Scarcely a native in the settlement who was not present to bid farewell
to their beloved missionary, and amid tears and prayers, he embarked on
board the _Olive Branch_. My wife accompanied me, and though the little
vessel was much crowded, we had a very happy party.
The weather was fine, and as we had numerous places to touch at, we were
not more than twelve days without obtaining fresh provisions. Formerly,
when the islands of the Pacific were little known, crews starving or
suffering from scurvy must often have passed just out of sight of land,
where they might have obtained an ample supply of fresh provisions; but
now, very much through the instrumentality of the missionaries of the
gospel, scarcely an island remains unknown, and entirely through their
instrumentality the greater number may now be visited, not only without
fear, but the voyager is certain to receive a Christian welcome on their
shores.
An instance came under my notice where the natives did not only return
good for good, but good for evil. The master and crew of a large
English ship had grossly misbehaved themselves and ill-treated the
people of an island. Scarcely had they sailed when a gale sprung up,
and their ship was driven on shore and lost. The cargo and other
property in the ship was taken possession of by the natives, who
considered that they had a right to it. On the captain, however,
claiming it through the missionary, the chiefs met and decided that it
should be given up, which it was forthwith without a word of complaint.
Here the brown Christian set an example to the white man, virtually a
heathen.
The new post to which my brother was appointed was on a lovely island,
fertile in the extreme, and thickly populated. Indeed it might have
been said of it, "that only man was vile." No natives appeared on the
shore to welcome him, but after a time the teachers came off in their
canoe, and gave us accounts which were far from cheering. Chiefs who
had appeared friendly had turned against them, and some had prohibited
their people from listening to the Word of God, or attending school or
chapel. I suggested to my brother that under the circumstances it might
be wiser not to land.
"What, because the enemy begins the fight shall the soldier desert his
standard?" he asked, with a look of surprise. "No, David, you would not
counsel such conduct."
I could say nothing. The teachers were of opinion that he would be
treated with indifference rather than actual hostility, at first, by the
great mass of the people, and that his life at all events would be
perfectly safe. They mentioned one chief who appeared to be more
friendly disposed towards Christianity than the rest, and to him
accordingly, we at once went to pay our court. The chief looked like a
perfect savage, with his hair long and frizzed out, his eyes rolling
wildly, and with scarcely any clothing on his dusky body. Still he
received us politely, and not without a certain dignity, and promised if
the missionary now remained he would be answerable to me for him, should
I again visit the island.
The man was still a heathen, and I felt very unwilling to put any
confidence in his promises. It was too evident to me that he wished for
a missionary for the sake of axes and saws, and other articles he
expected to obtain, rather than for any spiritual benefit he hoped to
derive from his presence. I had, however, no alternative, than to land
my dear brother with his wife and little ones, and household goods. My
only consolation was that I was able with my crew to assist in putting
up a house for him, many of the parts of which we had brought with us.
The teachers were good carpenters, and had already, with the aid of some
natives whom they had instructed, prepared some stout uprights and beams
and planks. Notwithstanding this, the rapidity with which we got up the
house, dug up a garden and fenced it round, caused great astonishment
among the people. Before we left, my brother had already begun a
school-room, to serve also as a chapel till a larger edifice could be
erected, while he received inquirers at his own house. My sister-in-law
had also two female classes of adults and children, to whom she imparted
such religious instruction as they would receive, and some of the arts
of civilised life, while round the station resembled a busy hive, all
the natives who had professed Christianity being actively employed as
sawyers or in some other mechanical work. His aim at this early stage
of the mission was to show the natives the advantages the Christians
possessed over the heathens, and thus to make them look with favour on
Christianity. He never failed while they were thus engaged to impart so
much religious instruction as they could receive. Everything appeared
now to be going on favourably. When I remarked that I now had
reasonable hopes that he would succeed--
"Who can doubt it?" was his answer. "If I do not my successor will.
The gospel will most assuredly cover the earth as the waters cover the
sea. God has said it."
One of the saddest moments of my life was that when I parted from my
devoted brother as he stood on the beach while I returned for the last
time to my vessel. Yet I asked myself more than once, Why should I
grieve? why should I be anxious? He is engaged in the noblest cause in
which the energies of a human being can be employed--gaining subjects
for the Redeemer's kingdom.
Still I was his brother, and as such I could not contemplate without
fear the dangers to which he was exposed. I was now to return direct to
Mr Bent's station, where I proposed refitting the _Olive Branch_ to be
ready for any work she might be called on to perform. We found that
great progress had been made at the station, both spiritual and
material. There were many new converts, and several excellent little
houses built, surrounded by neat gardens and fields. It had not been
done without cost, and it was too evident to Mary and me that her
father's health and strength were failing. She spoke to him, and
suggested a change of scene.
"Here I have been planted by the Lord of the vineyard, and here let me,
if He so wills it, wither and fall, dear one," he answered.
