’Significant is that one word to the thief on the Cross “Paradise.”  The way open again; the guardian angel no longer standing with flaming sword in the entrance; admission to the Tree of Life.’

’The services were much shorter than usual, chiefly because I don’t stammer and bungle, and take half an hour to read twenty verses of the Bible, and also because I discarded all the endless repetitions and unmeaning phrases, which took up half the time of their unmeaning harangues.  About an hour sufficed for the morning-service; the evening one might have been a little longer.  I feel quite at my ease while preaching, and John told me it was all very clear; but the prayers—­oh!  I did long for one of our Common Prayer-books.’

One effect of the Independent system began to reveal itself strongly.  How could definite doctrines be instilled into the converts by teachers with hardly any books, and no formula to commit to memory?  What was the faith these good Samoans knew and taught?

‘No doctrinal belief exists among them,’ writes Patteson, in the third month of his stay.  ’A man for years has been associated with those who are called “the people that seek Baptism.”  He comes to me:—­

’J.  G. P.  ’Who instituted baptism?

’A.  Jesus.

’J.  G. P. And He sent His Apostles to baptize in the Name of Whom?

’Dead silence.

’"Why do you wish to be baptized?”

’"To live.”

’"All that Jesus has done for us, and given to us, and taught us, is for that object.  What is the particular benefit we receive in baptism?” ‘No conception.’  Such is their state.

’I would not hesitate if I thought there were any implicit recognition of the doctrine of the Trinity; but I can’t baptize people morally good who don’t know the Name into which they are to be baptized, who can’t tell me that Jesus is God and man.  There is a lad who soon must die of consumption, whom I now daily examine.  He has not a notion of any truth revealed from above, and to be embraced and believed as truth upon the authority of God’s Word.  A kind of vague morality is the substitute for the Creed of the Apostles.  What am I to do?  I did speak out for three days consecutively pretty well, but I am alone, and only here for four months, and yet, I fear, I am expecting too much from them, and that I ought to be content with something much less as the (so to speak) qualifications; but surely they ought to repent and believe.  To say the word, “I believe,” without a notion of what they believe, surely that won’t do.  They must be taught, and then baptized, according to our Lord’s command, suited for adults.’

Constant private teaching to individuals was going on, and the 250 copies of the Lifu primer were dispersed where some thousands were wanted, and Mr. Patteson wrote a little book of sixteen pages, containing the statement of the outlines of the faith, and of Scripture history; but this could not be dispersed till it had been printed in New Zealand.