Fix this text
MISSIONARY NOTICES
Fix this textMISSIONS IN THE FRIENDLY ISLANDS.
Fix this textRelating principally to the Foreign Missions carried on under the
Fix this textdirection of the Methodist Conference.
Fix this textThe heathen temples and the idol gods of Vavou are no more ! The
Fix this textChief of the Vavou Islands, and about one thousand of his people, have
Fix this textembraced the faith of Christ, and, setting fire to their temples, have burned
Fix this textthem to the ground, and their gods in them. Some particulars of this
Fix this textglorious triumph of the Gospel will be found in the following letter from
Fix this textMr. Thomas, dated Lifuka, Haabai Islands, June 9th, 1831. It will be seen
Fix this textthat the Mission recently established in Lifuka has made encouraging pro-
Fix this textgress. The new converts, both Chief and people, have manifested the value
Fix this textthey attach to the Gospel by their zeal for conveying to others the same
Fix this textblessed boon. The visit paid by the Chief of Lifuka to his friend the Chief
Fix this textof the Vavou Islands, his persevering importunity to prevail on him to
Fix this textrenounce his false gods, and embrace the worship of Jehovah; the success-
Fix this textful result, and the joyful readiness with which their desire for instruction
Fix this textwas met by the Lifuka Chief and people, are particulars calculated to excite
Fix this textdeep interest and lively gratitude. The call for additional Missionaries to
Fix this texttake charge of this willing people ought to find a response in our earnest
Fix this textprayers to the Lord of the harvest, and in correspondent vigorous exertions,
Fix this textto enable the Society to hear the expense. Mr. Thomas’s journal, which
Fix this textfollows the letter, gives a view of the gradual advance of the work in Lifuka,
Fix this textand the means used for its farther promotion. Both the letter and journal
Fix this textwere retarded on their way to this country, by the wreck of the vessel to
Fix this textwhich they were first committed.
Fix this textYou have well done in that you have
Fix this textsent us three Missionaries. They are
Fix this textvery much needed. We that can speak
Fix this textthe language are almost worn out in the
Fix this textwork of the Lord ; and yet it is not done
Fix this textas we wish to see it. We pray and be -
Fix this textseech you to send three more Mission-
Fix this textaries as soon as possible. The fields are
Fix this textopen and ripening before us ; but we
Fix this texthave none to enter to gather the harvest.
Fix this textI very much wish to visit the different
Fix this textislands in the Haabai group, but my time
Fix this textis so taken up by the people of Lifuka,
Fix this textand those who are brought here from the
Fix this textother islands, that I have not been able
Fix this textto go out.
Fix this textBy a copy of the Stations brought by
Fix this textour brethren, we find that brother Cross
Fix this textis appointed to Vavou ; and if brother N.
Fix this textTurner had been able to continue at Ton-
Fix this textga,! suppose brother Cross ere this would
Fix this texthave been at Vavou, that is, if an oppor-
Fix this texttunity had offered. But it did not ap-
Fix this textpear to me that our way was sufficiently
Fix this textopen, to justify us in leaving Tonga,
Fix this textwhere we had full employment, to try
Fix this textwhether or not Finau, the King of Vavou,
Fix this textwould accept of us. However, the dif-
Fix this textficulty is now all removed, as a few days
Fix this textago onr King and his people returned
Fix this textfrom Vavou, where they have been on a
Fix this textvisit; and they bring us the pleasing and
Fix this textdelightful tidings, that the King of Vavou
Fix this textand his people, to about a thousand, have
Fix this textturned to the Lord our God. Glory be
Fix this textto God, who doeth whatsoever pleaseth
Fix this texthim in heaven and in earth !
Fix this textIt is now a little more than three
Fix this textyears since the King of Vavou appeared
Fix this textvery anxious for a Missionary ; but his
Fix this textgoodness was as the morning cloud or
Fix this textearly dew : he has been a cruel perse-
Fix this textcutor since that time, and mad upon his
Fix this textidols. We have had several opportuni-
Fix this textties of conversing with him since we
Fix this textsettled at Lifuka, and have been en-
Fix this textcouraged to hope our way would be open;
Fix this textand the event has proved that our hope
Fix this textwas not unfounded. The following were
Fix this textthe steps which led to this glorious
Fix this textevent
Fix this textApril 27th, 1831, our King and some
Fix this textof his people left this island on a visit to
Fix this textVavou, with twenty-four sail of canoes.
Fix this textTheir visit was on temporal business ;
Fix this textbut it had long been our prayer to God
Fix this textto make it a blessing to Vavou. By this
Fix this textopportunity brother P. Turner and I
Fix this textIt's easy and takes two shakes of a lamb's tail!
With your Trove account you can:
http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2649651732
Thomas, John. (). Missionary notices, relating principally to the foreign missions carried on under the direction of the Methodist Conference : missions in the Friendly Islands Retrieved March 18, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2649651732
Thomas, John. Missionary notices, relating principally to the foreign missions carried on under the direction of the Methodist Conference : missions in the Friendly Islands : , . Web. 18 March 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2649651732>
Thomas, John. , Missionary notices, relating principally to the foreign missions carried on under the direction of the Methodist Conference : missions in the Friendly Islands , viewed 18 March 2025 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2649651732
{{Citation
| author1=Thomas, John.
| title=Missionary notices, relating principally to the foreign missions carried on under the direction of the Methodist Conference : missions in the Friendly Islands.
| year=
| section=p. [578]-588 ; 23 cm.
| publisher=
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2649651732
| id=nla.obj-2649651732
| access-date=18 March 2025
| via=Trove
}}
Citations are automatically generated and may require some modification to conform to exact standards.
Select the images you want to download, or the whole document.
You can order a copy of this work from Copies Direct.
Copies Direct supplies reproductions of collection material for a fee. This service is offered by the National Library of Australia
Out of Copyright
You may order a copy through Copies Direct or use the online copy for research or study; for other uses Contact us.
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply.
For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
Copy and paste one of these options to share this book elsewhere.