It was too evident to us that his body was withering, but not so his
spirit--that was expanding more and more, ripening for heaven. It
seemed to burn with a deep and unextinguishable love for the conversion
of all the islanders among whom he had so long laboured--not those of
his own group only, but for the inhabitants of all the isles of the
Pacific, "ay," he would finish, as if there had been a shortcoming of
his love for the souls of his fellow-men, "of the whole heathen world.
May they all come to know Thee, O Lord, and accept Thy great salvation."
Still his more constant prayers were for his own people. Gradually he
sunk--evidently entering into the rest prepared for those who love
Christ--his joy increased, his end was peace. Thus has many a
missionary died, and who would not change all the world can give to be
assured of such a death. Mary felt her father's death severely, but yet
as one who mourned with assured hope of a joyous resurrection.
My brother had earnestly petitioned to have another missionary or a
native teacher of superior attainments sent him, and while I was
debating what course to pursue, I received directions to carry the
teacher Vihala and his wife to him, and to visit many other stations on
my way. Vihala and Alea were delighted to see us again, but when they
heard of Mr Bent's death they shed tears of unfeigned sorrow at the
thought that they should see his face no more. They both had advanced
greatly in Christian knowledge, and Vihala appeared to me equal to the
taking entire charge of a station, however large. He was delighted to
hear that he was to join my brother, and made all his preparations with
alacrity.
As I was preparing to sail, a ship hove in sight. She was from England
direct, and brought letters for me and John.
I opened mine with trembling hands. All were well at home; but they
contained news and of importance too. A distant relative had died and
left a considerable fortune to my father's second son, but in the case
of his death it was to belong to the next, and so on. It could only
descend to the children of the brother who had possessed it for five
years. Thus John was to be the first possessor. It at once occurred to
me, would it prove a snare to him? Would it induce him to abandon his
high and holy calling? Would the man of property be unwilling to remain
the humble missionary? Still I thought I knew what John would do. I
felt that I was wronging him by having any doubts on the subject.
The delay was providential, for a gale sprung up as we were weighing
anchor, and again dropping it, we remained safely in port till the storm
had subsided. We had several places to call at, and baffling winds
still more prolonged our voyage. At last we anchored in the beautiful
bay opposite my brother's station.
I looked out anxiously expecting him to come off to us. I was then
about to land with Mary, thinking to take him and his family by
surprise, when a canoe appeared with one of the native teachers on
board. His first words were, "I am the only one left alive." My heart
sunk within me.
I put Mary again on board and went on shore. On the way the teacher
told me the sad tale. At first the natives in the district had been
friendly, but instigated by the heathen chiefs, they had, after a time,
refused provisions or assistance. Even some who had professed
Christianity were afraid to come openly to receive instruction. A
little band was faithful, and many came at night to hear the word of
God, and brought food, or the mission family might have been starved.
Still my brother persevered, and not without effect. Fresh converts
were made. Children were allowed to come to the girls' school, and when
it was discovered what useful arts they learned there in addition to
reading and writing, even some chiefs became desirous of sending their
daughters for instruction. This unexpected progress, made, in spite of
opposition, by the missionaries, exasperated the heathen chiefs still
further, and a plot was formed to cut off all the Christian teachers.
Their safety was, however, watched over by their converts, and all
attempts defeated. Treachery was next attempted, and one of the most
savage of the heathen chiefs pretended to be desirous of hearing the
truth. He sent to my brother, begging him to come to him. He was urged
not to go.
"What, and run the risk of allowing a soul to be left in Satan's power
which may be rescued!" was his answer. He went, accompanied by a
teacher and two Christian natives. They were unarmed. Day after day
passed, and no tidings came of them. At last the bodies of all four
were found. They had been barbarously murdered; but whether or not they
had reached the old chiefs residence could not be ascertained. He sent
a message expressing his regret that the missionary had not come to him.
My sister-in-law was supported in a way the Holy Spirit can alone
support a person in distress. Her longing desire was to meet him in
heaven, and to prepare their two boys to follow in his footsteps.
Notwithstanding all that had occurred, Vihala undauntedly resolved to
remain.
"If I fall, it is in God's cause, and to advance His glory," was his
only remark.
Having done all I could, with a heavy heart I quitted the station with
my sister-in-law and her children, and returned to head-quarters, where
I had the satisfaction of presenting the _Olive Branch_ for the service
of the mission. I persuaded my sister-in-law to accompany Mary and me
to England, where I have devoted a certain portion of the fortune of
which I so painfully became possessed to her support and the education
of her children, and at Mary's urgent request, another, what the world
would consider a no inconsiderable portion, to the support of missions.
We live in a humble way, but are far more happy than we should be did we
spend our wealth on ourselves. Our nephews, too, are amply rewarding
us, and will, I trust, prove efficient soldiers in that glorious army
which goes forth under the banner of the cross to fight against
idolatry, ignorance, vice, and all the foes Satan can array against the
truth as it is in Christ Jesus.