Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-05-02


valley The branch was raised up by
E.dcf Iens Jensen. who organized It
February %, 1881. since which Il has
seen great number Of changes, and
both pleasant and unpleasant expert
Cnce,
Wednesday. December 18Th Christ.
ma Day The village bell rang at the
usual hOuf-S o'c Uck p. M, and
though most OF as who did not sleep IN
The meeting the night before had by no
means obtained sufficient sleep OF rest
we rose cheerful and happy and ex'
changed the compliments Of the season
with one another Il was the hfsi time
that many Ui uI Elders present spent "a
NhtNimas u q southern zone, 90
The middle Of summer and hot
weather The early morning hour
found lamahau, the village chief,
out greeting his visitors. a com
mlttsc consisting OF both Elders aud
Mao brethren mad been appointed 10
arrange a program Tor Christmas Day
ana had been busily at work; ami aC'
coruing to their Arrangement tue pco
pie gathered IN the meeting house at 10
"a. IN. to listen to the exercises The
chief Iamahau, who had been appoint
ca president Of the day, made an APP
prupuatc opening speech, after which
he gave out an opening hymn aud call
ed upon President William Gardner,
who had been chosen vice.prcsidcnt TOT
the day TO pray. Elder Gardner offered
up an inspired PRAYER, which sultencd
the heart ui Tamahau SO much that De
shed tears OF Joy aud then he con.
unuci his speech IN which he express.
cd hls great love for the Elders aud said
that he believed the message they bore
was true Elder Gardner responded M
an appropriate aud spirited speech
which wa well received by all present
Alter THIS there was singing by mission
aries and Maori, recitation by Eldcr
lex, mouth organ music by Elder Best
ana other interesting numbers. ~
noon 40 persons sat down to eat Christ
mas diuutr the chi / aud his vile benz
gwen The seats of uuuOr az the head Of
the missionaries table, which had been
moved down from the private dwelling
when We had previously taken our
meals to the centre Of the meeting
house, The tables were spread with
the best iood the Walrampa village
afforded, and the decorations with
natural and arihcal luNrrs we're very
hnc. -Four Of The best looking Maori
Elrs, all daughters vi chiefs. waited on
tnr missionaries table, while halt
dozen men did similar service at the
larger table where the natives ate.
These walters were al dressed Tor the
occasion, and decorated with tissue
paper trimmings OF many CUlOTs Tue
Chief seemed fully to clJly the honor
bestowed upon HIM as master OF cefe.
monies. IL Is worthy OF note that while
the morning exercises we're X ling on
two special messengers were dispatched
LOT HIM to come over to the meeting that
was being held IN the smaller meeting
house where a Church OF England min
isler was hOding forth and was admin.
lstcting the sacr, ment, Ut which they
wanted the chief to partike. but he sent
word back that he was busuy engaged
wucfc ne was and could not come. and
when the second messenger aTfiy, d he
! felt Teauy annoyed aud answered the
I messenger ia tones that could not be
misunderstood. The seCtarian minister
who evidently had come Tor the purpose
/ VI drawing Us many oi the natives of
/ from Out conference as possible, return
/ ed 10 disgust without even seeing or
| spyaking 10 the chigi. A marriage gcrc-
/ mOny had also been contemplated in
| when the young res dent Maori minister
/ ana a native girl tom lie Ofeotc should
| have been the contracting parties; but
! though the minister came July prepared
/ 10 sulumuI2- the marriage. he Was m.
] formed that u had been decided 10 post
| pOne the ceremony little longer. This
| annoyed tie WIS Jung minister, who de.
manded a reason, as he had been led to
Understand that ever thing was ready.
But as he was not a. swCr,d ~ a way to
please him, he got iiltd in hts feelings
aud ln 30 oil passion exclaimed. 81
know the reason; Il D. because these
MUrmons are here" The chief VIE,
With whom the conversation took pace,
then iTanSiy acknoWledg d that be- had
guessed ugbt-lhat he haI named the
reason, Ii Is evident that the man did
not realize his position lust then, la
having to play second fiddle to Nor
mons.
10 the afternoon the scene Of activity
was transferred to the adjoining green
When nearly an the people IN the village
ani the Nisitors-pefuaps upwards oi
one huudred-assemDled to witness the
sports. A most excellent program was
cariied out, IN which the young Elders
nom Zion look an active aud leading
part The exercises consisted OF racing,
jumping, throwing heavy weights, div.
ing IN a tub for coins by Children play
lux ball, etc etc. The natives we're
eldted aud cutee ed into the games with
the splut OF them, dc ermined to thor
uughly enjoy themselves, which they
diu. Not a lrown was seen ON any.
bUdys lace, not harsh " ord heard, and
Dot drop intONlcanls taken, so far As
We could see, And when finally the
darkness OF the night, necessarily put
an end to the Interesting proceedings all
the natives seemed To be unanimous in
the opinion that Papawa had never
seen such a pleasant aud happy day
before. On all former occa,ions when
the people had gathered to enjoy Christ.
mas games, there has always been
drinking, Earrings and contentious 10
greater OF less extent
After supper and evening prayer, a
long 'poroporo aki' (iareWeil greelingl
meeting was held at which all lie
speakers (and there was many OF
them uttered words Of praise regarding
the very interesting conference and
Christmas proceedings which all hearts
had been made 10 rejoice. Even a
Church Of England Maori minister had
come uom a neighbofing village to at.
tend the meeting clad IN the white min.
isteral robes Of MS church he praised
the MOimOns for what they had done.
and were now doing among the Maori
people. lie believed they were teach
ing the people true doctrines, and FELL
endorse Their labors, He had learned
on tnis particular occasion that the
NJ. rmons dld moi do Things by haiy,s.