Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-05-09
THE GOSPEL TO TIE NAORIS.
An Interesting NArrailrs-COrrsclIOn in
Dates Of Opening the Mission.
pocArELLo, Idaho,
April l4th, 1896

Of returned missionaries, about the
work among the natives OF that FAT OF
land. New Zealand Many times have
thought would state facts in connec.
lion with the opening Of that mission,
and noticing another error in your
semi.weekly OF March 9th, have felt
that would correct the error by send.
ing the correct dates Of the opening Of
that mission. II you think they are
worthy OF publication Or any part OF
them. please do so.
The work among the natives com.
menced with success, in the town OF
Cambridge, Waikato, one hundred miles
south OF Auckland on December 2l,h
1873, land not In 1885 as stated by Elder
William NJ. Bromley prcsiden, ol the
Aus,ralasian mission, William J. Nc
Donnel. who was a resident ot Auek.
land, and Thomas l.. Cox, Of Cam.
bridge. the place where the work com
menccd. These two brethren had come
to pay me visit Elder Bromley by
special request, Elder Mcdonnell being
IMPRESSED to pay me visit, came up
early on the morning OF the 7i,h. After
breakfast, we all spent the forenoon
among the natives, and arranged ior a
meeting with them In the evening, which
was held at the house OF a chiel named
Hare Teimaua. a large number OF
natives had been notified VI the meeting
and the house was crowded, and as they
appcafed to be interested, the meeting
was continued until late hour; so much
so that my wife began to think some.
thing was wrong as We had not returned
home.
before leaving. we arranged for
another meeting TO be held on the even.
ing OF the gslh; then bidding the natives
good bye turned our faces homewafd.
before we had got far we were called
back by the chief, who told US he had a
child sick nigh unto death. She was
given ND by all the doctors IN town who
rad declared Il was impossible for her
TO recover, aud the natives had gathered
around the .young maiden TO witness
her take her last breath, which was a
pitable sight for one to witness, as she
Law stfaightcncd out on the iloor m the
north cast corner OF the room. Elder
BROMLEY told the chief that the gifts and
power OF the Gospel were In the Church,
lust as We had laid before them that
night, and II he desired We should lay
our hands upon the maiden We would
do so, but whatever the result, to give
God the glory and praise. Not having
oil at our command We were only able
10 attend TO one.half the ordinance.
Immediately after We raised up our
bodies II was seen by all present that
the eirl was much improved. We again
bid them good night aud went on our
way rejoicing. Arriving home, the
president told Sister Cox OF the girls
sickness. aud how the Lord had blessed
ihe LAYING on hands OF His servants, and
as We did not 20 TO bed until carly In
the morning, she arose nj an early hour.
provided some little nourishmen, and
went oil TO the little invalid. by her
care and attention and the help OF the
Lord, within three days she walked "a
my house, which was fully three.iourths
OF a mile away, where she remained ioi
several days.
ment before mentioned which lasted
again to a late hour. But We were wen
paid for our labors by the confession
that they were sinners, OF Chiei Hare
Teimaua, his wife Pare Teimaua, anu
Hanu Takere, who demanded bapusu
at our hands, believing we were servant
OF the Lord, and had power to bapuz'
them Tor the remission OF lhelf slhs, ahe
to confer upon them the holy SnOst
Elder William J. Mcdonnell bapIiLea
them in the Wiakato river, the TWO iot
mer being confirmed by slder NIlllam
NJ. Bromley and the latter W myself
When this was accomplished II wa,
nearly midnight -,,-.
held at my house IN Cambridge E'ue
William NJ. Bromley presiding, u wa
unanimously agreed to sustain Tide
Tbnmas l., Cox as president OF tn'
IVaiLato district. Elder Cox was theI
sci apart under the hands OF Eide
William NJ. Bromley and William
Mcdonnell.
added 10 the Church in the usual man
ner the above brethren officiating.
The next day Elders Bromley AM
McDunnel Jeff for Auckland, leaving m,
alone In the work. My wife and tamil
rendered me valuable assistance.
lin 10 February ssth 1888, some sixty
five natives were baptized and seventeen
GnilNtcn ultanNAs
Alta meeting held at my house !
Cambridge, Waikato, February 7St
iSsa. Ategatera Te Puni was unanimous
ly sustained and ordained to the oihc
of a Priest. This was the FIRST native 4
receive the priesthood. lie was ordain
ed by myself, assisted by Elder j. {
Williams. The first native branch
the Church OF Jesus Christ OF Latter
day Saints was organized with Areka1er
Re Puni as president at same place an
date by the above named breth'et
The branch was named Tc woa.I an
was organized with member up
twenty-seven baptized, and one Chi
blessed. as,
A correct record was kept OF all item
of Importance from the commencement
OF the work until was released b
President Stewart in 1884, The RECORD
were then handed over 10 my successC
Elder William Gardner, now presldel
Of the Australasan mission, and II IN
records Of the Waikato district are
correct now as they were then, the
will tell OF all the items before mel
toned.
Up to this date many times the pow,
OF God had been made manifest
various ways among the people
conclusion | will give copy OF ie
words that Elder William NJ. BromlS
was inspired to write. They are
follows.