The Missionary by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 3, 1890

The Missionary.

By Editor

FROM PITCAIRN.

WE stated last week that Brother J. I. Tay had received three letters from Pitcairn. The one published in the Signs of February 17 was dated August 1, and came by the way of London. One of those to Brother Tay came from Pitcairn by way of Tahiti, while the other two were written from Tahiti. The first one bears the date of November 15, 1889, and is from Sister M. A. McCoy. She wishes two copies of "Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation," and one "Thoughts on Baptism." She says: "Since I last wrote, three women have joined our class in the Sabbath-school, Mrs. Albina Young (Richard's mother), sixty-one years of age, Mrs. Butler, and Mrs. Christian. They were delighted with the lessons and deeply regretted that they had not joined before. My desire to join the mission is still the same.

"We are very sorry to learn of Elder Cudney's fate. We had hoped and prayed to see you here, but it seems the Lord wills it otherwise. We heard of his loss from the officers of the Cormorant only last July; and in a recent paper we received last week, we read an article entitled 'From Honolulu to Pitcairn.' His bright hopes as well as ours were disappointed."

The above expression, "Richard's mother," means the mother of Brother Richard Young, who has been employed at the Pacific Press for some time. He is now ill, but is improving slowly. She speaks of some news that came to them in an old dirty Review and Herald of 1887, which "came ashore in a package of sugar." In their last mail they received letters and tracts sent them for the purpose of turning them from the truth, but she stands firm, concluding with the prayer that God "bless and prosper the cause of the present truth."

The second letter is from Sister Emily McCoy, dated Papeti, Tahiti, January 11. She writes that she had gone there for her health, but was now better. She would have been glad to have accepted Brother Tay's invitation to come to Oakland, but could not. Her father, the magistrate of Pitcairn, and brother to the one who wrote the first letter, had just come for her. She says, "Papa was hoping to find you here on his arrival, but was disappointed."

The third letter is written from the same place as the previous one, dated January 12, 1890, and is from James R. McCoy, chief magistrate of Pitcairn Island. He sent from there a box of various things for Richard Young from his parents, and some remembrances to Brother Tay. He speaks of seeing the captain of the Cressington, who saw Brother Tay in San Francisco, and expresses his great regret at not meeting him and Elder Cudney. He says, "All were well in Pitcairn when I left, the 15th of November last, and still holding on to the present truth." He wishes to know when Brother Tay will come to the Island, and on our own vessel. He thanks God that he will soon be out of that place of sin and iniquity, in their quiet home in Pitcairn.

We praise God that in his providence we have hope that a ship will soon be launched on this coast which will carry to the islands of the sea the precious truths of God. The prophet says, "The isles shall wait for His law," and they have waited. It is now time to give them that for which they have waited so long, and we trust that God's blessing may be over the work of preparing the ship, that it be hindered not. "The King's business requireth haste." May He who has kept the dear souls in Pitcairn still keep, till He in whom they hope shall redeem them unto Himself.