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tion, which your Redeemer and your Judge has entrusted to you for them, and so long ago charged you to give them. You see also what are the facilities for now giving them that salvation you have so long held in trust for them, but so long withheld from them. What will you do? Will you spurn them from your feet, and command them to let you alone, and wait, as they are, till the judgment day? Is this the love of Christ? Is this the beauty of the Lord upon his holy Zion? Where are the hundreds of students in theology? Where are the tens of hundreds of blooming, pious, well-educated youth, the professed followers of the Lamb? Is there none among you, who have a love, a sympathy, a compassion, for all these your long neglected, your dying, your perishing fellow men? O remember, there is a dead love, a dead sympathy, a dead compassion, as well as a dead faith; being without works. O, it was not a dead love, or sympathy, or compassion, which brought your Redeemer to the cross. That was not idle breath which he uttered, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature," nor yet that interceding appeal to the Father, "As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world." O contemplate on the cross, your bleeding Savior, tasting death for every man, and then survey the spiritual miseries and prospects of these millions of heathen souls dying in ignorance of that only name, by which it is possible for them to be saved; and then lay upon your hearts your Redeemer's farewell charge, and when you have faithfully done this, judge of your love and regard for Jesus, and of your compassion for immortal souls, by your works.

I will endeavor, as God shall enable me, so to labor here on the spot, that the blood of these souls shall not be found in my skirts; and while I cannot but witness a generation of 12,000,000 of unevangelized souls, in succession to the hundreds of generations gone down before them, dropping into eternity, leaving prospects but little better for the next generation, I will endeavor, as a watchman at my post, faithfully to report what I see. Wo is unto me, if I proclaim not the wants of this people, and the eminent facilities made ready for the supply of those wants. This I would wish to do so plainly and so fully, that if the guilt of neglecting their salvation must lodge any where, I may be able to shake it from my garments; so that I may stand acquitted before my Judge, both as to my personal labors among them, and as to my pleading with you on their behalf.

The remarks I have now made, are, in a great measure, applicable to other parts of India. And there is yet another very grievous view to be taken, which I can but barely mention. In little more than a year past, death, sickness, and other causes,

have, so far as I can learn, laid aside nineteen missionaries in India, while but six or eight have, in the same time, come to India; and so far as I know (from missionary appearances, not from God's promises) there is a prospect of further diminution, rather than of augmentation. In view of these things, what will the English and American churches do? Is it not time for every missionary in India, to cry aloud and spare not? Would you have your missionaries leave their work, and come home, to plead, in person before you, the cause of the heathen? Do not tempt us to do so. Some have, in Providence, been called home, especially to England, and their pleas, in person, have been successful so far beyond what has been otherwise attempted, as seemingly to call for the measure, though so expensive, and, for the time, so privative to the heathen. Why is it so? Why cannot facts be weighed? Why cannot the well known necessities and miseries of the heathen speak, and plead and prevail, without the aid of any such disasterous expedients? Does this tell to the credit of those whom the gospel makes wise to do good? O think of these things every one who has a mind that can think! O feel, every one that has a heart that can feel. O ye redeemed of the Lord, whom he has made kings and priests unto God, "I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service," and in the true spirit of such an unreserved consecration of yourselves to your Redeemer, ask him, "Lord what wilt thou have me to do?" And let his Spirit, and his truth, and your own conscience, give you the answer, which shall guide you in a matter of such unparalleled moment.

Your affectionate fellow servant in the Lord,

GORDON HALL.

There are now six American missiona

ries at Bombay, and one other on the way from this country. All but two have wives, and there is besides a single female, superintendent of native female schools. The city of Bombay is upon an island of the same

name: a detachment from the mission has lately gone to labor upon the adjacent continent.

On the island and continent are 20 boys' schools, containing about 1,200 children. There are also 18 schools for girls, all on the island, containing about 500 pupils.The amount of printing which has been executed at the mission press in Bombay, exceeds 10,000,000 of pages.

The New Testament and parts of the Old have been translated by the missionaries of the Board into the Mahratta language, and printed, and, to a great extent, circulated ainong the people.

OF THE

AMERICAN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS. No. VI. September, 1832.

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THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.

THE SANDWICH ISLANDS are ten in number. They lie within the tropic of Cancer, about one third of the distance from the western coast of Mexico to the eastern shores of China.

