence are falling copiously on the older Stations, as well as upon the infant churches. Conversions are by no means rare; and a general quickening is observable throughout the group. I have long since observed that a few clear and genuine conversions in any place will give an impulse to spiritual religion in that church. There is much unity of heart and purpose among the Missiona ries here; and their spirit is caught by the people. 29th. I left Auckland this day six months, and have been wandering about among the islands ever since. Though I have many mercies poured upon me from God, and favours from His church, for which I trust I am thankful; yet so long an absence from home, combined with a sea life, is by no means what I would choose. It is merely to be submitted to, for Christ's sake. Such a cause and such a Master will more than justify this little exposure of one's self, when the Lord hath need of it. This, after all, is not martyrdom ! A Chief of Bau, within sight of Vewa, where I am writing, slew two women yesterday, merely for the pleasure of killing human beings. Notice may or may not be taken of these murders; but their blood crieth, and "I will repay, saith the Lord." 30th.-Upon a review of our Mission in Feejee, I am bound to say that its importance, in my estimation, increases with the increase of my knowledge of the people, the country, and the work now in progress here. There are two very large islands, with high mountains and fine rivers, each as large as Devonshire. Upon these the population may be reckoned at 150,000. Beside these, there are in the entire group about one hundred islands with a population, Mr. Hunt thinks, of another 150,000, making a total of 300,000 souls in Feejee. I am well satisfied that twenty times the present number of people might easily find subsistence on these islands, and one hundred islets, not now inhabited. It is a remarkable provision of Divine Providence, that the two main articles of food in Feejee never fail together. If the season proves wet, the taro thrives well; and if it be dry, the yam abounds. When the Gospel shall have caused their wars to cease, the industrious habits of the people cannot fail to secure abundance of excellent food, and, by consequence, a rapid increase of population. While this people have at present a rough exterior, and cannibal habits, they are possessed of activity, shrewdness, and the remains of civil distinctions, titles of honour, and courteous salutations of one another, which, in their fine and copious language, produce, the Missionaries say, in a variety of ways, the most agreeable effect. The New Testament is now read by many, an edition having issued from the Mission press in Feejee. The impression begins to be very general that Christianity is true, and that, of course, their system is false and destructive. Those who have embraced the Gospel generally adorn it; and a goodly number of them go every where preaching the word. It is worthy of remark, that, notwithstanding the bloody and cruel ferocity of these Pagan cannibals, no violence, even of the slightest kind, has been committed on the person of any of our Missionaries. the case has not been so with other white men dwelling among them, many of whom have been clubbed, maimed, and killed. But The character of our brethren for consistency and truthfulness, while living in Feejee, may now be considered as fully established. Whoever else is in jeopardy, the messenger of grace and peace is held sacred. The very devoted and spotless life of Varani, since he bowed the knee to Jesus, has done much to soften prejudice, and to cast a lustre on the Christian character. His friend and companion in arms, Thakombau, King of Feejee, was very bitter and earnest against the Gospel, until he saw the true power of piety in this "living epistle.' Since that time his tone has softened down, and his views have become corrected. He now says Christianity is true, and that he and his people shall soon embrace it; but there are some wars to be completed first! Both he and his people are well aware of the designs of the French Priests, aided by the naval power of France; and deep is their dislike to both, but especially to Popery, the full display of which they behold in Tahiti. The widely extended influence of the press; the diligent attention to the education of the people, and especially to the children, wherever we get a Station; the increased instruction afforded to the most hopeful of the native converts; the multiplication of these in all directions, where the people are willing, and even anxious, to receive them as Teachers; and, above all, under God the successful preaching of the Gospel, and the consequent outpouring of the Holy Spirit, now most earnestly prayed for by the excellent Missionaries scattered among the islands; cannot fail to overcome the power of Satan, and to set up in Feejee he kingdom of our God and of His Christ. At present it appears to me that our prospects are truly cheering, and that the day is not distant when this people shall be added to the triumphs of our blessed Saviour in th islands of the sea. us, therefore, go on, and, if possible, Let |