178 AUSTRALIAN PICTURES. 



blacks began with earnest cries to God for mercy, and sincere tears of repentance, which was 

 followed by a striking change in their lives, manners and habits. The wonderful regenerating 

 power of the Gospel among the lowest of mankind worked like leaven in their hearts, and, 

 through patient labour and the constraining love of Jesus, we were soon privileged to see a 

 small Christian church arise and a civilised community settled around us. To the glory of God 

 it cm be said that a comparatively large number of the remnant of this rapidly decreasing race 

 has been brought to the knowledge of the truth, and a good many honoured the Lord by their 

 humble Christian life for many years, and a still greater number died in full assurance of eternal 

 happiness through . faith in Jesus Christ. 



The old manners and customs of the blacks have changed even among the remaining heathen 

 under the influence of the Word of God. The war-paints and weapons for fights are seen no 

 more, the awful heathen corroborees have ceased, the females are treated with kindness, and the 

 lamentable cries, accompanied with bodily injuries, when death occurred, have given place to 

 Christian sorrow and quiet tears for their departed friends. With very few exceptions, all the 

 wanderers have settled down as Christian communities on the various stations, and, where they 

 are kept under careful guidance and religious instruction, the change from former days is really 

 a most remarkable one. 



Whilst, on the one hand, we have reason to rejoice that God has blessed His work to such an 

 extent, we feel sorrow at stating that our joy is often mingled with disappointment, in so far that 

 so very many of these people pass away either through the consequences of their former diseases, 

 or for some unknown reason. The Lord does what seemeth good in His sight ; and we have 

 reason to thank Him for so many tokens of His grace, and for the triumphs of the Gospel in 

 the redemption of those members who passed away in peace to their eternal home, to be for ever 

 with the Lord. 



The carrying out of the Saviour's commandment to His Church, to preach the Gospel to 

 every creature, has accomplished that which was considered by many an impossibility ; for the 

 influence of the Word of God proved its Divine power, and many of these poor depraved blacks 

 soon began to sit at the feet of Jesus, 'clothed, and in their right mind.' General civilisation 

 and education, in and out of school, for young and old, followed step by step as a fruit of true 

 Christianity, and showed in reality a greater progress than we ourselves could have expected in 

 accordance with the generally adopted opinion in reference to the capability of the aborigines. 



I may state here that in every case of conversion we have been most careful and cautious 

 not to administer the ordinance of baptism too soon, but only after long trials and careful instruc- 

 tion in the Word of God. Some of the converts have honoured their confession of faith by most 

 honest, faithful, and consistent lives from beginning to end ; some have been, and still are, weak 

 in their Christian course, whilst others have often to be reminded, and have even had to be put 

 under Christian discipline, in consequence of backslidings and sins ; but even of those it can be 

 stated truthfully that, though weak, they did cling to Jesus for salvation, and cried for mercy to 

 Him who alone can forgive sins. 



To enter into particulars of individual conversions and triumphs of faith would be out of 

 place in such a short statement as this ; but there are very many instances, both of young people, 

 and of the very oldest aborigines, who lived and died as faithful humble Christians. On the whole, 

 I believe that there is not any great difference between these blacks and any new converts from 

 the heathen in other lands, or even among some classes of white people. It may also be stated 

 that many people here and elsewhere at once expect the converted aborigines to be model 

 Christians, whilst they forget that Christianity truly teaches all to grow in grace and in truth, and 

 with patience and perseverance to press forward to the great aim ; and this certainly is carried 

 out by the converted aborigines in this colony. 



I remain, dear sir, yours very truly, 



F. A. Hagenauer. 



