Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/588

 550 FIJI AND THE FIJIAKS. in the South Sea, may reasonably be expected to advance far more rapidly than has been the case with such nations as our own. Ours has been a slow and gradual growth, forcing its way through untoward cir- cumstances, and gathering and assimilating, particle by particle, the elements of its present vigour and completeness. The Fijians, on the other hand, with certain other peoples, in starting on the course of civili- zation, have all the benefit of the fostering care and experience of those who have come from the scene of the highest national culture, and from whose more favoured home ships, equipped and laden with the fruits of civilized life, visit, again, and again, these secluded and long unknown shores. However great the success which has followed the labours of the Missionaries in Fiji, let it not be supposed that there is now time for the Churches at home to rest or to slacken their efforts. Those efforts are needed more than ever. In Fiji, there are now more than seven thou- sand church members, and about two thousand on trial for membership. Beside these, there are sixty thousand stated hearers. To feed this great and growing fiock there are hut eight Missionaries ; and these are over- worked, while they are oppressed by the painful consciousness that there is so much that needs to be done which they cannot accomplish. Several have died in the work, whose lives, speaking after the manner of men, might have been spared, had there been more to help them. But, it will be said, there are the Native Agents, who furnish a most important aux- iliary. It is true ; but it is also true that the care and oversight of these Agents constitute one of the heaviest parts of the Missionaries' toil. Let it be remembered by those who have enough and to spare of religious privilege, — who can command far more means of Christian enjoyment and profit than they can find time to embrace, — let these, with the remedy in their hands, reflect on this : Every Sabbath, many THOUSANDS MEET IN Fiji TO " HEAR WITHOUT A PrEACHER." The Missionaries have not given their sacrifice of labour, of suffer- ing, of life, grudgingly. Cross, Hunt, Hazlewood, Crawford, went down to their graves without a murmur ; but, as they sank beneath the too heavy yoke, they cast many a longing look towards the Christians across the sea, and wondered that so little help came. Without keeping from the outcast multitudes at home one morsel of that knowledge, for lack of which they perish ; without crippling one philanthrophic effort to remove the wretchedness in which so many, near at hand, are lying ; the whole of Fiji may soon be gained for Christ. More Missionaries must be sent. Every success brings a necessity for increased labour. And then, much as has been accomplished, how