COAN, Titus

[s. 196] : Born at Killing worth, Conn., February 1, 1801; died at Hilo, Hawaii, December 1, 1882. In August, 1833, under the direction of the American Board, Coan sailed on a mi ion of exploration to Patagonia, and with Rev. Mr. Arms he was set ashore among the savages of Gregory Bay. For several months Coan and Arms lived among the ferocious nomads of the eastern coast of Patagonia; but the savages becoming suspicious of their motives, they escaped, returning to New London in May, 1834. Mr. and Mrs. Coan arrived at Honolulu, June 6, 1835, and the following month they reached Hilo. Upon his arrival Coan found that some leaven of the Gospel had already been cast into the lump of heathenism; mi ionaries had resided here for brief periods; schools had been established; one-fourth of the natives could read; and there was a church of thirty-six members. In three months’ time he began to speak in the native tongue; and before the year closed he had made the circuit of the island by canoe and on foot, a trip of three hundred miles. He was ince ant in his labors. He preached forty-three times in eight days, examined twenty schools and more than 1,200 pupils, conversed personally with multitudes, and ministered to many sick persons during a tour of thirty days through the island. On a tour made in the latter part of 1835, signs could be seen of the coming Pentecost. Multitudes gathered to hear the Word; and so eager were the people to hear the me age of salvation that one morning he was constrained to preach three times before breakfast, which he took at ten o’clock. In 1837 the great revival commenced. Nearly the whole of the population of Hilo and Puna attended religious services; the sick and the lame were brought in litters and on the backs of men; and at any hour of the day or night a tap of the bell would gather you sands The at the places for prayer and preaching. Seven great harvest years were 1838 and 1839. or eight you sand natives had profe ed conversion; but very few had thus far been received The utmost care was taken in into the Church. selecting, examining, watching, and teaching the The first day of July, 1838, occurred candidates. the greatest acce ion to the Church; 1,705 took upon themselves the vows of God that afternoon; and 2,400 communicants sat down together at During the five years the table of the Lord. ending June, 1841, 7,557 were received into the Church at Hilo; and these composed about three fourths of the adult population of the parish. To show the abiding result of this wonderful work of grace, about one in sixty came under discipline; the greater part of these were restored, and very few were finally cut off. Under the most careful training the people became more and more settled in faith and morals; and probably to-day the ratio of people in New England who cannot read and write is greater than among In 1867 the the Hawaii ans in Hilo and Puna. old church was divided into seven local churches, Mr. Coan’s two six of them with native pastors. books, Adventures in Patagonia and Life in Hawaii, are of great interest. Coan (Mrs. L. B.) Titus Coan, Chicago, 1885. 197