Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-12-24

NoNtinDer IL, 1886.
By request OF William Jeppson, pre-
siding Elder of the Savail conference.
l submit the following:
All Elders that have had the pleasure
of laboring on the Samoan islands are
acquainted with Captain David Kent
son Sr. and family. Therefore they will
no doubt be grieved to hear OF the
death of Mrs. Ann Elizabeth Kenison,
bloved wife of Captain David Kenison
Sr.. who departed this life November
8. 1897, after an illness of several
weeks. Deceased was a little over so
years old, and was the mother of thir-
teen children, nine of whom survive
her. She was born in Australia and
raised in New Zealand, and passed
through all the trying scenes of the
Maori war. She was an eyewitness
to many of the bloody deeds perpe-
trated by the natives, and heard the
cries of the British soldiers as they
were being burned at the stake, but of
those terrible times she would say but
little, although they were stamped in
delibly on her memory.
Deceased was married in New Zea-
land and came to Samoa about thirty
three years ago, and has reared family
whose honesty and integrity cannot be
questioned, and all ere members of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day
Saints. Special mention might be
made of the kindness of Captain Kent
son and his sons, who are ever willing
to help the Elders In every way posi-
BILE, and are always diligent in further
ing the cause of Righteousness in
Samoa.
This mission is in prosperous con-
dition and the people are flocking to
the standard of truth in great num-
bers. About forty have been added &c
the fold in this conference since Jan
l, 1897, and about 300 ON all the islands
There are six Elders from Zion in this
conference at present, and one native
Elder. They are laboring as follows.
VIM. Jepp.son and c. l.. Warwick al
Salelavalu; A. ID. Hendricks and Vial
Ga native Elder, at Tuasivi and TUT.
fatu; Geo. S. Burnham and Geo. w
Horne, at Saleaula, and Geo. NJ
Leonard, at Fagatui. Each branch is
in a flourishng condition, and the
Elders are ever alive to their duties
Two meetings and Sunday school are
held at each branch every Sunday, ant
a testimony meeting every Wednesday
In which the Saints all take an active
part. Schools are also held at each
branch four days week and the chill.
dren are making rapid progress, We
have succeeded In procuring small
tract of land here, in Tuasivi, for the
purpose of establishing a centra
school, by which we will be able to &C.
commodate all grades of STUDENTS.
AS n general rule the Elders are
treated with due respect by the natives
but of course some little persecution Is
| felt at times by, or through the in
| fluence of the clergy. The foreigners
on the island, with but few exceptions
are very kind to the Elders. Specia
mention should be made of Mr.. p. A
Jensen, of Salailua, whose kind hospi.
tally and genial manner have endeared
him to all who know him. As STATED
above we hold school four days n week
leaving us Fridays and Saturdays tC
travel and distribute tracts.
| Last Thursday Elder Warwick nnt
myself started for Saleaula, q distanc,
of twenty-five miles. We Travelled
about seven miles distributing tracts
and explaining the Gospel to the peo,
pie, and, night ha'ng near. we accepted
an invitation to op all night, as thai
was the last place in twelve miles. Th,
| rain came down in torrents all night
! but by six o'clock next morning, dur,
1 ing lull In the storm, we were on oui
/ Journey, but had not proceeded fai
when 1t began again to rain. and we
were soon drenched. Arriving at Lea
| latele we We're surprised to see the us
ually dry river n roaring torrent
| Bridges are almost unknown in the
country; therefore a person either has
| to wade or get some one to carry hin
across the stream. n couple OF native;
! kindly volunteered to help us acros,
this stream. and after swimming witt
our sacks, they returned for us, and by
| swimming we succeeded In reuchinl
the shore all right with shoes ant
clothes on. We then proceeded on ou-
| Journey, and arrived at Saleaula al
right, whore we found the Elders well
and enjoying the spirit of their mission
| After changing our wet clothes ant
| satisfying the inner man. we forgo
the wet road and remembered only tn,
| pleasant experiences of missionary life
| IT is almost n forgonc conclusion tina
we will get wet while on a journey a
| this season of the year. The few
months that ! have passed in the mis-
sionaiy field have been the happicst o
my life, and | would encourage tn,
young men of Zion to prepare them
selves to preach the Gospel in III,
world. for It is truly a great and glorl
Gus privilege to become ambassadors o
| fut NJ