70 Snapshots from the North Pacife.

broke it with uttered words of earnest supplication. This
ended, a Christian of the same standing, the most diligent
in the Scripture, his name Samuel, started Wesley’s hymn,
‘Hark! the herald angels sing,’ and many voices took it up.
Then Samuel recited a verse of Holy Scripture, and as Luke
described it, ‘broke it small for Sheuksh to eat.’ James
Dakaiya prayed, after which Samuel said the first verse of
the hymn, ‘ Praise, my soul, the King of heaven,’ and after
it had been sung, expounded another passage of Scripture.
Daniel Whadibo prayed, and next was sung ‘Safe in the
arms of Jesus.’ Charles Luahaitk prayed, and then was
sung ‘Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove.’ Prayer and
Praise and Holy Scripture followed in like succession for
seven hours and a half.

“* But, were you not tired?’ I asked.

““No, nobody went out but to go round and tell the
women, and when they heard the chief was converted they
also prayed and the children too.’

Os

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Was there any noise or rushing about?’

““No, nothing but praying and singing; and when we
returned after midnight to our own houses, we told the
women, who had kept the lamps burning, and they were
not extinguished all night. At daylight we again assembled
to pray in the chief’s house and left some praying when we
were sent away to tell you the truth.’

“Such is the story. I have quite forgotten another point
of interest. The men who had held to Sheuksh in the pro-
longed struggle with the Christians, one by one between
the intervals of prayer rose and solemnly renounced the past
and professed themselves catechumens if they could be
received as such. Not a shred of outward Heathenism exists
in what till lately was its one stronghold. Not a soul
remains that is not pledged in this wonderful manner to live
and die as a Christian.

“What if some of this should prove ephemeral! It will
not differ from the purest religious movement, except in
degree, even if it should (as doubtless it will) be followed by

RE ng JESS oo Each ide pees ae Nn PE eR ie Maren et ~

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