The length of Hawaii is 97 miles, its breadth 78, and its circumference 280, and it covers an area of about 4,000 square miles. It is the most southern island, and ascends to the great height of at least 15,000 feet. Its broad base and regular form render its outline different from that of most other islands in the Pacific. The mountains of Hawaii, unlike the peak of Teneriffe in the Atlantic, do not pierce the clouds like obelisks or spires, but in most parts, and from the southern shore in particular, the ascent is gradual, and comparatively unbroken, from the sea-beach to the lofty summit of Mauna Loa. The greatest part of the arable land is found near the sea-shore, along which the towns and villages of the natives are thickly scattered. The population is estimated at from 85,000 to 100,000.-Maui is 48 miles long, 29 broad, and 140 in circumference, and covers about 600 square miles. The island is composed of two peninsulas, united by a low isthmus nine miles across. The southern peninsula is the larger of the two, and is lofty; but though its summits are often seen above the clouds, they are never covered with snow, as are the mountains of Hawaii. In the northern peninsula, there are several extensive tracts of level and well-watered land, in a high state of cultivation. The population, according to a late census, is 34,000. Maui is separated from Hawaii by a strait about 24 miles across.-Kahoolawe, only a few miles distant from the southern peninsula of Maui, is eleven miles long, and eight broad. It is low, and almost destitute of every kind of shrub or verdure, except a species of coarse grass. There are but few residents on this island.-Molokini lies between these islands, and is a barren rock visited only by fishermen, who find its naked surface convenient for spreading their nets to dry.-Lanai is a compact island, 17 miles in length, and nine in breadth. The width of the strait, which separates it from Maui, is nine or ten miles. A great part of the island is barren. Population about 2,000. Molokai is a long, irregular island, apparently formed by a chain of volcanic mountains, 40 miles long, and not more than seven broad. Population about 8,000.-Oahu lies nearly northwest of Molokai, between 30 and 40 miles distant, and is the most romantic and fertile of the Sandwich Islands. Its length is 46 miles, and its breadth 23. Its appearance from the roads off Honolulu, or Waititi, is remarkably picturesque. A chain of lofty mountains rises near the centre of the eastern part of the island, and, extending perhaps twenty miles, reaches the plain of Eva, which divides it from the distant and elevated mountains that rise in a line parallel with the northwest shore. The plain of Eva is nearly twenty miles in length, from the Pearl River to Wailua, and in some parts nine or ten miles across. The soil is fertile, and watered by a number of rivulets, which wind their way along the deep water courses that intersect its surface, and empty themselves into the sea. Population estimated at 20,000.--Kauai, distant northwest of Oahu about 75 miles, is 46 miles long, and 23 broad, and covers an area of 520 square miles. The principal settlements are in the neighborhood of Waimea river, the roads at the entrance of which are the usual resort of vessels touching at Kanai. Population about 10,000.-Nihau, about 15 miles from Kauai, in a westerly direction, is 20 miles in length, and seven miles wide. The inhabitants are not numerous.-Kaula is a barren, uninhabited rock.

The southeastern islands are called Windward, and the northwestern Leeward, islands--the latter being most distant from the point whence the trade-wind blows, which is perpetually sweeping over the islands.

The whole group is evidently of volcanic formation. Extinguished volcanoes are found in several of the islands, and Hawaii contains one of the most remarkable volcanoes in the world. The population of the group may be reckoned at 185,000.

The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions established a mission in these islands in the spring of 1820. The following table presents at one view the number of missionaries and assistant missionaries, which has been sent out at different times.

Time of Embarkation. Arrival. Preachers. Teachers. Physicians. Printers. Farmers. Females. Total.
Oct. 23, 1819,
Nov. 19, 1822,

April, 1820,

2

2

1

7

14

April, 1823,

5

1

1

6

13

Nov. 3, 1828,

March, 1829,

4

10

16

Dec. 28, 1830,

June, 1831,

3

1

4

8

Nov. 26, 1831,

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Two of the teachers have been ordained as ministers of the gospel, making the number of ordained missionaries at the islands, 22; but it is expected that two or three of these will go to the Washington Islands. As it is, eight of the 22 are yet ignorant of the language, and if the islands were divided into equal parishes, each missionary would have the charge of eight or ten thousand souls.

A considerable part of the native population is made to feel the influence of the schools. The number of schools and scholars in the several islands is estimated as follows:

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The mission churches contain about 500 native members. The language has been reduced to writing; the alphabet containing but seven consonants and five vowels, or twelve letters in the whole. Works have been prepared and printed in the Hawaiian language to the amount of 1,280 pages, reckoning them in a continuous seriesmultiplied by the press to 21,031,380 pages. Among these works are embraced nearly the whole New Testament, and portions of the Old Testament.

