Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-04-13
CHAPTEIk B ltSiN.


First Branch Of the Church organized and
the tlrst ordinations ~ the Priesthood on
Iubuai-lirst Admin stration OF the sac
tament Opposition on the Part OF Eng.
lish Protestant Missionaries Growth OF
the branch
Sunday, July 2S, 1874, Elder Pratt or
gauZeu branch of the Church with
eleven members. 1t was the first branch
organization of the kind affected on
the Pacific islands, and was named the
rubuai branch of the Church of Jesus
Christ Of Latter-day Saints.
Elder Pratt ordained Charles G.. Hill
an Elder and adopted him In the place
of the late Elder Knowlton II. Hanks,
his fellow missionary who died at sea,
he also ordained John Layton a Priest,
William CarrnglOn and James Clark,
Teachers, and John 7. Bowen and Amb-
son Alexander, Deacons. In the after
noon Elder Pratt preached a discourse
on the subject of mans creation IAN
the proceedings Of the day." writes Ed
er Pratt, were attended with much
solemnity. ! cannot express the heart
felt gratitude that came over me when
| saw the tears Of penitence trlckle
down their seaworn faces, nor the
warm emotions that vibrated my heart
while on their knees / heard them
thank the Lord that had been casu-
ally thrown upon this island, and had
become the humble instrument in his
hands Of bringing them to see their lost
condition"
After this Elder Pratt commenced to
hold meetings regularly on Monday,
Wednesday and Friday evenings for
Bible instructions and prayer.
Sunday, August 4, Elder Pratt
preached two discourses 10 the natives
at Mataura by the help of Brother Hill;
he also baptized Haametue, a Tahitian,
and administered the Sacrament for the
first time on Tubuai. He made bread
Of flour for the occasion and for wine
he substituted cocoanut milk. In the
evening he confirmed Haametue and
blessed his child.
Elder James s, Brown, in speaking OF
how the first Elders administered the
Sacrament on the Society Islands, says;
In the absence of bread Brother Pratt
used the uto or pulp-llke substance
found inside of the cocOanut, when II
has started to grow, and the sprout
gets to be some two or three feet high.
This is still OS9O generally used
throughout these Islands by the Latter
day Saints. Some times they also use
The cocoanut oil To anolnt the sick. I'm
consciously we here in Utah do the
same thing. for shin loads Of the dried
flesh OF the cocoanut Is taken to France
and Germany aud the oil Is pressed
from It and refined, and then II Is
shipped and sold for olive oil, and We
purchase IL as such"
August eth, all the inhabitants Of the
island OF Tubuai assembled at Mataura
as a sort OF legislative body TO adopt
ways and means for the benefit Of the
inhabitants The king presided, One
old man with much enthusiasm called
upon the people to listen TO the teach
lngs Of their missionary, who had come
among them. During the proceedings
of the following day the assembly pro-
posed to build Elder Pratt a house as
soon as they got through with their
present labors In connection with man
ufacturing arrow root,
August 10. a natlve-built schooner,
commanded by Mr. Foster an Amerl-
can. arrived at Tubuai ana on the fol-
lowing day Elder Pratt preached to MI
Foster and his crew for two hours He
preached 10 them again In the evening
of the 18TH.
August ~ ElueF Ilhll ltll MS resi-
dence In the village OF Mataura (where
he had lived since his first arrival on
the isand) and started for MANU-. the
place where the Elders first land
ed. He went by water around the
island in canoe, accompanied by
Alexander. Pauma, Nabota and his
wife and two other young natives. Ow-
ing TO contrary minds, the party was
Obliged to land and spend the night on
the way, When they arrived at MANU-
the next morning, they were received
with much Joy, and Elder Pratt was
soon made quite comfortable; the faml-
" CNabota and wife, with whom he
had lived at Mataura, Insisted on com
ing with him to MANU-, In order to take
good care OF him, as they feared that
none Of the people in MANU- would be
able 20 do as well for him as they
could.
As soon as Elder Pratt had settled
down In his new home at Mahu. the
natives nocked In both day and night
10 see and talk with him. He could
now converse a little In the native Ian
guage and HIS separation from Eng
fish speaking people In Mataura be-
came a point in his favor. A number
Of the people Of MANU- soon offered
themselves for baptism.
Sept. LIST. the branch from Matuara
visited Elder Pratt at Mahu. After
the morning services he baptized seven,
all natives, namely, Ruitoru and Rata