602 



MISSJONAllY CLASSES 



— FARM. 



Dec. 



sant anxiety, attach them to a class, of which the good, and 

 therefore truly great Bishop Heber was one of the leading 

 members. But of course they are separated, among themselves, 

 by distinctions which are a natural result of more or less educa- 

 tion and of early habits. 



The Church Missionary Society have distinguished by 

 the term ' missionary' only those educated, well-informed men 

 who have taken holy orders, and they are styled ' reverend.' 

 Those who are not in orders are termed * catechists.' Without 

 an idea of finding fault with the present conduct of any indi- 

 vidual belonging to either of those two classes, it has occurred 

 to others as well as to me, that a third class might be added 

 advantageously, that of ' visiting' or ' inspecting missionaries.' 

 A clergyman of Heber's character, embarked on board a man of 

 war, might advise and assist those who are now too much on 

 an equality to give free advice to one another, or readily to see 

 the small defects from which no human beings or institutions 

 ever can be free. 



Human nature, tried during a long course of years, has sel- 

 dom steered a uniformly steady course ; and may not slight 

 defects, if unnoticed, increase into real blemishes ? Difficulties 

 have arisen in New Zealand, as well as in other parts of the 

 Pacific, unnoticed by many people, because, till lately, they 

 were but little felt. These difficulties particularly interfere with 

 the missionaries, and if not remedied by timely measures, will 

 lead to continual embarrassment. 



To return from this digression. Near the houses a number 

 of sheep were grazing : plenty of fowls, geese, and pigs ; some 

 .cattle and horses ; and several calves and colts, added to the 

 comfortable, farm-like appearance. We accompanied Mr. Davis 

 into his house for a few minutes, walked over the garden and 

 farm, looked at the farm-yard, barn, and mill, and returned to 

 dinner. The house was well constructed of wood ; and though 

 unfinished had a remarkably clean and neat appearance. The 

 compact manner in which the walls were boarded or wainscotted 

 struck me particularly, from being such a contrast to the 

 manner in which a South American carpenter would have con- 



