A CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 
53 
CHAP. III. 
General view of a Christian church—Uniformity of pro¬ 
cedure in the different stations—Instructions from 
England—Preparatory teaching—Distinct nature of a 
Christian church—Qualifications and duties of com¬ 
municants—The sacrament of the Lord’s Supper—For¬ 
mation of the first church of Christ in the Leeward 
Islands—Administration of the ordinance—Substitute 
for bread—Order of the service—Character, experience, 
and peculiarities of the communicants—Ruaiti—Manner 
of admitting church members—Regard to the decla¬ 
rations of scripture—Instances of the power of con¬ 
science—Appointment of deacons—Improvement in 
parental discipline—Great attention to religion. 
While the Lord of Missions was thus thinning 
our ranks, he was shewing us that the work in 
which we were engaged was not ours, but his ; 
that though the agent was removed, the agency 
under which he had acted was not thereby im¬ 
peded. The pleasing change we had observed 
among our people every year, increased during 
the present in an astonishing manner, and we had 
the high satisfaction of witnessing the formation 
and organization of the first church of Christ in the 
Leeward or Society Islands. It took place early 
in the month of May, and shortly after the opening 
of the new chapel. 
