BAPTISM OF MAHINE. 25 
in a vessel of water, which Mr. Barff or myself 
held by his side, and then holding his hand over 
the crown or forehead of the chief, while the water 
from his hand flowed or fell upon Mahine’s head, 
Mr. Davies pronounced aloud, with distinctness 
and solemnity, Mahine e tapape du vau ia oe i te 
ioci o te Medua , e o te Tamaidi , e o te Varua 
maitai: “ Mahine, I apply water to you in the 
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the 
Holy Ghost.” Repeating the same words, and 
applying the water in the same manner, to every 
individual, he proceeded to baptize the whole num¬ 
ber, who kept their seats during the ceremony. 
Mahine was not baptized first because he was 
the king of the island, but because he was one of 
the earliest converts, and had been most diligent 
in his attention, and consistent in deportment. 
We were careful to avoid giving any preference to 
rank and station, simply as such ; and, on the pre¬ 
sent occasion, we beheld Hautia, the governor of 
the island, and others of high rank, sitting by the 
side of the humblest peasants of the land. In 
reference to civil or political station, we always 
inculcated the requirements of the gospel, that 
all should render honour to whom honour is 
due, invariably presenting a suitable example of 
the most respectful behaviour to individuals of 
rank or distinction. But in the church of God, 
and in the participation of the privileges of Chris¬ 
tianity, we as invariably taught that all were bre¬ 
thren, that there was no precedence derived from 
worldly exaltation, that one only was our Lord 
and King, the Saviour himself. This principle we 
were happy to see recognized by themselves on this 
occasion, as some of the principal chiefs sat at the 
lowest end. 