Five or six years ago, the Christian form of marriage was unknown on the islands. Nor was there any other form that could not be sundered at any moment by the will of the parties. The breaking of the marriage contract, such as it was, was a thing of the most common occurrence, leading to great misery and great moral pollution. Now, probably few persons who would be called respectable on the islands, residing within a day's journey of any of the stations, can be found living together as heads

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In the autumn of 1831, the king committhe hands of Kaahumanu; and Adams, ted the government of Oahu publicly into (Kuakini,) formerly governor of Hawaii, was appointed governor. He immediately gave out orders for the suppression of grog shops, gaming-houses, &c., and followed up his orders by keeping an armed guard in the streets. Riding on the Sabbath for amusement was also strictly forbidden, and several horses of foreigners were seized in the act of violating the law. They were afterwards given up. All these things put together, produced no little excitement.

The salutary laws of the chiefs, designed particularly to restrain the foreigners, met at first with strong opposition; and were afterwards evaded, or not carried fully into effect. Riding on the Sabbath for amusement is, however, entirely prevented, and other vices have received a great check.

About the same time the chiefs, being assembled from the different islands at Honolulu, and others favorably disposed, formed themselves into a temperance society, on the general principle of entire abstinence from the use of ardent spirits for pleasure or civility, and from engaging in distilling or vending the same for gain.

The authority of the islands is exercised by pious chieftains; indeed most of the principal chiefs are now members of the visible church of Christ. The government of the islands has adopted the moral law of God, with a knowledge of its purport, as the basis of their own future administra

tion, and the Christian religion is professedly the religion of the nation. Special laws have been enacted and are enforced, against murder, theft, licentiousness, retailing ardent spirits, Sabbath-breaking, and gambling. The Christian law of marriage is the law of the land.

Commodious houses for public worship have been erected by the principal chiefs, in the places of their residence; and when there is preaching, these chiefs regularly and seriously attend. In the island of Maui, there is said to be a house for public worship in every considerable village. Those erected at the several missionary stations, are large. That at Lahaina is of stone, two stories high, it is 98 feet long and 62 broad, and, having galleries, it will seat 3,000 people after the native manner. It is the most substantial and noble structure in Polynesia. Most or all of the others are thatched buildings. The church at Honolulu, erected by the present king is 196 feet long, and 63 feet broad, and admits 4,500 persons. Another at Waiahea, in Hawaii, is 147 feet long and 68 broad; and a fourth at Kailua, in the same island, is 180 feet long and 78 broad. The congregations on the Sabbath, at the places in which the missionaries reside, vary from one to four thousand hearers; and are universally characterized by order, stillness, and strict attention to preaching. The congregation at Honolulu, in Oahu, for nine months, averaged from 3,000 to 4,000 on Sabbath morning, and from 2,000 to 3,000 in the afternoon; and from 500 to 1,000 on Wednesday evening.

In the district of Honolulu, a thousand natives have associated on the principle of entire abstinence from the use of intoxicating liquors. And in that same district and two others, with a united population of perhaps 40,000, a fourth part of the inhabitants have formed themselves into societies for the better understanding and keeping of God's holy law. These societies require unimpeachable morals, as a condition of membership.

All these facts are traceable wholly to the blessing of God on the establishment of a Christian mission in those islands.

The nation, however, is only beginning to understand the advantages of the social state. The elements of individual improvement, domestic happiness, national order and prosperity have been introduced and are in progressive operation; and the contrast between the former and present character of the nation is great, in almost every respect. Yet few have done more than merely to cross the threshold of knowledge. Probably three fourths of those who are capable of learning to read, have yet to acquire the art.

Salvation through the Lamb, that was slain, is brought within the reach of thousands, and many have fled and are fleeing, to lay hold on the hope set before them; but how few are their advantages, compar ed with those which we have, and which they ought to possess! The missionaries now on the islands are able to preach the gospel statedly, to no more than about one fourth part of the population. There is yet much to be done-Christianity exists there only in its infancy-its progress is obstructed by ignorance and sin, in a thousand forms. This feeble infancy must be nurtured by the continued prayers and benefactions of the friends of missions, for years to come. But how great the encouragement! Never, since the days of the apostles, has the progress of the gospel been more visible and more salutary, in any part of the world, than at these islands. There is no wild fancy in the expectation, that, in a few years, these islanders will imitate their brethren of Taheite, in sending Christian missionaries to other islands in their neighborhood, which are now the habitations of darkness and cruelty. And in this way, they will co-operate with us and Christians of other nations, in preaching the gospel to every creature.

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