In 1867 the old church at Hilo was divided
into seven congregations, six of them with native pastors. To meet
the wants of the widely-scattered people, fifteen churches have been
built, holding from 500 up to 1000. The present Hilo church, a very
pretty wooden one, cost about $14,000. All these have been erected
mainly by native money and labour. Probably the native Christians
on Hawaii are not much better or worse than Christian communities
elsewhere, but they do seem a singularly generous people. Besides
liberally sustaining their own clergy, the Hilo Christians have
contributed altogether $100,000 for religious purposes. Mr. Coan's
native congregation, sorely dwindled as it is, raises over $1200
annually for foreign missions; and twelve of its members have gone
as missionaries to the islands of Southern Polynesia.
Poor people! It would be unfair to judge of them as we may
legitimately be judged of, who inherit the influences of ten
centuries of Christianity. They have only just emerged from a
bloody and sensual heathenism, and to the instincts and volatility
of these dark Polynesian races, the restraining influences of the
Gospel are far more severe than to our cold, unimpulsive northern
natures.
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