Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-12-14
Jenson's Travels.
LETTER NO. XVIII.

the island Of TAHITI landed in Tonga
aud located at Nukraloia where they
Immediately commenced preaching; a
place OF worship was soon erected al
VIII oh about three hundred people as.
scmDlcs to take part In Christian services
on the Sabbath. The king rubou gave
his personal support to the work In
June 1876 two other Wesleyan mission
aries arrived from England and located
at HihilO, on Tongatabu, where they
built a wooden house and commenced
to study the language aud teach the
people, working entirely Independent OF
the Tahitian teachers. The names Of
the two missionaries were John Thomas
and John Hutchinson. Two other Yves.
leyan missionaries came In fS7S, who
worked IN unison with the Tahitian ma.
lives, and from this united effort the
cause proved a succ So. The staff Of
missionaries was further increased IN
1899, when the Wesleyans had thrty.one
regular Church members on the islands
which IN 1874 had increased to s4Sf. in.
GLIDING the membership ON the Haapa
and Navau islands. where successful
mission had been opened In 1890, and
IN the Navau groups. where the first
native Christians commenced operations
IN 1891. white missionaries came later.
The first French Catholic missionaries
arrived at Tongatabu In 1872 and located
at the heather fortress OF Bea from
whence they extended their operations
to Mus, which IS still Catholic strong.
hold. The Weslcyans accused the
Catholics Of making common cause with
the heather part OF the Tongan popula.
ton, and OF other crooked work. and
the Consequence was bitter feeling be-
tween the Romans and the PrOtestants
which still exists. But the Wesleyans
kept the upper hand, and In 1906 there
were 10y protestant places Of worship in
the TOngan kingdom connected with
which were ~ European and native
ministers, and total membership Of
| 9S27. The late King George, who las
the former king OF Haapai and Navau)
became king OF all the Friendly Islands
In iS45 and relgned until his demise In
1898, was the great patron OF the Yves.
lyydn cause. by his aid Tonga was
ChrlsiianiEed, he gave the Wesleyans
land and privileges, aud made his PEG.
/ pie follow the faith OF the Methodists.
Among the Wesleyan ministers who
| gained great influence among the ma.
uyes, was Mt. $. w. Baker. He arriy-
iA WI ANN lalhNAa w 1000 atlA hunhEs
/ quently became the presiding Wesleyan
there. The mission being ia a flourish
ing condition, and the natives contribut-
Ing very literally toward supporting the
| church, petition was drawn up asking
the New South Wales and Queensland
/ wesleyan conference that Tonga be
given more independent position or
/ separate conference organic ition, but
instead OF granting the petition, the
conference recalled Mr.. Baker as the
head Of the Tongan mission, and he
consequently left the Islands In 1850.
This action, which was considered IN.
| Just displeased King George and his
people very much; and the king advised
his subjects to cease contributing Of
their means toward the Wesleyan
Church; and he also offered the Pfissier
ship OF the kingdom to Mr.. Baker, II he
would return to the islands Mr.. Baker
responded; resigned his position as
Wesleyan missionary, and returned to