Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-02-19
THE AUSTRALASIA MISSION.
A Series of Enjoyable and Profitable
Meetings.

Waikato District, on January 10th
18th and 10Th.
At the general annual conference
held in Hawkes. Bay District las
April it Was thought advisable tc
hereafter hold two conferences dur.
ing the year in order to give those
who live at the extreme ends Of the
island an opportunity Of attending
these meetings, which otherwise
would be impracticable, as the dis
lance to be travelled would bring I'M
necessary hardships both TO the
Elders and the Saints in general.
Accordingly it was decided to have
general semi-annual meetings, one
to be held in the southern and one
in the northern part of the island, nj
such places as would be most cor
venient to the greatest number OF
Saints. 1t was therefore agreed by
the natives, in whose hands the Sc
lection Of the next place for meeting
had been left, that Rakamangam-
anga, WaikatO District, would be a
suitable place for such conference.
Rakamangamanga is a pleasant
little village, situated on the bank
OF the Waikato river, and on Jan. :
the Saints began to come in from
the surrounding districts. Several
Elders also arrived on this date. and
the balance on the afternoon of the
9Th. All were received kindly by
the natives and Brothers John ).
Bingham and Charles johnson.
The morning of January 10th
dawned upon US with the freshness
Of climate peculiar to this region
and at ten O'Clock, in answer to the
peals of our little bell, we assem-
bled under the roof Of large rush
house to worship God. There were
present Angus 4. Wright president
OF the mission, John S. Bingham.
Ezra It. Stevenson. Orson ID. Rom
ney, Charles A. johnson, Thos. &.
Young, Boyd Stewart, George w.
Davis, Jas. 5. Nye, Ephraim John
son, John H. Timps0n, Heller $.
Cutler, ans Thos. c. Stanford, iii
ton BenniOn, Oliver c. Dunford and
wife, late from Utah, also about 200
natives and several European
strangers.
The meeting was called 10 order
by Brother John 5. Bingham. At
ter singing and prayer the assemb-
lage was addressed by President
Wright who expressed his pleasure
at meeting with the native Saints.
said he felt much joy in his labors
IN the ministry in spreading the true
Gospel OF Christ among mankind.
He thanked the Saints Of Waikato
for so generously providing for this
gathering, and with wonis of exhor-
tatlon encouraged the Saints TO be
faithful in serving the Lord. They
would then surely receive His bless
ings.
Very satisfactory reports were
made by the presidents from the ad-
joining districts, showing that the
natives are DESTROYS of remaining
firm to the principles OF truth which
have been taught them; and though
there are some who gSye way TO
temptation and folly, yet there
is marked change for good in the
Saints. They exhibit a true, re-
pentant spirit and desire TO live in
obedience TO the laws of God. The
afternoon and evening were oecu-
pied by the Elders, who gave many
good words OF counsel and advice
on the principles of the Cos
pei, bearing strong testimonies to
the truth OF the work in which We
are engaged.
On Saturday, the 18th, the morn
ing was devoted to speeches from
the natives, who addressed the |
meeting in a very pleasing and in |
structive manner, giving their rea-
sons for becoming Latter-dav |
saints, and for the hope that Is
within them and desiring to remain
firm in the Gospel to the end.
"A the afternoon the statistical re-
port ending July 3lst, 1859, was
read. We alsU had the pleasure of
hearing from the new Elders from
home, one Of whom, Brother Mil
ton Bennion, bore his testimony
in the Maori tongue, having
only been on the island one
MONTH, thus showing the goodness
'f God in bestowing special bless
lngs upon His children who serve
him and obey His commandments.
We also had several quartettes from
he Elders and sisters, and they were
highly appreciated.
The new appointments were then
cad. They showed but few changes,
IS it had been thought advisable to
How the Elders TO remain in their
resent positions. The accompany
ng report shows their present fields
# labor:
Wairarapa = John Sutton, Jr.,
las. 5. Dame.
Mauawatu-David Muir, Jos. y. |.
1eywood.
Hawkes. Bay-Josepb p. Beck. p.
?. Thomas, John T. SmelIie.
Mohia-Hugh S. Geddes, John
L. Burton.
Turanga - L. o. Taft, L. J.
iawke, Ezra T. Stevenson.
Waiapa-H. ID. Height. Jr., Orson
}. Romney, Boyd Stewart.
Tauranga = Ephraim johnson |
liver c. Danford, Ida Dunford !
chool teacher.
Hsuraki-Thos. c. Young. III {
impson. =
waikatO-Chas Johnson, Thomas t
!. Stanford. i
Whangarei-Geo. w. Davis. los
:. Waldron, Milton Benniou. n
Bay Of Islands-Jas. s. Nve h
Ieber J. Wagstaff. r
Whangaroa = Jas. J. jackson.
IeberS. Cutler. &
South lsland-John 5. Bingham v
0s. 5. Groes5eck. +
Austrslia-Geo. d. Woolley, Wm q
romley, Stephen ID. Chapman. h
A Priesthood meeting was held a
the evening nj which instuIc- n,
Dns We're given to the brethren nj
ne speakers dwell upon the he e,
oval OF the Holy Priesthood unon h,
'seph Smith and the great riches N
E have received by these KEYS "
ing again restored 20 earth. They ar
SO spoke Of the bringing forth Of Of
e Book OF Mormon by the power Of
God, and said We should be proud n.
the Holy Priesthood which ms n
en- conferred upon US and seek in
lgently to magnify our calling ca
His servants. -
morning, January 10, the a,
crament was administered. and q
meeting was first addressed Inv g,
other john 5. Bingham. He ri,
We an account Of the condition of 7
E world before the coming of 90
INST Ills atouement for our Sins Of
. nweit upon the importance OF IN
nving pure and holy lives in the nm
nj OF our Heavenly Father.so that or,
might partake Of the Sacrament r.
'nout eating condemnation to Ii