N EW ZEALAND. 
361 
the influence of the Missionaries, and is, in a great 
degree, the cause which led the Wesleyan Mis¬ 
sionaries for a time to suspend altogether their 
efforts, and which has recently so painfully dis¬ 
turbed those of their brethren in connexion with 
the Church Missionary Society. 
The labours of the mechanic and the artisan are 
valuable accompaniments to those of the Mision- 
ary; but Christianity must precede civilization. 
Little hope is to be entertained of the natives follow¬ 
ing to any extent the useful arts, cultivating habits 
of industry, or realizing the enjoyments of social 
and domestic life, until they are brought under 
the influence of those principles inculcated in the 
word of God. And notwithstanding the discou¬ 
ragements to be encountered, this happy result 
should be steadily and confidently anticipated by 
those engaged on the spot, as well as by their 
friends at home. Their prospect of success is 
daily becoming more encouraging. They have 
not yet laboured in hope, so long as their pre¬ 
decessors did in the South Sea Islands; where 
nearly fifteen years elapsed before they knew of 
one true convert. The recollection of this cir¬ 
cumstance is adapted to inspire those employed 
in New Zealand with courage, and stimulate to 
perseverance, as there is every reason to con¬ 
clude, that when the New Zealanders shall by 
the blessing of God become a Christian people, 
they will assume and maintain no secondary rank 
among the nations of the Pacific. 
