https://hmha.missionhouses.org/files/original/c5a7f3e3f0c7baf02c6ad4da370dc4db.pdf d7eddb4c29bed5d3e1ebd87e7a5da897 PDF Text Text WAIMEA STATION REPORTS (HAWAII) CONTENTS L y o n s , L . __________________ _____1852 Lyons , L.— abstract for 1852-53 -— 1852-53 Unsigned (Lyons) report of year 1853--- 1854 �Report of Waimea Station Hawaii For 1852 It is with no ordinary feelings that I again address myself to the task of preparing a report for my Station, since it is to be the last document of the kind under the endeared system beneath whose shadow we have for so many years successfully prosecuted our various missionary labors. length arrived. The expected & dreaded crises ( !) has then at Yes, it had arrived before or would have arrived, had matters been rightly understood, or had we proceeded as it was doubtless intended we should proceed. By our, perhaps, excusable unwillingness to believe that the old dispensation was abolished, & a new one established, or designed to be established, after our last general meeting, & it must be confessed it was a difficult matter to believe, tho' some did belive, I tried in vain to make others be­ lieve, by this unwillingness I say to believe, we have caused the establishment of the new order of things to be delayed for a year. There is now before us but two courses to persue ( !) We must either ae (say aye ?) to the late Resolutions of our Pru- Committee (Pru­ dential Committee) & regard ourselves as Home Missionaries, or on the Home Missy plan; or declare our connexion with the A.B.C.F.M. dissolved & act hereafter as an independent body. we adopt. Of the 2 courses wh shall The question demands much consideration, tho' doubtless some will decide or have already decided without giving the subject that thorough examination wh its importance requires. The charr (character ?) of my present report may serve to throw some light on the question as far as it regards my own case. I shall begin by describing a scene that commenced in Nov. 51 - �Waimea Report 185 2 & continued till July 52. 2. The intervening period, I shall denominate, the reign of the Spirits; not of the mysterious rapping Spirits so famous in Am. tho' some mystery accompanied the reign. Things may be related, conversations given, that did not actually occur - yet such would have been the conversations, had the thots of the heart, been spoken out. Actions sometimes speak louder than words. But the greater part of the story will show what actually took place. On a certain day in Nov. the atmosphere of Waimea was observed to be smoky, a thing not unusual in the vicinity of volcanoes. But the appearance of the smoke on the morn of this day, was of such a charr (character) as to excite suspicion. What, enquired a neighbor, can that smoke be, that is rising so strangely over yonder distant solitude? What indeed. But it is reported that that was once haunted ground, that evil spirits once dwelt there, indeed were manufactured there; but, being driven away by a new lord of the land, they wan­ dered about elsewhere, seeking a rest, & finding none, have returned. Wait a little, we’ll see; but sure, the smoke smells spirity. Not long afterwards, some one resembling a traitor sallied out at the midnight hour in the direction of the reported haunted spot: approaching a hut wh. from a certain blue flame that issued out of its door, he concluded might be a den of the Spirits - hallo, there, is this one of the haunted houses? What do you wish? I am on urgent business for my master - any Spirits for love or money? Why your master has decreed the destruction of spirits & of all who deal in them - Yes - but he’ll exempt you & your spirits from the decree & I promise not a hair of your head shall be injured. But hasten - for I seem to hear the footsteps of persuers ( !) — So saying, he threw down a few dollars, & a couple calabashes full of the Spirits, �Waimea Report 1852 3. were passed to him, wh taking he said - now see you make no more of these creatures, & look out also that you do not get stung by them; & off he went. There said one - we knew that man of old - Locust his name at birth - & tho' he has at difft times tried to imitate some other animal, & is even now called by another name, yet Locust he still is. At no great interval, other solitudes were seen sending up their columns of smoke, leading to the suspicion that there too were haunted spots to wh. the former occupants had returned & were doubtless engaged in their old work of manufacturing Spirits. Soon after it was reported that the people in these regions were becoming possessed - that they were seen night & day, reeling, staggering, stumbling, singing, screaming, dancing, & what not, as in old times. The magistrate was sought, but he was found in a convulsive fit produced, it was said, by one of the more fiery spirits. however, he inquired, what’s wanted? Recovering Why one third of Waimea is given up to the reign of evil spirits & you are requested to send out the constables to expel them. The command was forthwith given, & away went the constables in persuit (!) of the Spirits - They found plenty of them it was afterwards ascertained, but instead of apprehend­ ing or expelling them, they themselves became possessed & only served to increase their number. The Spirits & their manufacturers were very secret & slippery in their movements & operations. Names & places would be reported - the missionary would go out in search of the enemy - but he would elude his observation - Any of the Spirits in this house? no - this is the only house left that they have not haunted - & passing on to the next house, the same reply would be repeated. But still there �Waimea Report 1852. 4. were signs that they had been there, & were probably not far off if not even concealed within a foot from the observer’s eye. Meanwhile the conquest of the spirits were ( !) increasing another third of Waimea had fallen into their hands - according to report. Where is this secret undermining foe? place must be found out. went out to re-explore. whither bound? hear it. his secret lurking The missionary again took his hat & cane & An acquaintance of these spirits met him - in search of certain spirits - Well, I am glad to They are kicking up such a row in my neighborhood - that it has become intolerable - no rest night nor day - Now I can tell you where you can find them by barrels full - Whether to believe him or not the missy was in doubt - as he was a friend of the enemy. thanked him however for the information & pressed on. place all was quiet - not a soul at home. He At the first But the old mat by the wall as described by my informant was there, & I thot I could descern the emission of a spiritous flame - a kind of horror seized me Calling to some passers by, hallo there, come & see whats here - they came - removed the old mat & other rubbish - something like electric sparks every now & then startling them - a cover appeared - that removed - & a barrel sunk deep in the earth appeared. Now we’ve got you - you pit of vipers that have so long eluded our search. Sure, witnesses that they are spirits - yes - see - holding up some of them to view - you'll be witnesses, will you before court? certainly. The Spirits being taken by surprise, were at first silent - but re­ covering somewhat & exercising a little of their prescience, replied not so sure - we shall desert this pit ere night, & when sought for can’t be found, & when you arraign us before court, the magistrate, �Waimea Report 5. already our friend, will so conduct the trial that he will make it appear that at the time we were discovered, we were already dead, having been left to drown in a barrel of rain water - and hence not subject to law. Passing on to another suspected house - this house I hear is haunted with spirits - that is a great mistake; no mistake: I'll find them - search the house thro' under the bed & in every corner no - they are outside - & outside I went - in quest of the foe. Dis­ cerning something that seemed a sign - I removed a stone or two dug down a little - a fearful rumbling noise seem(ed) to come from below - a semblance of a door or cover appeared - It was removed & lo, there stared into my face a cask full of firey serpents, hissing, & blowing smoke & spitting fire into my eyes for finding out & dis­ turbing their secret lurking place You have found us out at last, oh our enemy, but do your best we shall be driven out of this place, but not out of the land - the time for an entire expulsion has not yet come - as to your law - it is of no force in our day - your magistrate is one of our patrons & the constables - some are afraid of us - & some taken on occasion inspiration from us - indeed several of them are now in our employ. Ah - it is you & your gang that bannished us from this our territory but we've got back again & have got 2/3rd of Waimea already on our side & the other l/3d will soon come over. And as to your Kingdom we'll fill it with darkness & desolation - We have long meditated signal vengeance for being driven from our rightful possessions. Soon after these discoveries, a report was flying about that the missionary had recd orders from headquarters to aid the reign of the �Waimea Report 1 8 5 2 6. Spirits & that he was urging the people on to favor their cause that his Magisty, & forces were coming up to confirm them in the possession of their territory & place themselves under their dominion Natives & foreigners called in inquire about it. Nonsense - a strata­ gem of the Spirits - and it succeeded - onward they marched, fires multiplied - Solitudes long quiet became animated with the festivals the songs & the dances of the Spirits. The other third of Waimea submitted to their rule, And now all Waimea was seen looking & won­ dering after the tyrants, their former rulers, supposed to have been dead, but lo ! they live again - Welcome long exiled princes - we have long abhorred the New administration - the laws against our ancient system that allowed the indulgences of our passions - the religion that cuts us off from all our sensual enjoyments & requires us to give our money for the support of our minister & to aid in sending mis­ sionaries to lands that we know nothing about. for your return & our wishes are gratified. We have been waiting Welcome - thrice welcome But the temple of God at Waimea had not been invaded; this was a great vexation to the spirits - The news extended East & West that Waimea had fallen into the hands of the returned tyrants - & that they were on their way to other parts of the missionary's field determined to recover if possible, all of their former territory What shall be done? some said, resist their attempts - but multitudes said no - yield - what better - fine times - old times - joyful times for the return of which we have been longing. In the mean time the Spirits had made their appearance in the adjacent provinces - & found many ready to cooperate in their designs to take possession of the Country. Fires for producing spirits were kindled - Volumes of Smoke were rolling upward - thickening & darkening Sun moon & stars, �Waimea Report 1852 7. & threatening to involve us in an Egyptian night - Some of the Spirits, being bold & impudent dared to enter the very temples of God, & on God’s own day too - wh they could not do in Waimea - wh much enraged them & made them the more desperate in the remoter districts. They not only entered the Sanctuary - but they even had the audacity of an Antiochus Epiphenes to set up the image of not a Jupiter Olympus but of Bacchus his son - & its polluting altar, on which might have been offerred dogs & swine - for from appearances there were plenty of such animals or their likeness, present, dogs returning to their own vomit & swine that were washed, wallowing in the mire. But such sacrilege, such contempt of divine things was going a little too far - the Spirits had gone on swelling more & more with rage attempting to equal their former size, till this last act at swelling caused a rupture of one of their blood vessels - They became frightened. Their power was diminishing. As there had been a change in the magistracy - this was united with the remaining force of the chh. & both roused from their slumbers, entered upon efficient measures to seize & imprison the Spirits. The work of seizure & condemnation went on till the dynasty of the spirits was overthrown & the old dynasty restored, & with it order & tranquility. Before the demolition of the spirits was accomplished, the smoke of the haunted regions had rolled up & onward, till it was discovered at the metropolis. Some anxiety was excited. new eruption - a most threatening aspect that? all on fire, & awful havoc following. learn particulars. What can it be? a the country must be Let us despatch a vessel to While thus gazing & consulting what to do a vessel anchored in the harbor, from Hawaii. What news from Hawaii? What �Waimea Report 1852 new volcanic eruption? Oh, it is not a volcanic eruption - but a reopening of the old spirit tombs, a resurrection or a return of the expelled tyrants - that once reigned there. smoke you see - by manufacturing spirits coming possessed. These are making all the The people are all be­ Magistrates, constables, teachers pupils - the whole land is teeming with Spirits & singing with their wild & frantic chants. The report was exaggerated - but it aroused the authorities & they commissioned agents to come up & make war on the Spirits. They came, but the war had been waged, & the victory won ere they arrived. But what a scene the battle field presented. The enemy tho’ finally vanquished, had produced great havoc. The field was strewed with the dead & the wounded. The dead were left unburied in the hope that they might be brot to life again. But all efforts at resusi- tation have proved unavailing & they might as well be buried as other­ wise. There seems to be no hope for them. The wounded were taken up & their wounds carefully dressed, & all the medical skill employed to heal them that could be procured. Of many, it is hoped they have entirely recovered - tho’ there is fear of a relapse - of a reappearance of the wounds; of this there have been some signs. But to drop all drapery - & speak without a figure - the chh was overthrown & dissolved in consequence of the war of the Spirits. Many have entirely deserted the Lord, abandoned their profession, returned to the world, & hence have been overcome by the King of the Spirits; & there they lie to this day, dead in tresspasses ( !) & sins, yea twice dead & plucked up by the roots. Some who yielded to the power of temptation & fell into the hands of the Spirits & were wounded, some well nigh killed, have been brot to repentance �Waimea Report 1852 9. & reclaimed, it is hoped; tho' should another war be declared by the Spirits they may again go over to the side of the enemy. I must confess I feel no great confidence in their sincerity or fidelity. But it may be asked, were there no faithful ones during the war? none that stood by the side of the missionary to stay up his hands? No, not one in Waimea. - Not that they all went over to the enemy's ranks - but they all stood aloof & looked on - either secretly appro­ ving, or afraid to attack the enemy themselves, or aid others in attacking him or even in showing where his secret lurking place might be - Fine materials these for forming an independent - self support­ ing Society - quite encouraging to the Home Missionary who is to depend on the promise of such a chh. for a part or a whole of his support & for cooperation in building up & carrying on literary & religious institutions. But then, such is human nature. Put not your trust in man - no knowing when he may forsake or turn against you - Christ's disciple once - all forsook him & fled - Some of Paul’s chhs turned against him. It is not safe, even for a man to trust in himself. I said in Waimea was dissolved. The chh. There it lay for some weeks in ruins. A sad & soul rending spectacle - After awhile the ruins were examined dug up - turned over & prayed over in order to ascertain whether there were any materials fit for a new structure. thot that some might answer July. It is was ( !) A new chh was formed on the 16th of That now numbers 87 - leaving some 80 former members among the ruins & in an almost, if not altogether hopeless state. The chhs in the out districts with 2 exceptions were not much affected by the war of the Spirits - None were slain; & the wounded have recovered. But doubtless multitudes would have fallen & perhaps �Waimea Report 1 8 5 2 10. perished had the war been protracted. Present state of the chhs Temporal state. . 1 Of this I can state nothing new - nothing with wh you are not familiar. There are members who by dint of application by hard labor, may be said to be in comfortable circumstances. They have houses, lands, gardens, herds, flocks, clothing, eatables enough to render them comfortable they once were. They are much better off than They might be much better off than they now are. They might have more comforts, more of civilization about their houses about their living. They might sleep on something else besides a matted floor, or a hard hikiee - they might eat on something else besides a bit of a mat spread under their feet - They might eat something else besides poi & with something else instead of their fingers & out of something else besides the old family umeke (poi calabash) - they might drink out of something else besides the old family calabash - their houses might look far santer - neater, & plea­ their field & gardens might look far more like living & prospering. But Hawaiians they are - & Hawaiians they will remain. Some there are - who know what poverty is, what destitution is, but perhaps there are none who are reduced to the last stage of pov­ erty. Extremes of wealth & poverty are perhaps alike unknown. The intellectual state of the chhs - Chh members there are who . 2 are more intellectual - or more intelligent than others - but where there are few or no means for increasing intelligence or for promoting the intellectual state - there cant be much intelligence - nor much intellectual progress - and this being the case, the chhs. must be deplorably ignorant, yes sunk to a depth of ignorance that is un­ fathomable, Who can fathom the ignorance of a mind steeped in �Waimea Report 1852. 11. heathenism till almost if not quite all the qualities of mind or the mental substance itself is changed into a something that is neither mind nor body- We think, we hope we have reason to believe that some minds have been enlightened by the truth accompanied with the Spirit We may after all find that we have been greatly mistaken - that much that we call knowledge & piety, is mere imitation - a mere shadow a phantom a nonentity. As means for gaining knowledge - especially religious knowledge - chh members have the preaching of the gospel either by the missionary or elders, deacons, & teachers. Some have the bible or parts of the bible - many are entirely destitute Some are. pretty good readers - many are very bad readers & in reading they make such palapable (palpable ? ) blunders - adding to & sub­ tracting from the sacred oracles, that If they escape the curses denounced in Scripture against such characters it will (be) in con­ sequence of unintentional mistakes - Many know not how to read, & of many who knew how - their sight has failed or is failing & spec­ tacles they cannot get & hence there is no reading amoung ( !) them. The good readers, read more or less & get some benefit from their reading, but oh their ignorance. How can it be otherwise? Nothing to read but the bible - no helps to understand it, no sermons - no tracts, no nothing - yes, some have a hymnbook - an Elele a bit of a catechism - Pilgrim's Progress - but that is no go amoung our people - too pohihihi (obscure; puzzling) — Perhaps the people - the chhs, have as much reading matter as they can bear - as they are capable of digesting. It is a long work to enlighten a heathen mind to get it in the habit of reading & re­ flecting. But here I am rebuked perhaps for calling this people heathen - Their ancestors were heathen. The children & children's �Waimea Report 1852 children cannot he heathen. 