The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-08-26
M0RMONS
OF HAWAII
Missionaries to the
PoIynesian
Isles.
REUNION AT
SALT LAKE CITY
Native Converts Make Poi and
Give Songs and
Dances.

me Salt Lake Tribune of August l
says: In point of attendance and the
general excellence of the program rem
dered, the reunion of the Pacific island
missionaries of the Mormon Church and
their converts, yesterday at Saltair. ex-
ceeded the anticipations of the most
sanguine. The resort was fairly well
crowded by 3 o'clock, and so great was
the confusion that it was about $3.50
when the ceremonies began. and after
that several trainloads rolled in
The headquarters of the missionaries
who had served in Hawaii, Tahiti. Sa-
moa and New Zealand were announced
| by banners, and under these met the
missionaries and their converts. There
was strange mixture of voices nearly
all the day. and especially so when
missionaries and converts who had not
met for some time exchanged greetings.
1t was scene that could hardly be en-
acted anywhere else but in Utah
! 1t was later than was announced on
the program would be the case. when
the ceremonies of the day began.
From Greenland's ley Mountains
was sung by the audience, which fairly
packed the dancing floor. and John S
Woodbury., a veteran missionary of
Hawaii. offered prayer.
A quartet by missionaries followed
and then John T. Game, who has serv-
ed as missionary in Hawaii, and was
master of ceremonies, addressed the
audience briefly. recalling the work
that had been done by the Mormon
people in the Pacific isles, notwith
standing the many difficulties that were
encountered not only at the outset, but
which had to be met in many ways
since that time. He was pleased that
he had been allowed to have the expe-
rience thus afforded him.
Apostle Joseph F. Smith followed
with an address on THE Gospel in Po-
lynesia," the spread of which. he said,
began at Nauvoo, in May, 1843. when
missionaries We're called to the Pacific
islands. These We're Addison Pratt.
Noah Rogers, Benjamin F. Grouard
and Knowlton F. Hanks. These sailed
around the Horn from New Bedford,
Mass, and were seven months in get
ting to Tubuai, one of the Tahitian
group. which they reached April 80,
1874, save Elder Hanks, who died on
the way. This was the opening wedge
| to the entrance of the Mormon gospel
into the Pacific islands. Being forbid
! den in 1852 by the French authorities
to continue preaching in the Society
| islands the missionaries returned home
In December, 1850, Elder George @
Cannon and nine others opened up the
missionary work in the Sandwich ISL
! han ut l,rI1 of
| the missionaries became discoura ged but
We're kept at work by their leader and
good work was done. Apostle Smith
| then traced the establishment of the
| Mormon faith in the various islands
and paid a glowing tribute to the men
who had worked to that end. He neVeo
knew, he said, a Sandwich islander to
Iapostatize. They might be a little way
ward at times, but they always return
ed to the fold. OF all the missionari
said Apostle Smith, that had been sent
to the Islands, there was but one who
had proven unworthy and that WAS
Edgerton Snyder.
| The customs and habits of the Pacific
islands were then represented by mis-
lsionaries and natives.
| Matthew Noall officiated as captain
for the Hawaiians, b. Goddard for the
Maoris E. J. Wood for the Samoans
and Frank Cutler for the Society ISL
Tanders.
These Illustrations proved to be very
realistic, instructive and amusing. es-
peciauy the dwellings, the preparation
and distribution of poi by the Hawaii
lans, and the native songs and dances
some of the missionaries showing
themselves to be almost as adept in
dances and songs as their more dusky
brethren.
Features of the Samoan scenes were
songs by a late arrival from Samoa. q
girl of about 16 years of age, who ar
rived here about ten days ago. She is
the first full FLOODED Samoan to come
TO Utah. She is called Nellie. and was
drought TO Utah by Elder f. n. Smart
of Provo. who lately returned from g
mission to Samoa. She is member OF
the Mormon church, as are also hel
narents. who intrusted her to Elder
smart. in whose home she will live fol
three years while studying at tbs
Brigham Young academy at Provo
Nellie speaks very good English now
land is fairly we'll educated for one OF
her years and birth Whatever learn
ing she has acquired was impaired II
her in the Mormon missionary school:
in Samoa.
The program closed with New
Zealand war dance, in WHICH Chief Hi
lrini Whaanga, who has been residen
lof this city for several years, was tn,
principal actor.
The evenings program consisted o
dancing and the exhibition OF sevent!
stereopticon views in Hawaii. Samoa
Tahiti and New Zealand
The general committee was composed
of John T. Game, B. Goddard. William
10. Lee, James s. Brown. E. ]. Wood
Heller s. Cutler and Frank s Cutler.