Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-07-16

DESERET EVEN
nearly thousand members Of the
rinifth IN Samoa. In iSSg the head.
quarters OF The Church were loratad
w Faraili, near Apia, the cnpital OF
,he islands. where missionary hotFe
waa built and other Improvements were
made. Meeting houses, introducing
"m entirely new order uf architecture.
s'srs also built In the different branches
a. an outgrowth Of rf1 samoan mis-.
ston. the Tongan mission should be
mentioned. In 1891 % 1885 an. attempt
v,aa made 10 Introduce the Gospel In
,re,rn or on the Friendly Islands. ly.
irr between three and Ave hundred
miles south OF Samoa. Elders Brig
Nam smool and Alva J. Butler were
ant fr1m Samoa as the FIRST mission.
arlea 10 that group uf Islands; they
arrived AZ NusuAlofn. con- the island VI
Tonrntnhu July ib.issi but they found
tbnt nearly all the natives we've mem.
IRIS Of the so-called free church OF
'ronra-pHttarned after the Mtripyah
churrh-which exercised an almost un.
limited influence over the natives. ard
a. that influence was exercised against
ths elders from the beginning % was
hard 10 make an opening. However.
the Elders studied and acquired the
lanrunne. and soon commenced 20 CON
yrrar with the natives lnd hold meet
inrra In December. 1891. 70 missionary
house was built az Mua q llrrr native
village altuatcd about alN miles from
Suknaipfa. which now became the
homc Of The Elders. of whom others
subsequently arrived.
After fourteen months ~ hard labor.
the Elders had the great Satisfaction
Of baptizlng the first native convert
% man by the name Of AllhAtH. This
was on Sent. n. 1899 \ few uthers
Were ubasaueuilybaptlzcd on Tnnraiu.
hu. but not enough 20 form "a branch
\ few were also baptized ON The ili1-
pai group. and later Tow un tho
vnvau islands. which two groups. io.
scthcr with Tongatabu, constitute the
Tongan kingdom. but In 1876 Tonga
was abandoned w. n missionary field
because NJ the unwlllingnCHs ON the
part of the natives to receive the EI.
derH and their message.
OF an the Elders " the Church. I
am perhaps the only one who has yin.
li'd all the groups Of Islands lu the
Pacific ocean whcru our missionaries
have preached the Gospel. found li a
very interesting study. as ! passed
along to compare the language the
MANNER the customs ana general
characteristics Of the inhabitants Of the
different groups. for Il proves geyond
a doubt close relationship. and u com,
mon origin Of them all; ana when the
BOOK u Mormon " accepted as true.
Il ~ no longer q mystery that 20 many
remnants OF Hebrew traditions aud
traces ~ the ceremonial law OF Mosca
are found among them.
when Captain Cork and other navi-
gators first discovered the different
groups Of islands Of the great Pacific.
there were perhaps no less than
million OF these copper colorrd peo-
pie who are known TO ~ ~ polynci-
ans; but through coming In contact
with the Vices and sins OF the whites.
the germs of destruction have been
planted In their ayHtcms 10 oncctunily
that their number has gradually de-
creased until there are perhaps. not
over 100000 " them left. A. a sample
Of this. the decrease ~ the population
about 10000 remains N a population of
200. 600. which " "a low ontlmnte Of the
strength Of the ilawaliana when Cap
tain Cook discovered the Islands In
i,1S let us hope that the preaching
OF the Gospel Of Jesus Christ by our
Elders and It's practical application 90
life and living. may save this branch OF
the House OF Israel from utter des-
truction, that a remnant Of them at
least may be- spared o. become part
of that white and dollghtsome people
spoken Of by the Book Of Mormon. Pro-
phcta ana historians
In conclusion I desire 10 pay tribute
10 our young Elders who have laborcd
among the polynenlhuH. With but few
exceptions they have made an excellent
record. and by their exemplary life and
excellent habits, they have gained tho
love and esteem OF the natives who
have learned 10 look upon them as an
entirely different class 81 men 20 other
PROGRESSED Christians who have come
among them principally 30 seek gain
and lustful pleasure. Aud Furthermore,
the inspiration of the Holy Ghost
has not only enabled the young
Elders to understand and testify
of the principles of the Gospel: hut ID
has frightened their Intellect In most
manner In connection with
their cndcayors 90 acquire that which
NJ all languages are considered the
most difficult. In fact our Elders have !
ls rule learned the different dialects
VI the p0lynrnlnn language 10 quickly !
and perfectly that they have nut To |
shame tho efforts of nll other white |
people IN the same direction.
May GOD blcau the pOlyncalan race, |
and may the several missions OF tho |
Church established among them con. |
.inuo 90 prosper until all the honest In /
heart found In their midst shall become |
members ~ the Church of Christ and |
possess a perfect knowledge of the /
iod N their fathers ana the true plan |
u salvation.