We  have  connected  with  us  as  church  members  forty-eight
persons,  with  seven  on  trial  for  church  membership."

Report  for  1877. — "The  following  facts  weigh  down  my
spirit :  (1)  The  small  number  of  our  members  of  Society;  (2)
But  a  small  part  of  even  these  afford  assurance  that  they  are
living  members  of  Christ ;  (3)  Few  exert  any  good  influence  ;
(4)  Our  heathen  congregations  in  both  town  and  villages  or
estates  manifest  utter  indifference  to  the  truth.  In  most  places
the  theme  and  object  of  our  preaching  are  well  known.  But
it  is  rare  to  find  any  who  even  thinks  himself  concerned  in
them ;  (5)  In  most  instances  we  find  steadfast  antipathy  to
the  Gospel — whilst  preaching  it  we  are  assailed  with  the  most
awful  blasphemies  against  Christ;  (6)  The  abominations  of
idolatry  are  shamefully  practised  before  our  eyes.  Conviction  of
their  wickedness  and  folly  is  not  succeeded  by  any  diminution
of  them;  (7)  We  are  frequently  stunned  by  language  so
obscene  ana  polluting,  that  we  should  be  mobbed  were  we  to
repeat  it  in  England  or  in  the  Colony ;  (8)  We  feel  ourselves
distressingly  below  the  standard  as  even  instruments  of  carrying
on  our  work.  Our  ministrations  seem  without  power.  We
seem  to  get  no  effectual  hold  of  the  people.  .  .  .  There  has  also

H  H


466  CHAPTER  XXI.
been  much  to  grieve  and  dishearten  us  in  our  work  during  the
past  year.  The  Christians  connected  with  our  Church,  but
scattered  here  and  there  on  the  different  estates,  and  on  wood-
cutting establishments,  had  become  careless  and  indifferent
Sins,  which  ought  not  to  have  been  named  amongst  professing
Christians,  had  crept  in.  Party  feeling  had  sprung  np.
Drunkenness,  with  all  its  attendant  vices,  was  prevalent.