20 years old - 12 Why not? See those young parents - not They are taking their new born child to some old or young Kahuna to look at its manawa (soft spot in baby's head) - to tell whether it is to live or die - to perform some heathenish cere­ mony over it - When It grows up It is instructed in the belief & practice of its forefathers; & when it becomes a parent it is pro­ posed to instruct its offspring in the same practices. The scenes of ignorance & heathenish superstition witnessed in my field the past year or so & countenanced by some of the very best members of the chh are enough to make one altogether sick & give up in hopeless despair of ever seeing or hearing in this world or the world to come - that this people have outgrown their heathenism See that long procession composed of invalids, of the sick & diseased of all discriptions - & chh members too, where are they going? To a certain bathing place - some mysterious ablutions are to be per­ formed by a Kahuna lapaau (healing Kahuna) - some exorcism practiced secret communication is to be held with the god of the Kahuna;- the diseases are to be called upon by name to depart - & the diseased to return whole. See another procession stringing along from the remo­ test parts of my field to Waimea composed of old & young Kahunas male & female - Some of whom are for the first time displaying their colors - What has aroused them? A certain herald pretending to be properly commissioned - He has been around from house to house summoning all the Kahunas to appear with an offering before a certain personage who is to grant them certain privileges & confirm them in their office - This offering was made - not as a makana aloha ( a freely given gift of love) but as a mohai Kahiko (an offering �13 Waimea Report 1852 according to the old custom). - The personage to whom the offering was made was benefited - but the offerers were deceived - They ob­ tained none of the favors they were expecting to receive. This was an old heathenish custom - Chh members even engaged in observing it. True, when called to an account, they confessed their sin - & professd repentance. But doubtless the heathenism is there still, ready to break out, when another opportunity offers. The land is still full of ignorance - willful ignorance - the old superstition - I might multiply examples, but doubtless, many of my brethren can far outstrip me in this business. But I may be offered or might offer as a quietus, the Swedenborgism (Sweden-borgianism: religious doctrines taught by Emanuel Swedenborg), Burkism (perhaps refers to the crime of murder with few marks of violence, in order to obtain the body to sell for dis­ section; see burke in dictionary), Mesmerism, Spiritual rappism &c of America - & the deplorable ignorance that exists there, even in the midst of noon day light. 5. What the chhs have done - They have not been altogether inactive, or active only in the case of unrighteousness. some acts of benevolence meeting houses - They have performed They have done something in the line of One framed house of worship has been erected - & partially completed, 2 or or (!) 3 more buildings of the same stamp are on the way - A doorless meeting house has been furnished with panneled ( !) doors - It must be confessed that but little has been done for the improvement of our religious edefices ( !). As a general thing, they are not in as good a state as they were a few years since. Except the building at Waimea, they hardly deserve the name of meeting houses, especially since the worshippers are called a �Waimea Report 1 8 5 2 civilized & christian Community almost or quite qualified & disposed to take care of themselves, & sustain their various institutions But then there is once in awhile a waking up of public spirit that sometimes keeps awake till a work is begun & partially accomplish­ ed, but it generally dies out before there is an entire completion. Indeed I never knew a public work voluntarily commenced & finished by any of our chhs. Nothing has been done for the poor - for widows & orphans for the aged & infirm - nothing I mean of a public character. The chhs have done something for their pastor - as much perhaps, as should be expected, but not so much as their supposed advanced state most certainly requires. This state most evidently requires that the chhs take an interest in the temporal welfare of their minister - that the chh members, especially the deacons & elders, make friendly calls, to inquire, how do you do, Is the family all well, how are you getting along as to eatables & drinkables, & fuel &c - is. there any thing we can do for you? any repairs to be made on your houses, yard &c - You must let us know when you are pilikia (in trouble) - We are always ready to help you - Calls, to be sure, are made, but they are generally for the purpose of soliciting aid, rather than, for offering aid. This is not strange - the missionary is their father, & they naturally think that the father should help the children, rather than the children the father But I said the chhs have done something for their pastor. 50 Kalo & as many potatoes - one or 2 Some bunches of bananas, a few or­ anges - a few pieces of beef &c have been given - a load of pili (a kind of grass used for thatching houses) has been carted gratuitously & some 326 dollars in money mostly have been contributed toward his �Waimea Report 1852 support in 1853 - 15. This has been given mostly at communion seasons - tho' the contributions on these occasions were not all for this pur­ pose - The people on the whole have done well in their attempts to support their pastor - they might have done better ity enough to furnish him with a comfortable support. They have abil­ But there is a lack in disposition & in understanding the matter - & the way of doing it, & why they should do it. It is doubtless their duty to support their missionary - & it may be lawful for the missionary to require them to support him - yet it may not be expedient - All things , says Paul, are lawful for me - but all things are not expedient. Paul, rather than call on a chh. where he was laboring to aid him, preferred to receive his support from another chh - tho' he regarded it as perfectly right - & the duty of the former to maintain him. The time had not come - the chh was hot sufficient(ly) intelligent it would attribute selfish motives to the Apostle should he require them to support him But what's the use in arguing this point - The decree has gone forth - The Hawaiian chhs must support their pastors - or at least say how much they will do towards their support. Right or wrong - expedient or inexpedient - prepared or not prepared this subject must be pressed upon the chhs - I predict there will be work for repentance for a repentance however that will come too late. But there are many false prophets in our days & I may be amoung the number Besides aiding in the support of their pastor the chhs have done something for carrying the gospel to other lands - Two missionary Societies have been formed - One is called the Juvenile Missionary Society of Waimea Hawaii - the other The Missionary Society of Waimea Hawaii - The one is designed for children & youth - under 18 years - �Waimea Report 1852 16. The other for Adults Any child or youth by paying 1/ 8 can become a Life member of the Juvenile Society - Any one by paying 50 cts. can become an Annual member - & by paying 3 dolls at one time a Life member of the MissionThe Juvenile Society has its President, Scribe & Treasurer. The Miss'ry Society ary Society^ its President, 4 Vice Presidents, Secretary - Treasurer Executive Committee - & printed Certificates for Life members The Juvenile Society meets monthly - for work - the boys get wood &c - the girls sew, &c. The avails of this Society for 1852 - 3 bed quilts, 2 shirts, 1 steer - worth 15 dollars or more - 23 dolls cash - 1 bed quilt & 2 shirts have been sent to the Micronesian Mission leaving the remainder in the Treasury much can be expected from this Society. Something, but not Hawaiian Children don’t seem to have Sobriety, understanding & principle enough to carry on such a work for any length of time. I meet the children once a month for prayer & the reading of Foreign Missy intelligence &c - but the thotless creatures - sometimes almost compel me to say to them "hele pela" (be gone; get out) Your Missionary Society is all a sham mere mockery. But patience intercedes, saying, not quite so fast, hold on - Something good may yet come out of it. The working part seems to go better than the meeting part. The Missionary Society is yet in its infancy is not yet perfectly understood - Its character It requires a long time to make any thing intelligible to the natives, especially where they don’t care much about understanding it. We design to accomplish something thro' this Society, something that will tell on the Micronesian or some other Mission. is what is needed. A steady, persevering, unflinching, course A resolution to break down all opposing obstacles & rush on thro thick & thin, thro' light & darkness - thro' fire & �Waimea Report 1852 17. water - thro' time up to eternity - that's the way to accomplish any great & worthy object There is now some 140 dolls in the Treasury of this Society to be given mostly to the Micronesian Mission Men can give - it is an easy matter to give where you have any thing to give - but to be holy as God is holy - is a very different & a very difficult thing. The large contributions of our chhs have been greatly cried up - they must show it is said an advanced state of Christianity - a spirit of enterprise - a deep interest in bevenolent institution - a high tone of piety. But that is no correct criterion for determining the enterprising or religious spirit. Think of the millions given by the followers of false religion for the support of priests, for the creation of temples, &c &c Does that prove them to be enterprising & religious? - It Is the state of the heart, the character