MR. HARBUTT’S DISTRICT.

Samoan Reporter, Issue 9, 1 March 1849, Page 2

MR. HARBUTT’S DISTRICT.

An account of the affairs of this district must be one of a saddening character. I can only tell of a church disorganized, congregations broken up, and schools scattered ; whilst, through the whole of the land, in every village, disorder and a laxity of morals begin to prevail. The Church. — Nearly all have taken a part in the disastrous war now prevailing. The teachers and a very small number of others scattered over the district have abstained. Of those who have joined in the war, many have been led to take a part in other things inconsistent with their previous profession. In constant intercourse with the wildest fellows in the land, they have fallen under the power of temptation, and joined in the night-dance and other revellings, which, we hoped, had passed away for ever, but which, alas! have been resumed in many villages throughout the land. How many have had grace to abstain from these things, I cannot now say; but I fear, only a few. Under these circumstances, I can hardly say, that we have a church in existence; unless the teachers and the few mentioned above may be called one. What one of my teachers said to me on this subject is, I fear, true : — “ Those who have not really joined in the war by fighting, have done so in their hearts.” May the Lord have mercy on the backsliders, and revive His work in our land. Schools. — Our schools were very promising, especially in the place where we reside ; but now, they are scattered, and scarcely the shadow of a school can be gathered in any village,—those boys capable of assisting in the work are engaged in supplying the places of the men who are in the camps, whilst the younger boys, with the girls and women are in the bush-houses. It is also to be lamented, that many who might, with a little effort, attend the schools, are imitating the general carelessness which they see around them, and will not attend.

Our boarding-schools are amongst the things which have been. The boys have mostly gone home, to do the work of their fathers or brothers who are in the camps. The girls kept well together for some time; but, after the night attack on Lufilufi, they were constantly expressing a wish to go and reside with their families in their bush-houses; and when we resisted their desires, assuring them, we thought they were in no danger, by degrees they secretly went to their families ; and, since then, we have to lament, that some of them have fallen a prey to the wiles of the seducer. Of more than thirty boys, only two remain in the school; and out of an equal number of girls, only six of the very youngest are with us. Our hopes have thus, been blighted, as it respects those children, whom we had gathered with care, and on whom we have bestowed no little labour. If peace were restored to the district, and the Lord is pleased to continue us in this sphere of labour, we should be able to gather many of them together again, and have others to supply the place of those who might not return. At present, we can only follow them with our regrets, and continue to bear them in remembrance before the throne of grace. I have ordinarily a good congregation every Sabbath morning; but, alas’, the carelessness, the inattention, the wildness in the appearance of many of w r hom we had hoped better things, all tend to chill the heart, and, at the same time, excite the most painful feelings. It is with deep regret I have been informed, that night-dances and other heathen customs have been recommenced in some villages in my district. In others, the effort to commence them wa's immediately checked. What will the end of these things be ? Amidst all, it is cheering to remember, that Jehovah reigneth. He can make the wrath of man to praise Him, and the residue thereof He can restrain.

Lena, Feb. 17, 1849.

W. Harbutt.