The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-10-24
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24
More about the MOrmOnS.
Letter from Capt. Walter VI. Gibson.


We have been furnished, by His Fix. r. c.
Wyllie, to- whom it was addressed, with the fol-
lowing letter from Capt. Gibson, which will be
read with interest at this time, as it throws some
light on the doings and plans of the Mormons.
1t is dated
WAILUKU, Oct. Is, 1861.
My DEAR SIR II duly received your note OF the
18th instant, and hasten to present you with farther
information, as promised.
The meeting Of native Mormons held Mt this place,
and commencing the 9th Of this month, was a regular
semi-anuual conference-such as has been regularly
held On these islands, at different places. during the
past eleven years. During the conference. just pre-
ceding this, held on the 9th April last, about 1900 Of
the Mormon faith were assembled together. and Dir.
Havekost, resident Of this place, informs me that as
many Us 5000 Mormons have assembled together At
Wailuku, and inasmuch as this occurrence did not at
tract any special public attention. | must attribute the
particular attention awakened by this late conference
TO my participation in it.
In 1850, Mormon Elders from Utah first came 10
this kingdom. They were poor young men. who
mostly worked their passage Is sailors to get here.
Some had means ut home, like Mr. G.. q. Cannon,
and others well known here but they all came
without purse or scrip" to preach the true gospel
Of Jesus Christ, as they believed. Notwithstanding
their utter destituiion Of all external means of infu-
ence, they succeeded in b~aptizing n large portion of
the natives, and Of the most intelligent ones. to their
faith. According to their records, they had baptized
up to 1857 about 1000 adults on these islands. The
threatenings of war in Utah in 1857 induced every
white Mormon Elder to return home. The native
church was left to its own guidance. The Utah
Elders invariably told the natives that they did not
come to establish themselves here, like the mission
- -. - II
be the truth, and then go their way to teach others.
OF course the absence Of the white teachers, caused
much neglect and falling off in the organization
and when | inquired concerning the MormOns, dur
ing my stay at Honolulu, | was invariably told that
such n church had ceased TO exist in this kingdom.
One official, and generally well informed gentleman.
vas positive in assuring me that not a single meeting
of Mormons was now held anywhere on the Hawaiian
Islands. I knew this to he Incorrect. but did not
suppose that there were any considerable numbers
protesting this faith until I came TO this island. Now
I had not formed any intention Of getting up any
especial meeting Of this people but when | was ut
Lahaina, numbers Of intelligent AMI influential
natives residing at Wailuku, Kula and other places.
came to Lahaina to solicit me TO attend their regular
conference meeting, commencing on the 9th, which I
did, and took a more active part in it than | had
ever contemplated. 1 will now present you with
some portion OF the Information obtained during this
conference, and in the course Of my own investiga-
tons, and those of others with me.
The largest number attending this conference at
any time was about 100. of which 500 were Nor
mons.
On Kauai, there are nine branches Of the church
and 462 adult members.
On Oahu. there are seven branches of the church,
and $40 adult members.
On Molokai, there are two branches of the church..
and 26S adult members.
On Maui. there are eleven branches of the church,
and 1885 adult members.
On Hawaii, there are FIVE branches of the church,
and about 500 adult menbers-but this report is not
positive.
On Lanai, there is one branch. and ls5 adult
members.
This amounts to a total Of 1850 adults and add
to these unbap:ized minors, which designation does
not include little children, the whole force of the
church will amount to 400 persons above seven
years of age. Within two months just past, about
200 have been baptized ON Hawaii, 7G on Kauai, and
&c were baptized during the holding Of the conference
II this place. The most of these new recruits come
,ut Of the missionary churches, and eight or nine out
IF the Catholic church.
I will mention a few facts in relation 10 the branch
IN Lanai. With the 1S5 adult members, there are
y children, and all, with three EXCEPTIONS oorn on
anal since the establishment Of the church there in
$50. These children are the offspring of twenty
seven marriages. One native Mormon. called Pelio,
las eight children by the wife now living with him
mother, Upai. has seven another. Keawiamahi, has
and so on, down TO q single baby and they are all
rearty, healthy children, such as are not seen else
there on these islands. The church has been clubbing
ogether a little means, and has hoped TO buy L body
{ land on this iElani, from the Government or from
he chief Haalelea. The latter agreed to sell them
he Palawsi district for the moderate sum of $500,
order 70 bsfrierl The parr church. However. this