FANATICAL VISIONARIES. 
91 
our own views, and consequent proceedings, in 
reference to measures which will be regarded with 
indifference by few, whatever may be their peculiar 
opinions as to the plan we have pursued. From 
all, I would ask fervent prayer, that whatever has 
been contrary to the will of God may be amended, 
and that what has been agreeable thereto may 
continue to receive his blessing. The church of 
Christ in Huahine, as well as those in other 
islands, has had its trials. Some of its members, 
as might be expected, have departed from the faith 
and the purity of the gospel. And among the 
professors of religion in this and the other islands, 
some, designating themselves prophets, have de¬ 
clared that they have received special revelation 
from heaven. They have pretended that they 
were inspired by the spirit of John the Baptist, 
the woman of Samaria, or the apostle Paul, not 
to supersede the gospel, but to add something to it. 
The declarations of their visions and dreams have 
been the most absurd imaginable. Several of 
these visionaries, of both sexes, were persons of 
doubtful morals, and some have become profligate. 
The Missionaries are of opinion, that a desire to 
exempt themselves from the moral restraints of 
the gospel, has been the secret but principal 
motive by which they have been influenced. 
This appears confirmed by their declaring that 
when the mind was under the influence of the 
spirit by which they pretended to be inspired, they 
could not commit sin, as whatever they did during 
those seasons was the act of the body alone, and 
was not a moral delinquency. Their injurious 
efforts were met in a becoming manner by the 
great body of the people, and the greater part of 
those who were drawn away have manifested their 