of the motives, that Is to determine the character of an action - the amount of true genuine benevolence which is piety itself - In. some of the chhs there has been quite a waking up - amoung adults & children, men & w o men - meetings have been multiplied - chh members have been out amoung their neighbors - visit­ ing from house to house - & calling on the careless & secure to awake out of their slumbers & flee from coming wrath - The Spirit seems to have accompanied & blessed their unwearied efforts - Many wanderers & apostates have been professedly reclaimed - Many of the impenitent & unconverted - have been hope(ful)ly converted - about 100 of whom + 52 have been received into the chh - These revivals have nearly ex­ tinguished Romanism - & made the Catholic Priest very unwilling some­ how to visit his proselytes in my field - Mormonism is dead. There have been some 40 or 50 deaths in the chh Some of whom �18 Waimea Report 1852 I have reason to believe have gone to enjoy the blessedness of those who die in the Lord - One was truly a mother in Israel - However I would judge nothing before the time - The day of Judgement will reveal the truth, & remove all mistakes. I must say something of our efforts to awaken thot, inquiry, to increase knowledge - intelligence & thus to improve the literary character of our community For this object 2 Literary Societies have been formed - one for children & youth & the other for adults - The 2 Societies meet once a month - one in the forenoon & the other in the afternoon of the same day - The exercises at the meetings are the reading of compositions, essays, declamation, debating - &c - Each Society has a periodical written by its members, & read at the monthly meeting - One is called "The Rose" - the other "The Morning Star” . Each has an Editor - & a Critic - I might here mention - that our own children have also a weekly periodical, written by themselves - & called "The Cascade" - There is a wide contrast between this, & those of the Societie’s - ( !) - a matter of course - where is the Library that the Societies can consult? At our annual meetings for Temperance festivals - examinations &c there are literary performances - speeches - essays, debates &c On one of these occasions I requested one of the speakers to give an address on the destiny of the Hawaiian Race - calling the word des­ tiny in native - Kekini with a previous explanation - The speaker, at the appointed time, arose, & in a very dignified manner, announced his subject - The Kekini of the Hawaiian Race - Now, says the orator you must not make a mistake & think I mean Gin by Kekine, no, it is not the Gin, but the King of the Hawaiian race I mean - &c - �Waimea Report 1852. 19. Schools - I have said so much about schools in former reports - that I might he silent in this report on this subject, as nothing new can be said. But, as this is the last report under the old dispensation - I conclude to give them a passing farewell notice. Mrs. L 's Eng School - This includes our own children & 3 half casts Studies - Reading, spelling, arithmetic - mental & written, writing, composition, grammar - Latin - Geometry - Astronomy, Anatomy & Phys­ iology - History, Geography Native schools - Of these the station school wh is taught, in my own school house, by a graduate of Lahainaluna - has done well. The teacher has kept first rate order & the pupils have made good prog­ ress - The more advanced scholars have attended to Algebra - composi­ tion, drawing of maps - & are deserving of commendation - Of this school & one other, there was quite a splendid exhibition about new years time - & awards given to the pupils according to their profi­ ciency - Money had been given on a similar occasion the year pre­ vious for purchasing these awards - But I fear this school has seen its best days Of the other native schools - there are few if any that deserve the name of school in our days, ie in the days of civilized & chris­ tianized Hawaii, ready to go alone, to support its own schools & ministry - It would answer in times gone by - to call them schools. There is something called a school house, just exactly such a structure as was called a school house or 3 20 years ago - except in 2 cases - the posts are put into sills, instead of being put into holes dug in the ground - & boards blacker than mats in one case are used for a floor, instead of straw or mats. But here we are, in other respects, as we were then, posts, kukunas (end posts or side posts of a door) - oas (rafters) covered with aho (small sticks used �Waimea Report 1852 20. in thatching) & hay or lauhala, no lining, no celling, no plastering, no floor, but that of grass - with here & there a ragged mat - a good mat being an exception - In some houses are rough seats, desks, & tables - some quite decent ones - There were many more once - but they have broken down, & fallen to peices ( !) - & there is not lumber enough to be had - or money enough to buy it, or disposition enough to saw it - or energy or public spirit enough to get it - or skill enough to work it, to replace or repair the ruins. A door is some­ times seen - ie. a pani (that which closes an entrance) - That is an improvement - no doors 21 years ago - As to windows - not a glass window has found its way into any school building, except that at the station. There are port like holes in the sides of the houses for admiting ( !) light & air - &in some cases the thatch is so much torn off ~ or blown off - that there is no lack of means for light & ventilation. As for school house enclosures - there are some made of stones - some of sticks - some are in a good state & others in such a dilapidated state as to furnish no protection to the house - cattle, hogs &c enter in & make what havoc they please. On the whole there is nothing inviting about the school premises - On the contrary, they might by some be regarded as caricatures - or scarecrows - set up to frighten away any one in quest of knowledge The old horn or shell - that 21 years ago sent its shrill notes thro' the school district to summon the pupils to the school house, may still be heard, for the same purpose, except it has been lost or another one substituted - In some cases - a flag on a high pole takes its place. h o u r s - No bell except at Waimea tells the s(c)hool �Waimea Report 1 8 5 2 21. School Books. In all the schools may be seen portions of the Bible - some printed a long time ago, & pretty well tattered - some without beginning, & without end with a bran new Testament. A pupil may occasionally be seen The number who are supplied with the whole bible is very small - Many scholars have no portion of the bible. There is a pretty good supply of arithmetics, old Colburn's - the long continued use of wh. ought to entitle it to a certain degree of Sacredness, & to the belief that there is nothing like it in all the arithmetical world. Atlasses. There are none except in one or 2 schools. not studied, a great deficiency - Geography is It was once studied, & with a go deal of interest by some - tho’ they never could be made to understand what latitude (!); & lonitu ( !) mean - When the gov't atlasses arrive, I expect this neglected study will be revived. Moral Philosophy was introduced into some of the schools - & an effort made to teach it - but it was found to be too deep & serious (a) subject for such thotless creatures as constitute our schools. There are but few in the schools of a suitable age to grapple with such a great study. In a school where it was studied, in the exami nation of the pupils one of the questions was - is there any law regarding holoholonas? certainly - what is it - why that they shall be hoopaied if they go on another man's land, (holoholona: 4-footed beast; ho'opai: encourage; ho'opa'i: punish) As girls are marriage­ able at 14, many at that age leave the school - at the very age when there is beginning to be a little waking up of the philosophying powers - As boys are taxable at 15 - as soon as the tax is imposed - they think - that means - they must leave the school - & consequently leave - Hence the children taught in our schools - are mostly small, �Waimea Report 1 8 5 2 22. & leave before they have acquired much knowledge. And hence there will not be much proficiency made either in Arithmetic, Geography or Moral Philosophy, till there is some change in the law about marriage & taxation Writing - Writing is taught but mostly on slates - & slates are becoming scarce. The slates of the fathers & grandfathers purchased with Kapa in old times - are disappearing - & their places are sel­ dom supplied. There are none to be had - or no money or disposi­ tion to get them - In some schools there is no writing for want of pencils - & no pencils because the pupils think it a long ways to come to Waimea after them - Writing on paper is practiced in only one school More or less scripture is committed in all the schools - In some schools singing is taught - but as a general thing, the chil­ dren do not seem to be sober enough, or have not been sufficiently tamed to attend to this branch; & singing, instead of taming, its natural tendency elsewhere, seems to make our children wilder. This however depends very much on the character of the teacher. Teachers. While here & there a teacher may be found, who is improving in skill & efficiency in teaching - others & that too the majority - are becoming less skillful & less efficient than formerly - The business of teaching is becoming an old story - they have had enough of it - & wish to get out of it - & instead of getting out honorably or honorably resigning, some will Hawaiian like, conduct in such a way - as to displease parents & pupils - They will have a very short school - will have their school at an unreasonable hour about day light & out soon after sunrise, will go to sleep in school time & be angry if disturbed - will conduct indecently before their scholars - & for what? - in order to be dishonorably dismissed. �Waimea Report 1852 23. Well - dismiss teachers of this character - most certainly But who will fill their