The Mauruans told the missionaries that they formerly attributed
every evil that befell them to the anger of their “evil
spirits,” but now they worshiped the living and true God, and
they pointed to the demolished Maraes and mutilated idols as the
proof of the great change. The change in the name of the gods,
whom they now called “evil spirits,” was an indication of the
radical change in their religious beliefs. In some cases the
spears which had been used in warfare were found converted into
staves to support the balustrades of the pulpit stairs, and not
a vestige of idolatry was to be seen.--PIERSON, “The
Miracles of Missions.”
(968)