’How can I thank you for giving me up to this work, and for all the wise and loving words with which you constantly cheer me and encourage me?  Your blessing comes now to strengthen me, as work and responsibilities are fast accumulating upon me.  I thank God that He enables us at the two ends of the world to see this matter in the same way, so that no conflict of duties arises in my mind.

’This book, “Essays and Reviews,” I have, but pray send your copy also; also any good books that may be produced bearing on that great question of the Atonement, and on Inspiration, Authority of Scripture, &c.  How sad it is to see that spirit of intellectualism thinking to deal with religion in forgetfulness of the necessary conditions of humility and faith!  How different from the true gnosis!’

’Kohimarama:  April 29, 1861.

’My dearest Father,—­As I read your letters of Feb. 21-25, you are, I trust, reading mine which tell you of what took place on Feb. 24.  That point is settled.  I almost fear to write that I am a Bishop in the Church of Christ.  May God strengthen me for the duties of the office to which I trust He has indeed called me!

’As I read of what you say so wisely and truly, and dear Joan and Fan and Aunt James and all, of my having expected results too rapidly at Mota, I had sitting with me that dear boy Tagalana, who for two months last winter was in the great sacred enclosure, though, dear lad, not by his own will, yet his faith was weak, and no wonder.

’Now, God’s holy name be praised for it, he is, I verily believe, in his very soul, taught by the Spirit to see and desire to do his duty.  I feel more confidence about him than I have done about anyone who has come into my hands originally in a state of complete heathenism.  It is not that his knowledge only is accurate and clearly grasped, but the humility, the loving spirit, the (apparent) personal appropriation of the blessing of having been brought to know the love of God and the redemption wrought for him by the death of Christ; this is what, as I look upon his clear truthful eyes, makes me feel so full of thankfulness and praise.

’"But Tagalana, if I should die, you used to say that without my help you should perhaps fall back again:  is that true?”

’"No, no; I did not feel it then as I do now in my heart.  I can’t tell how it came there, only I know He can never die, and will always be with me.  You know you said you were only like a sign-post, to point out the way that leads to Him, and I see that we ought to follow you, but to go altogether to Him.”

’I can’t tell you, my dearest Father, what makes up the sum of my reasons for thinking that God is in His mercy bringing this dear boy to be the first-fruits of Mota unto the Christ, but I think that there is an inward teaching going on now in his heart, which gives me sure hope, for I know it is not my doing.

’All you all say about Mota is most true:  I never thought otherwise really, but I wrote down my emotions and impulses rather than my deliberate thoughts, that my letter written under such strange circumstances might become as a record of the effect produced day by day upon us by outward circumstances.