places? candidates are rare - Some of the schools are without teachers - & some teachers without schools their scholars have dwindled away till the number is less than 15 the required number. Notwithstanding, the schools - have accomplished something more doubtless than would have been accomplished had there been no schools. It is not strange that they are not different - or more efficient, or more like Am schools - It is strange, all things considered that they have accomplished so much. The strangest thing of all is that they should be regarded as far more advanced than they really are. Our schools still partake of heathenism - There must be a wonderful leap or stretch or ascent - before they can be ranked with the schools of a thorough going, intelligent Christian commun­ ity - & we had better not make too great haste, in getting them over, or up or along - lest they stumble & fall & break their necks & perish. What I mean by getting them along too fast, is regarding them so far advanced as to be able to be left alone - left to take care of themselves, left with the school houses & the books they now have, without thinking it necessary to improve the one - or multiply the other - What is done for the schools, must be done thro’ the patient & persevering energy of the pr esent missionaries. When we are dead, I prophesy the death of the schools - Others may take our places - but I prophesy that we are getting into such a fix, that when we are gone - our places will not be filled. Chhs. & schools will go down; & the Islands, like the regions of the 7 Asiatic Chhs, will become in time desolate - full of heathenism & �Waimea Report 185 2 24. a corrupt & false religion - requiring the undertaking of a new mission - to reconvert & save them. The old system, that is now vanishing - will need to b e revived - & missionaries sent out under the old colors - that are now to he pulled down & concealed till that time. When we are gone - who will come out as home missionaries to fill our places? Some may come out in consequence of ignorance. When they get here & find out how things are - they will soon be off to some place where the name Home Missionary will be more appro­ priate. It will be found to be far different to come out here as a Home Missionary, amoung a strange people, speaking a strange language, from what it is to go out as a Home Missionary to a people of your own nation, of your own language, who know what they are about, have thots, conscience, principle, benevolence - energy public spirit, & in a few years will stand up a flourishing town, village or city, with chhs - public schools, colleges, Seminaries, rail road, telegraphs & all the signs of accompaniments of civiliza­ tion & Christianity, & first to say they no longer need help but have resolved of their own accord to support their own institutions, & help others. Is it so, or likely to be so, with this people? Were they the first to propose to support the public schools & Lahainaluna Seminary? W ere they the first to say that they w ished to relieve the Board of the burden of supporting their Missionaries at these Islands? Have they ever said to the Board, you have been very kind in helping us so long - we thank you 1 0,0 0 0 times - & we think - that we have now become so much of men - or Kanaka makua like (Kanaka: man; makua; grown-up; like: alike; resembling) that we think we can take care of ourselves - at any rate we'll try - & if we cannot �Waimea Report 1852. 25. succeed in whole - we will call on you to make up the balance But let the new system be tried - it may work well, notwithstanding all my fearful apprehensions. - If the blessing of the Lord follow it, it will prosper - otherwise it will fail And now farewell - ye long familiar names - Sandwich Island Mission, Foreign missionary - Depository, General Meeting - around wh cluster a thousand pleasing thots, & association & the remembrance of wh may I always cherish, yes sooner than forget you, may my tongue cleave to the rough (roof) of my mouth - may my right hand become palsied - & my heart adamant. While we reluctantly consent to slay - encoffin & entomb you - I would conjure you by the love we still bear & always shall bear towards you, that if your aggrieved manes (spirits) hereafter follow us in our solitary walks & tours & labors & social meetings & mid night slumberings - it may not be to upbraid us, & fill us with remorse, but to cheer & console & stimulate us on our way, till our work on earth is done & we go to receive a joyful welcome to that place where the wicked & all others cease from troubling, & the weary are at rest. L. Lyons - Once more, farewell - �Waimea Report 1 8 5 2 26. Statistics of 1852 for Hamakua & S. Kohala Whole no recd to the chh on ex & certif 6,727 " " only on certif only - - - - - - - - - - - - - 6,268 459 99 43 1,136 58 Recd on exam 5 2 on certif " Whole no. dismissed Dis'md in 52 - - - - - - - Deceased in 52 Whole no deceased Apostates deceased in 52 - - - - - - Whole no apostates deceased Excluded 52 Restored - - - - - - - - - - - Remain excluded Whole no. in reg. standing - - - - - — -Children baptized in 52 Whole no. chil baptized Marriages - - - - - - - - - - Births Deaths 749 2,096 58 1,387 90 couple 78 118 Whole no. who attend public worship more or less thro' out the field 2000 54 1,835 23 934 100 79 paha (perhaps) 20 Schools, all protestant - no cath. school 600 pupils - 295 readers, 200 writers, 200 in arith. 2 in Algebra 1 0 0 in geography. The following are the number of. school books, slates &c 150 slates, 26 Bibles, 80 1st & 2d vols of the Bible, 135 New Tes 125 Mental Arithmetics, 54 written do, 60 childrens do, 20 Kumulua, 80 Kumu mua, 30 grographies 10 Moral Philosophies, 10 Atlasses, 2 large maps of the world 140 commit scripture - 40 singers schools discontinued for want of pupils & teachers sch ool houses in a ruinous state " " furnished with seats & desks &c 13 " " partially furnished 4 " " wholly unfurnished 7 2 (On Back): Report by Mr. Lyons read May 31, 1853 by Mr. Coan & Mr. Whittlesey �Abstract of L Lyons Report for 1852-3 Satan let loose. For many years the old red dragon seemed to be confined in chains, or at least restrained from disturbing the gen­ eral sobriety of the people, & the tranquility & consistent behavior of the church. But during the year /52 from Jany to July, the old Tempter broke off his chains & taking wings, made a most terrific descent on Waimea. At his awful bidding the flood gates of intemperance were thrown open - fires were kindled, dark & angry volumns ( !) of smoke were seen ascending & spreading & covering the whole dis­ trict, proclaiming too plainly that the old work of manufacturing intoxicating spirits was revived & in frightful progress. Satan triumphed - Waimea was flooded with drunkenness - accompanied with old heathenish songs & dances. The house of God was deserted. The church yielded to the temptations of the enemy & fell into ruins. Not satisfied with the havoc he had made in Waimea - the old serpent was preparing to make war on other parts of the field, & had actu­ ally commenced hostilities, when his agents were arrested by the strong arm of the magistracy & the work of destruction ceased, & order, sobriety & tranquility were restored. Progress. That there has been progress in various respects is per­ ceptible. Schools have been In operation & knowledge has increased. The study of Algebra, has for the first time been introduced into the common Schools. Some very fine maps have been drawn by the pupils. Two Literary Societies are in existence - one for adults - & one for children. monthly. Each Society has a written periodical - that is read �Abstract of Waimea Report 52-3 2. Many of the natives have purchased small farms, some parts of which they are cultivating - & other parts they are filling with stock. Some improvement may also be seen in the houses & enclosures of a few. But at best, civilization progresses very slowly. The Church. After the great defection produced by intemperance - there was something of a reformation. By fasting, humiliation & prayer, the Lord was inclined to show mercy were brought to repentance. Many of the delinquents In some parishes the church members were aroused to renewed activity - meetings were multiplied. The people were visited from house to house - prayer was constantly ascending - The arm of God was stretched out to save - The Spirit came down in power - children & youth sought the Lord - & devoted themselves to his service. Aged & hardened sinners over whom many a revival had passed without affecting them were at last brought to see their lost condition & submit to Jesus as their only Savior. Old apostates were disturbed & professedly reclaimed. Of the con­ verts 152 have been received to the church, & others stand as candi­ dates. Several church members have deceased, some of whom left most cheering evidence of being prepared for heaven. Doings of the Church. The churches have done something. Some have erected new houses of worship, some have repaired & improved the houses of worship already existing. Adult & Juvenile Missionary Societies have been formed in the different parishes - from which much is to be hoped. accomplished something already. They have Some two hundred dollars have been contributed for the Micronesian & Marquesian Mission. The churches are beginning to understand that it is their duty to do something for the support of their pastor. They have contri- �Abstract of Waimea Report 52-3 3. buted 326 dollars towards his support for 1853 - & the first thirdly contribution for his support in 1854 amounts to 180 dollars. They are coming up to their duty gradually Tours. Three tours have been performed thro' my field, all of which were of the most cheering character - The last of the three was the stormiest tour I ever made, & yet schools & meetings were well attended - & the heart of the missionary was greatly encouraged notwithstanding there were many things in the schools of a discoura­ ging aspect. Error. Mormonism made strenuous efforts sometime ago to get a foot­ ing in