Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-05-20

hills and luxuriant shores was a pleas
ant surprise to them. Living upon low
and scanty shaded reefs and diving In
the salt water has made them some
darker than the ordinary Tahltian who
lives among the dense shades u tropi-
cal trees. Notwithstanding some dis
advantages Of Isolation the Tuamo-
tunns seem 10 be quite rs Intelligent as
the Tahitlan. owing TO the great
quantities ~ pearl shell they dive for
ducc. most Of them live IN lumber
houses. have more money and wear bet
ter clothing than the ordinary Tahl-
tian. a great many OF them have boats.
According to appointment conference
began on Wednesday, April 5th and
continued until April 9TH, excluding
saturday. day always observed by tho
natives AZ day for preparing food for
the Sabbath. which II always strictly
observed BY the natives Scarcely had
the gray dawn vanished In glowing
tropical morning than the natives be-
gnn to arrive. AZ am. our little
church was filled with happy natives.
siding native Elders ana representa-
tive mon and women from the branches
or Takaron. Annn, Faitc. fnknrNh and
our local branch, made M the cunEre-
CATION. Elder Miller called the meet
Ing 60 order. a stirring native hymn
~
native Elder. After singing. Elder
Miller addressed the confornce on the
ncccfslty Of obcylnR the Priesthood.
~ the midday meeting Eldvr !. v.
Wiley spoke upon the npostnsy Ell
der w. ~. Chamberlain followed. speak
Ing on the restoration u the Gospel. At
the afternoon meeting Elder y. l..
Chopper spoke upon modern revelation.
After meeting the Takaroa branch gave
q class exercise which was conducted
In crcdltnblc manner by native
teacher. Later In the day q general
money IN hand In the treasury amount
lng TO 500 was Het apart M n fund to
begin u church ut Fakafava. A num-
bcr ~ names were presented a. be
voted upon and sustained na worthy ~
being ordained 10 various Offices IN the
Priesthood
Thursday. April 9Th after singing and
prayer Elder David Mem spoke upon
Priesthood. Elder Miller endorsed the
remarks. ~ the noon meeting Elder
osborne widtnoc addressed The Saints
upon the frrt four principles ~ the
Gospel. The general authorities were
presented for acceptance by tho con-
ference.
Preparations having been previously
made for a feast. We all repaired TO
little grass plat IN front ef nplEhbnr
Arae'n home. Here spread out upon
mats ~ plated coconnut leaves were
plantalns, pork. bananaa. iaiora IN
native salad ana oranges. These were
arranged In long rows beneath tho
ample shade Of mango tree. The
cooked food had been prepared In
hugh native oven. ~ ~ M. a hundred
and twenty-five Find natives and thif-
teen Mormon Elders, auict a. happy
sat down upon the clean earth. Elder
Tamniu'E familiar voice was heard IN
thanksgiving and IN a inofucnt a hun
dfci ana twenty-five pair Of brown
hands ana thirteen pair that one dag
were white were doing the primitive
act amid babel % language. No
table epulpagc ~ knives. forks, nap
kinn aud the like 10 burden awkward
hands. After tho feast WAS over AIT.
ana Mrs, Homes our photographers
came and photographed our party arr
ranged In order beside the little church.
~ the afternoon meeting Elder I. ".
ifh sabbath and the Lord's day as view
"a frnm tho Ola Tcstautcut scripture
nnd Elder David Men followed rpcnk.
lnT on the same question NJ viewed
from the New Testament scripture.
After meeting the Faknravn and fanite
branches gave class exercise.
Friday. April 9Th Elder Mnrerr ina
uve), local branch president spoke
upon the personality Of O0d. Elder
Tlmi tnRtiyol, president 81 the Tnhi.
tian conference spoke upon Church or
Fanlxciion. ~ the close ~ the morn.
INK meeting those who had been recon-
mendcd to BE- promoted In the PRIEST
hood were ordained and set apart 60
their various pfieHthnods ana offices.
The three native Elders Ilun. TIM ana
Tnac. who had been called al mission.
aries Wrtr set apart and assigned 10
labor on Tahiti. These young men are
among the brightest ana best In our
AZ the midday meeting an eplatlc
written from Zion hy returned mission
aries was rad before tho conference.
The epiatlc gave brief sketch OF the
life of the late President Woodruff.
This was much appreciated By the ma
tiyca. Elder chnmborlin addressed Us
upon spiritual existence. In the after.
noon two native Elders. Rua and Toae
spoke. The former gave very intel
llscnt talk upon the gathering OF la
rael.
sunday. April 9Th at am. services
hegan, after the singing and prayer
Elder q. W. AndruH spoke upon The
nature ~ uod. Elder u. l., chopper
spoke On the same subject. A. the mid.
day services two native Elders. Tcmn.
nahn and uinhin addressed the con-
ference. In the afternoon meeting III
der Osborne WidiHoe spoke. taking as
his text the tenth Article ~ Faith.
Elder David Nom spoke upon ODDS c0y-
cnant with Abraham. Elder Miller
spoke briefly encouraging the Saints 10 |
faithfulncns Conference adl1urncd 10
meet at fukarava. The local class
conducted BY Elder Mem gave an excel
lent exercise after meeting,
During the conference We were favor
ed with splendid native singing. This
people are especially gifted with strong,
full voices. They have quite d Keen
sense Of harmony and time Many ~
the songs have been our old familiar |
hymns trnnlnted into native. The |
branch from Anaa have rendered a
number OF English hymns very credit |
ably. the cnunclution Of words IN Eng
llHh being Of course defective.
The above subjects may seem some |
what Inappropriate and difficult to |
these natives. let u be remembered, |
however, that many u them have been |
Ia the Church Tor forty years. and fur |
ther that they have been studying the |
lilble all their lives, Having no other |
book and much leisure time they have |
become HurprlAinHly well ycrfel In tho |
scriptures. There " probably no class |
OF people who road the Bible more than |
the polyncsian Islanders, while much |
OF u. It's true, II of the superficial sort, |
yet they learn 10 think on biblical cues. |
tons with an nat0niahinE degree of cor- |
rcctneaa. They need instructions, how |
ever In systematic study. They are |
naturally religious people but II can |
not be expected that their Ideas OF |
morality and cleanliness are 10 high az |
ours.
our people observe the marriage re. |
Intlau mud are umunf tho VERY f.ty 80. L