Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 1

Affairs in 1855

Affairs in 1855.

A stormy blast burst upon us with the new year. The rebels prohibited us from visiting some of their towns, and a Teacher whom we had sent in the boat with letters to Mr. Moore was very roughly treated. On every side the enemy advanced to destroy Bau and Christianity.

page 21

But man's extremity is often God's opportunity. When all was lost but faith, the King of Rewa suddenly died. And he died so far deprived of the faculty of speech, that he was unable to bequeath the war as a legacy to his followers,—a bequest which would have compelled them either to conquer or be utterly vanquished before they surrendered.

A treaty of peace was immediately made with the kingdom of Rewa, one of the articles of which was freedom of conscience at Rewa in matters of religion.

The Bau districts, however, still remained in a state of hostility. Upon my visit to Kambah, I found the people engaged in strengthening the fortifications, and preparing to renew the strife.

Soon afterwards King George arrived from Tonga, on a friendly visit, accompanied by many of his principal Chiefs. He and his court sympathized heartily with the Bauans in their sufferings, and we soon heard that the combined forces were to attack the enemy's stronghold, Kambah, unless it submitted, upon summons, to the authority of the King. A herald was despatched; but his mission was fruitless. All the Heathen oracles predicted the destruction of the Christian "powers that be," and the Heathen waited with impatience for the day in which Christianity was to be "upset." Both sides prepared for the conflict. The enemy sent a body of five hundred picked men to assist the Kambans, and sought by costly sacrifices to propitiate their numerous deities; whilst our people endeavoured to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God.

Kambah was assaulted and taken in a few hours, and the Lord mercifully preserved our Teacher and his little flock, who were in the town. The Bau side only lost twenty men, whilst the Heathen suffered a loss of two hundred killed, and a great number of prisoners. The result of this victory was the almost instant submission of all the disturbed districts, with the exception of Ovalau, whither the King's rebel brothers fled for refuge, and still refuse to submit to his authority.

In the midst of these wars our trust has been in Him who has said, "Be still, and know that I am God." Upwards of seven thousand have embraced Christianity during the year; we behold Satan fall "as lightning." His strongholds are being razed to the ground. The "stronger than he" appears, and will "overcome him." The day of the Lord's power is dawning, and the Gospel trumpet shall soon be sounded throughout the length and breadth of Feejee.

You will, perhaps, hear from Mr. Moore of his own misfortune. Just after peace had been proclaimed between the two powers, some wicked men, who were opposed to the peace, and who, perhaps, suspected our esteemed brother of having killed the King of Rewa with his medicines, set fire to his premises at midnight. The fire awoke Mr. Moore, and his bed was in flames in two or three minutes afterwards. The natives intended to massacre our brother and his family; but the Lord restrained them. When they arrived at Bau, the poor children were in their night-clothes, and the excellent Mrs. Moore was without bonnet and shoes! They have lost everything. Such is Feejee! No one could have paid more attention to the late King than did Mr. Moore. He personally administered the medicine, and supplied the most suitable food; he even went so far as to wash and dry the King himself, lest the King's attendants should be negligent, and bring on a relapse.

Of ourselves, we may say that, during the past year, we have been familiar with danger at home and abroad. More than once have we seen, from our own residence, some poor creature, sometimes a member of our congregation, killed, and carried off to be cooked and eaten. If we have gone a mile or two from home, we have sometimes heard a bullet whizzing over our head. For months we had reason to apprehend injury by night from the hand of the incendiary. At all hours of the night have we been aroused with tidings of impending danger. But our trust in the good Providence of God has been unshaken; whilst we must admit the inroads which these extraordinary excitements have made upon our constitution.

page 22

"Brethren, pray for us."

Providence has now opened out an extensive field for daily preaching in this Circuit. "Faith cometh by hearing," "and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?" We are now entering upon our more legitimate work,—that of preaching the Gospel to these perishing, but redeemed, creatures. Who will pray that our labours may be abundantly blessed? We have descended into "the well," who is holding "the rope?" British Methodists will not, cannot, dare not, forget those whom their piety and liberality have sent to Feejee. Do you ask us, individually, what each Missionary wants? Our answer is but one, We want the prayer of faith.