my field - but no traces now remain. Catholicism makes no progress - but seems rather to be on the decline - Not a catholic school exists - & their meetings are dwin­ dling into nothing. [Unsigned] �Abstract of Waimea Hawaii Report The general aspect of things is encouraging. prosperous as could be expected - Schools are as The churches have performed their various duties with a good degree of fidelity & energy - There has been but little call for discipline except for defection to Mormonism - which has amounted to some 20 or 30 cases. Contributions have been more for some & less for other objects The people have done well for the support of their pastor - they have done something for the spread of the gospel abroad - but not so much as they should have done - They have done something towards the erection of churches, & for the support of the poor. But the whole subject of benevolence is but little understood by Hawaiians. Light is gradually increasing. The church has been revived in some places - & there has been some waking up amoung sinners & some hopeful conversions, some 50 or 60 of whom have been admitted to the privileges of the church. L Lyons — (On Back) No. 6 Abstract Waimea Hawaii Lyons �Lyons' Report for 1853 4- Continuation of the war of the Spirits. In my last report, I gave a particular account of the war of the Spirits. The enemy was represented as expelled - but not without fear of a new invasion. On a tour made thro' Hamakua, in Aug - there were rumors that confirmed these fears. footsteps were visible. not be easily found out. places. Signs of the enemy's But such was his subtelty ( !) that he could Woods, palis, ravines, furnished hiding It was not long however, before his lurking dens were dis­ covered - & such a scene presented itself as to compel the discoverer bring to represent the case to the Missionary - & he caused It to be brot before the Magistrate - The result was the apprehending, & trying & firing some 60 of the enemy's forces - This produced great squirm­ ing & floundering & hissing & biting amoung ( !) the Spirits. It was a long time before there was any cooling down of the enemy's rage, nor has it yet entirely subsided. from that quarter. But the Spirits disappeared They are however still in the field & occasionally show their heads. Small Pox But another enemy had made his appearance in my field ere our return from Oahu, & was producing great alarm & threatening to make greater havoc than that made by the war of the Spirits. Before leaving Honolulu, we had heard that the Small pox was at Kawaihae On arriving there we found the report true. Several houses had been deserted & the inhabitants had fled to other places. A placard was attached to the enclosure of one of the deserted houses, on which it was threatened to horse whip any one who dared to enter said enclosure. As I entered it before reading the placard, I exposed myself to a horse whipping, a debt which, I am happy to say, has �Waimea Report 1854 2. not yet been cancelled. pestilence. Several had already fallen victims to the The deacon of the parish thot in his simplicity & piety that he must have a funeral at every death. himself & others. This of course exposed He learned better however after one or two funer­ als & discontinued them. Perhaps however he was right. The catho­ lics have been praised because they attended to the dying & the dead of this disease & protestants have been censured because they did not persue ( !) the same course. at Kawaihae. The disease continued for several months It left finally with great seeming reluctance having swept away about 30 inhabitants on the shore & as many more in the interior. I believe that most who died in these districts were buried decently. One poor man died all alone one night & was partly devoured by dogs & hogs -- At Waimea the Epidemic paid a short visit on a man however who brot it from Oahu. The greatest panic followed - Away with him, away with him, was the hue & cry or we shall all be dead men - send him to Kawaihae - send him off toward Mauna Kea - I was just starting off on a tour - had a yellow flag hung up - gave certain directions, & left, expecting to find the disease raging on my return. A hospital was built out somewhere towards Mauna Kea - I never saw it. fellow there? got over - But who will take the poor That was the difficulty & a difficulty that has not None dared undertake that job -. So he was allowed to remain -where he was - & died there, before my return. first & the last of the Small Pox in Waimea - That was the Before leaving Waimea for Hamakua - I had heard that the pestilence had broken out in a certain district there, in the following manner - A man cursed with the Small pox was passing thro' Hamakua, on his return from Oahu to Hilo - & slept in a certain cave - A native of the place after- �Waimea Report 1854 wards entered the cave & rolled all over the ground where the infected man had slept - determined to know whether the disease could be taken in this way or not. to make the experiment. Poor fellow, he paid deeply for daring It cost him his life & that of his wife & child, & several others in the neighborhood before I reached the place. He was dead & buried But it was several days after his death before he was burled - & then his wife was obliged to do the work all alone as best she could - No grave was dug. Mats & dirt were thrown over the body on the spot where it (he) died. The wife sickened & died, & the. child about 2 years old was left alone. No one had courage or humanity or Christianity enough to take care of it. It was seen wandering about the yard of the house with its pet pig for a few days & then died in its solitude & the house was burned down over its lifeless body - which found its only grave In the silent & deserted ruins. A few more cases followed some of which recovered & others proved fatal, about a dozen in all - & thus ended the reign of the awful pestilence in Hamakua. Never during my res­ idence amoung them were the people more thoroughly alarmed or more thoroughly aroused to use measures for preserving life, & hence showed, that nothing was so dear as life, nothing so dreaded as death. The measures adopted for self preservation were of different kinds. The first & perhaps the most effectual, was prayer. As soon as the people heard of the ravages of the enemy, & of his appearance on their coasts - they set about praying in earnest. Whole weeks at first, & then parts of weeks were devoted to meetings for prayer & fasting that they might be delivered from the pestilence that walketh in darkness & from the destruction that wasteth at noon day. Schools & work were given up - in some districts - to give place to devotional exercises, nor were they resumed till they were either told or concluded theme �Waimea Report 1854 4. selves that they must work as well as pray, or there would be danger of starvation. Another measure was the keeping away from infected places, & this much to the inconvenience & injury of the latter - for in consequence of this non intercourse, poor Kawaihae was reduced to ex­ treme suffering if not to starvation. No body for a long time could be Induced to carry food any where near there. Nor were the people of Kawaihae allowed to go to other places in search of provisions tho' they did sometimes venture out, at the peril of their lives. Supplies from Oahu once furnished great relief. Placards were stuck up on the high ways (!), on which were written threatenings, breathing destruction with stones, clubs, oos (instruments used in cultiva­ ting the ground) & what not to all who should dare enter the premises of the undersigned. Even the sub-commissioners of Health, were fored bidden on pain of being stoning ( !) to enter some districts where their object was to vaccinate &c.- The missionary commission even: came at times very near being expelled from some places - because he had been where the Small pox was. Vaccination was of course regarded as the sine qui non - the all in all - yet some refused to be vaccinated - said they had al(o: to prick with a sharp instrument) ready been o 'd by the Lord, in their noses - mouths, ears &c But the Lord's oing did not prove very effectual - for some of this number had the small pox & died with it. The plague disappeared long ago - leaving us all glad & grateful that its stay was so short, & its ravages so small - Truly the Lord has been very merciful. He has not dealt with us according to our deserts. �Waimea Report 1854 Mormonism But the Spirits & the pestilence have not been the only enemies or disturbing forces that have visited our field. A new invasion by the Mormons has been attempted & apparently with more success than attended the first invasion. The Mormon forces, com­ posed of foreigners, natives & half casts, from Salt Lake & Maui presented quite a formidable appearance. They landed at first in Kohala, & came on to Kawaihae, made an attack on the town but were boldly repulsed. it. They then came up to Waimea to make quick work of They decided to fight with the King of Israel only. If we can but get the King into our hands, thot they, all the rest will readil y follow. But the King's castle was so strongly fortified that they could make no impression upon it whatever. Indeed the very sight of the fortifications took away all heart, & caused a speedy retreat. They however worked away at the subjects till 3 yielded & were plunged into Mormonism, 2 of whom however soon deserted - Leaving Waimea they proceeded to Hamakua - made a bold assault on the Valley of Waipio - Catholics & Protestants united in opposing them - but a partial victory was obtained by the enemy over those however - wh like folly & pleasure & dislike the restraint & requirements of the true religion. Some children & heartless professors of religion, find in Mormonism something suited to their tastes & wishes - The Mormons proclaim that they are the true people of God, that their's is the only true religion -that protestantism is all a lie, & its missionaries all liars, hirelings extorting money by monthly concerts & contributions for their support, backing all they say with scrip­ ture - They boast that they are some great beings, have supernatu­ ral power & knowledge - by which they can predict eclipses, storms & floods, cast out devils, heal the palsied - raise the dead &c. �Waimea Report 1854 6. Many of the people are simple & creduolous ( !) & wicked & pleased & ready enough to believe all they say. Here is the religion they like - no restraints, no monthly contributions - no minister's sup­ port - no restrictions to one wife, here any one cam become a kahuna pule (a priest) - baptize - marry &c - & thus be freed from all tax­ ation - If Its blessedness cant be all enjoyed here - there is Salt Lake - with its splendid city & more splendid temple - ready & waiting to receive votaries - vessels are to be sent to convey all Hawaiians there who have become Mormons & are disposed to go Here is just the religion we have been wishing for say many - Fare­ well ye Missionary hirelings - ye Mahina hous (mahina: cultivated patch, garden; hou: new, recent) - ye sprinkling baptisms - we go for Mormonism, Jordan baptism, freedom from kokua (contributions) polygamy - the Nu Ziona (new Zion) at Mauna pohaku (mauna: mountain; pohaku: stone) - The native Mormons - amoung whom are graduates from Lahainaluna - are more zealous & more outrageous in their sallies upon missionaries than the foreigners. It is sad indeed to see those who have been trained in our Seminaries of learning, come out & oppose us with all the bitterness of the great Adverssary ( !) of souls. A large reinforcement of both native & foreign Mormons has just arrived & joined their forces in Waipio determined to have Waipio at all events. They seemed Many there have already gone over to them, - & quite a number in some other districts have been drawn into their net. How far they will be allowed to go is known only to Him who has permitted them for some good & wise reasons to get a footing here - The churches must be purified - their char­ acter must be tested, Spirits, pestilence, cathollcism - Mormonism, serve as testing & purifying agents. �Waimea Report 1854 Other enemies But I have not yet done with our enemies. remain I must speak briefly. But of those that Family quarrels & separations of hus­ bands & wives have been a little too numerous, & have greatly dis­ turbed domestic peace & tranquility. This will always be the case as long as the people are allowed to enter the marriage relation while they are still children. marriage - Girls at 14 - boys at 17 unite in What do they know at that age about the duties, & re­ sponsibilities of husbands & wives? - a due sense & performance of which are necessary to domestic happiness - Ignorant, & fickle, & dissatisfied, & given still to childish freiks (l) (freak: fancy, caprice) & streaks, they soon quarrel, wrangle, jangle & separate each going perhaps to their former home - a separation that is often permanent - Now especially as their ( !) is no law to force parties to live together - separations will become more numerous. Some great thefts have been committed, equal to some in the metropolis. As to perjury there has been enough of that to sink the whole Kingdom, which had it taken effect - would have saved the vexed question of annexation. The possession of property has involved the owners & their neighbors in innumerable vexations & lawsuits in reference to lands, Kuleanas, cattle & horses & what not. In the process of settlement, mens characters have been revealed & their hearts turned inside out. Such animosity, bitterness, wrath, malice, disposition to oppress, overreach, defraud, extort, cheat, backbite, testify falsely, such a seeming destitution of humanity & christianity that a looker on, might well conclude that the devil had pretty much the whole control of the people - �Waimea Report 1854 8. But then this field has not been so wicked as it might have been - We have had no incendiaries, no murderers, no insurgents to disturb the peace of our towns & villages. Schools &c But it is time for me to speak about other matters more relevant to a proper report than the preceding something that indicates progress. one thing in your minds. & 569 pupils - And you are waiting to hear Y ou doubtless have schools for Schools we certainly have - 20 in number We have also school supervisors, trustees, teachers, school houses, school books - school funds &c - Something has been done to diminish ignorance & increase knowledge & perhaps the gross amount of intelligence is greater than it was last year - The schools have been taught 5 days in the week, & from one to 4, or 5 hours per day - The scholars are better furnished with books, testaments, slates & pencils, than they were last year at this time. I examined (guardian) the schools in April partly in the capacity of Kahu (teacher) pro tem, & Puuku (one entrusted with the care of goods) pleased with the appearance of some of them stillness & order looks - There was a becoming There were some bright eyes & intelligent Some were very good readers - & could write a very fair hand on slates. 2 or 3 of the schools pleased me much with their musical performances well. & was much They sang quite sweetly, & chanted remarkably Some of the schools had devoted a part of their school hours to work & had earned something to buy books & clothes with, & to contribute for the establishment of schools &c in Fatuhiva - One school furnished no readers - the large scholars haveing ( !) all left in consequence of being taxed. This school & three others are without a sabbath school - 16 have sabbath schools - & are atten­ ded by most of the pupils - Most of the pupils continue to abstain from the use of tobacco - few are addicted to smoking. �Waimea Report 1854 9. One school had commenced tatooing their bodies but were led to see how foolish & heathenish it was & gave it up - Three or 4 schools had found card playing a very fine amusement - but promised to give that up - These schools are all protestant. in my field. There are no others In some districts there have been no schools for sev­ eral months during the year for want of teachers - I should say in reference to the pupils, that, tho' some good things appear in them & are on the whole as promising as could be expected, yet the pros­ pects of furnishing a supply for Hilo Boarding School is not very flattering. Somehow or other promising candidates for that school - grow less & less, only one for the past year - either the intellect of the children are less brilliant than formerly - or the proper means are not used for developing them. Doubtless with better & more efficient teachers, proper candidates might be multiplied. A preparitory school, such as Mrs. Bond’s at Kohala is very much needed. Teachers. Not much need be said respecting them. Two have fallen, one for drunkenness & the other for a violation of the commandment - 7 th The former has repented & been restored, one was put out of school for deliberate & obstinate lying - 3 have been dismissed for inefficiency - three have deserted their work - for other employment - 2 were obliged to relinquish teaching from dishonorable ill health - one has died. The places of the above - with one exception have been supplied. While all the teachers do something & some do better than others, yet there is great room for improvement. To find good teachers or make good teachers from native materials, is a difficult if not an impossible thing. The most must be made of the materials furnished, & with that we should be satisfied. native teacher" will be a native teacher - do what you will. commendably well, but such are exceptions I trow. A Some do �Waimea Report 1854 10 School trustees have performed their duties in reference to keeping scholars in school - That is pretty much all they are good for, & that is considerable. In the character of the school - efficiency of the teacher, condition of the school house &c they have but little interest. found. Men of the right stamp for trustees can’t he They are yet in the future, to be revealed perhaps after annexation. Inspectors - one has done as much as his circumstances &c would allow him to do - He is now in the legislature. The other has taken more interest in other things than in schools School houses. While some new school houses have been erected & others repaired, yet I must say that there has been a retrograde course with regard to the furniture of these buildings. of seats & desks have diminished. appeared. The number Mats have almost entirely dis­ They as a general thing present a gloomy uninviting, un­ comfortable appearance - But then, were the school houses much better than they are - tho' they equaled any in America that might look more civilized, & lead a stranger to think the schools taught in them were of a high order - Yet a comfortable & well furnished school house does not always furnish the best school - Our station school house is a floored, painted, plastered, windowed, well furnished room - & yet the school is all run out - there is no school taught in it - The teacher has gone into other business, & no one has been found to take his place. Another floored & well furnished school house has always produced a very inferior school - one of the poorest in the field. So you see it is not good school houses, that make the best schools. �Waimea Report 1854 School funds - 11. These have been adequate for paying the teach­ ers - & for building & repairing school houses, & there is a balance in the treasury. More might have been expended - & yet the schools might have been no better than they are now. Higher wages do not seem to make better teachers or keep them longer in their schools. We have had 2 teachers in our station school - both were paid higher wages than other teachers, but they both deserted the. school. Civilization &c In looking over the field to see what improvements have been made - what advances in civilization - I can discern that something has been done. There have been some onward movements. Government officers dress better; Magistrates allow no parties to appear before