[Illustration:  The “John Williams.”]

Rare in the world are those scenes of enchanting beauty, which the islands of Polynesia so frequently display.  Yet nowhere did heathenism descend to deeper degradation; nowhere did it develop blacker vices and commit more hellish crimes.  Incessant war, merciless cruelty, infanticide, indescribable vice, in many places cannibalism, made the strong races a ceaseless terror to each other and to the world outside them.  Over millions of their brethren such heathenism and wickedness hold the same sway still.  In all but Western Polynesia, the Gospel has swept this heathenism away.  The four great Societies which have sent their brethren forth as messengers of mercy, have gathered into Christ’s fold 300,000 people, of whom 50,000 are members of the Church.  They have together expended on the process less than 1,200,000 pounds, a sum which now-a-days will only make a London railway, or furnish the Navy with six ironclads.  Yet how wonderful the fruit of their toil!  “The wolf dwells with the lamb; the leopard lies down with the kid.”  The destruction of life has been stayed.  Beautiful as were these lands by nature, culture has rendered them more lovely still.  Everywhere the white chapel and school have taken the place of the heathen marai.  The trim cottage, which Christianity gave them, peeps everywhere from its nook of leaves.  Land and people are Christian now.  The victories of peace have taken the place of war.  Resources have multiplied:  wealth has begun to accumulate.  Books, knowledge, order and law, rule these communities.  Large churches have been gathered; schools flourish; good men and good women are numerous.  Not a few have offered themselves as missionaries to heathen islands; and in zeal, self-sacrifice, and patient service have equalled the earnest men of other climes.

[Illustration:  House of the Rev.  John Williams, Raiatea.]

All over the southern groups of Polynesia, this is the work which missionaries have been doing.  This is the influence which they have exercised, and these are the fruits of their devoted toil.  It is not merely Admiral Fitzroy, and Captain Erskine, and Admiral Wilkes, who testify to the reality of such results; but to these Christian islands, where sailors were once afraid to land, hundreds of whalers run gladly every year to get the refreshment which their hard toil renders so grateful.  From icebergs and boundless seas, and heavy gales of wind; from the exciting chase, the capture, the boiling down of their huge prey; and from all the filthy, weary work of whaling life, they now run north to New Zealand and Samoa, to Tahiti and Rarotonga; not only to refit their vessels and to replace their broken gear, but to buy fresh meat and vegetables and coffee; to get medicine for their sick; to revel in oranges, plantains and water-melons; to feast the eye on green mountains and cultured valleys; to walk among white cottages and flower gardens and groves of palms; to attend Sabbath services, and be reminded of their Christian training and their Christian homes.  Where have unaided men, however wise, produced a moral change like this?  With us the gospel alone has done it, and to god we give all the praise.