420 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
saw the change to great advantage ; and the mag¬ 
nitude of it is so astonishing, that all has the 
appearance of a dream. When, however, fully 
convinced of the reality, the hand of an Almighty 
Providence is distinctly acknowledged.” 
There are special meetings, held once a week, 
for the instruction of those who desire to make a 
public profession of the Christian faith by baptism, 
and another for the candidates for communion. 
In addition to these, there is a public meeting for 
general conversation, or rather for answering the 
questions of the people, held every Monday after¬ 
noon or evening. 
This meeting originated in that held on the 26th 
of July, 1813, for the purpose of writing the 
names of those who were desirous of publicly pro¬ 
fessing Christianity; and was designed for the par¬ 
ticular instruction of such individuals, though it 
has since assumed a more general character. This 
has been one of the most important and efficient 
means of promoting general and religious improve¬ 
ment in the islands. The greater part of the inha¬ 
bitants of the settlement in which it is held, and 
many from remote districts, having assembled in 
the place of worship ; we usually took our seats 
near a table at one end of the building. Soon 
after the Missionaries have entered, a native, per¬ 
haps in some distant part of the house, stands up, 
and, addressing them by name, asks a question, 
states a difficulty that may have perplexed his 
mind, begs an explanation of a passage of scrip¬ 
ture, or makes an inquiry relative to some subject 
or portion of the sacred volume, &c. Our answers 
generally lead to farther questions, either from the 
first inquirer, or other individuals in the assembly. 
The conversation is sometimes continued until a 