them without their lawyers & pittifoggers ( !) (pettifogger: one who does petty law business) - a no very commendable imitation of civili­ zation - Horses & riders have multiplied - on foot in our days. Hardly any one appears Multitudes go to meeting on horse back - perform almost their nearest visits in the same way - & The Missionary must be going backwards as he performs all his travelling on foot. 124 houses have been built, some few of which present a neat & com­ fortable interior. In one respect civilization seems to have gone backwards tho' not really. A few years since/there was a great rage for tables & table furniture, seats &c - & many could be seen sitting around their tables & eating a la America but after a little trial of this sort of civilization - it was found impractable to hold on & incongruous with other habits & modes & household matters &e Tables & seats fell to peices ( !) & there were no nails &c to be had to repair them. Tumblers, bowls & plates were broken carelessly - accidentally or in a fit of anger & no stores were near to apply to for a new supply - knives, forks & spoons soon became so rusty as �Waimea Report 1854 12. to be unusable - wives found it too much, trouble to keep things in order; & besides the females & children preferred the old system. The dogs could not be so well accommodated as when they had all things in common on the floor. The continuation of the new order of things was likely to form a caste - It became a burden to hoist the ponder­ ous calabash on to the table 8c difficult for all hands to get into i f thus elevated & besides it made a very unsightly appearance. And finally, sitting on seats at the table exposed their lower ex­ tremities to cold in cold weather & other discomforts. Hence with here & there an exception the new style of eating has been' abandoned, & the old system resumed. As Turks will be Turks, so Hawaiians will be Hawaiians as a general thing or like to be such - & their civili­ zation must be allowed to take a Hawaiian stamp But still at the annual Temperance Festivals large houses in some places are seen filled with guests all decently seated by well furnished tables. This shows what they can be & do - if so disposed. One meeting house has during the year been furnished with glass windows. It had seats & panneled doors before - but it is still without a pulpit, & the stone wall remains unplastered. Some improvements in road making might be reported - but these are hardly perceptible As industry is a mask of civilization - I would say that many of the people seem to have industrious habits: They have furnished themselves with farms larger or smaller & cultivate them more or less. The people of Waipio are certainly worthy of all praise for the diligence & patience with which they cultivate their taro pat­ ches - get wood & lauhala string from their lofty palis, bake, pound, & do up their kalo into holo ais (bundles of baked taro) & carry �Waimea Report 1854 13. it on pack bullock thro' old Mahiki an awfully bad place, especially in rainy weather to market to Waimea - Kawaihae, Puako & onward Without the industry patience & perseverance of Waipio people, Waimea &c could not live. And Kona people have made large drafts from this Valley during months past as there has been a famine there. Upper Kawaihae people have also done well in growing Irish potatoes - fowls &c - with which they have supplied all the vessels & these not a few that have touched at their port - & still had a considerable surplus Were there a better market, a greater & steadier demand for their produce, poultry, hogs &c the people would doubtless be far more in­ dustrious & enterprising than they now are - Indeed it is even now a great wonder how they manage to get so much money to pay taxes rents, & tithes, with, for lands, kuleanas, pasturage, nice clothes, horses, cattle, saddles & bridles, for pastor's support & benevolent purposes - &c They do not get their money without working hard for it, harder I guess than some of our folks imagine, or than they them­ selves work or would consent to work Religious state &c There is no mistake that our people are more or less religious On my last tour I endeavored to find out how much family worship there was in my field & how many houses had more or less of God's word in them. But tea; houses were found in which there was not some kind of family praying either after the Mormon, Catholic or Calvinistic manner. foreigners. These ten houses are exclusive of those of Foreigners generally live without family worship - tho' they may pray secretly. Indeed one foreigner said "Well, Mr. Lyons, upon my word - whether you'll believe it or not - somehow or other, & it is queer enough too, I never go to bed without saying �Waimea Report 1854 my prayers - 1 4 . Another - a universalist says, he spends hours in prayer & meditation I found that there were portions of the word of God in all the houses but 57. This is too great a number to be sure to b e destitute of the bread of life. - But that so large a portion is supplied with some crumbs if not whole loaves of it argues well for the religious element of the people - especially as this supply was not furnished by colporteurs going to their houses to carry it but by the people's coming voluntarily after It. We hope, the re­ gaining houses, especially where there are readers will soon be sup­ plied. I am sorry to say that there are only 163 native bibles in my whole field - Testaments are pretty numerous. M ost of the people have some regard for the sabbath - enough to refrain from work & attend meeting at least once & many several times on that day - Some, tho' the number is not very large have enough of the religious spirit as to lead them to attend religious meetings on week days. That the majority of the chh members & others, withstand so firmly the assaults of false teachers - & exhibit so much stability amid the unceasing efforts made to undermine & overthrow them, most certainly proves there is religous faith, & a deeply rooted reli­ gious principle. With the exception of those who have gone to the Mormons there have been but few cases of discipline in the chh. Yes, I should except the chh that was vanquished by the war of the Spirits But that revived - repented for the most part, & regained its former state. One case of defection has been very painful - The superin­ tending elder of Waipio parish, who had long occupied this office - �Waimea Report 1854 15 & who had been a principal pillar in that chh, & for whom I supposed there was no fear of falling, yet he fell - & there he remains a fallen pillar - never I fear to be reared again - yet nothing is impossible with God, His quilt is most aggravating - that easily besetting sin - embraced - loved, indulged for months - confessed denied, unrepented off - can there be any hope? - "Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall." Another mark of the religious state - may be seen in the num­ bers that have been recd to the chh on examination - During 1853 some of the parishes were visited with gentle refreshings from above Prom among the professed converts - 137 were recd to the chh in '53. Others remain put over till they give better evidence of being converted - Many former apostates have been apparently reclaimed, & hence restored to the chh. The religious spirit has also manifested itself in acts of benevolence - 552 dollars in 53 were contributed for pastor’s support - & 250 for foreign missions - During this year thus far 230 dollars have been give(n) towards support of pastor & 130 for Hilo Boarding School - Fatuhiva & Micronesia - A good sign seems to be seen in the fact that the people seek to pay their pastor before they pay their taxes - How much of their money is given from right motives & with right feelings is not for me to say. That any great amount or any particle of what is given comes out of the rewards of wickedness, as slanderously report respecting our contributions, I have no evidence for beleiving ( !) - the weight of evidence is on the side, that it was honestly & honorably obtained - I I guess our contribution money is as pure as that given by those who report it otherwise. �Waimea Report 1854 16. Something has also been done in the way of building or propo­ sing to build meeting houses - But on this subject I will not dwell - Strange things Two natives came near being kidknapped by the officers of a whale ship - at least such was the belief - but they were timely rescued by the sheriff A house in Hamakua was struck by lightning - much damage done to the timbers - chests - buckets - clothes, kapas &c - the 2 inmates were stunned - & might have been killed, had they not been engaged in praying for their safety - While other things were injured the bible they had just opened to read, escaped unhurt. A ventriloquist - an old man in Hamakua has been discovered .The people ignorant of this subject - suppose him to be a God & he is very willing they should think so - for by his trick, ven­ triloquism, he sometimes gets a chicken or some other reward — Statistics for 1853 Whole no. recd to the chh on exam & certif. on examination on Certificate Recd on exam in 53 - - - - - on certif " Whole no. dismissed " '53 Deceased in " Whole no. deceased, chh members 1965 ) total " apostates 1000 ) deceased Excluded in 53 Remain excluded in the field - - - - Wanderers on other Islands & in ) other, places - formerly apostates ) but not known what they are now ) or whether they are dead or alive ) Whole no. now in the chh - - Children baptized in 53 6901 6405 496 137 37 1292 156 130 2029 47 Whole no. children baptized 1434 2965 53 332 283 �Waimea Report 1854 Marriages Births Deaths Deaths fr Small pox 93 couple 96 215 71 Catholics Mormons 153 64 Chh going people - - - -- - - - - - - 2500 (Unsigned, but Lyons) � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Mission Station Reports - Hawaii Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Mission Station Reports - Hawaii - Waimea - 1852-1854 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1852, 1853, 1854