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

"''VV lV't Ilgni ana enjoyed one or the
most beautiful Views Of his whole life
on the 3lst some Of the natives returned
rom the arrowroot fields to look for
lhelr missionary Before leaving. Cap
laln Plaskett of the Timeleon had
charged the natives with taking good
care OF their new friend II they did
not ne would return, he said aud take
MN away from them The natives
we're AFRAID that Elder Pratt might get
respondent through being left alone so
inueh ana therefore might want to
leave them.
Under date Of June I, 1874 Elder
Pratt wrote In his Journal "One year
ago today | took leave Of my dear fam
NY Long shall | remember the thrill
ing scene Who can paint the painful
sensations that came over me as gave
the last look to my dear wife and chill
dren as they stood upon the banks Of
the great Mississippi with the tears
tricNlng down their faces when the
steamer wheeled around. with my
hand | beckoned a long farewell as the
vessel took me away on my passage
around the globe. | spent much Of this
day In solitude meditation and prayer
Towards evening the schooner Lucy,
capt. McLain, came In from Tahiti
The captain had seen the Timoleon GO
ing into Papeete just az he was passing
out, he brings news from Tahiti to the
effect that the French and natives are
az war, and that great distress exists.
| feel great anxiety for my two breth-
rem who have gone there"
sunday, June End, q newly erected
chapel I'm Mataura was opened 10 Elder
Pratt who preached TO six Americans
with much liberty, The listeners were
highly pleased with the discourse and
decided 20 search the Scriptures thor
oughly In order 20 prove the truthful
ness Of the doctrines they had heard
The following week Elder Pratt spent
quietly at Mataura, most Of the natives
Still being away digging arrowr0ot.
Young Alexander declared himself a
candidate for baptism The next sun
day (June 9th) Elder Pratt preached 10
eight Americans on the subject OF apos-
tacy from the original Church, and on
sunday June 18th, he preached again
to a very attentive audience. 81 felt
much of the spirit" he writes. "the
heavens were well pleased. After SER
vice | baptized ana confirmed Ambrose
Alexander an American. / hope his
companions Will soon follow" This was
the first baptism and continuation per-
formed by Divine authority upon the
South Sea Islands. BY this time the
natives had all returned from their
arrow root digging. Elder Pratt had
commenced to teach a class OF natives
In English, but labored under much dis
advantage for the want OF text books.
Under date OF June 20, 1874, he writes
In his journals I'm the evening a
number OF natives came In 10 the house
where | live, and by the help OF my
friend, Mr.. Hill, / preached to them
long time, | am surprised at their ig-
n0rance, even In regard TO the most
simple teachings of the Bible. There
has been missionaries on these islands
about fifty years, and they have taught
the natives nothing but RIGHTEOUSNESS.
| asked them what these missionaries
had really taught them The woman
with whom | live said that Mr.. Davis.
an English missionary, who resided at
the village Of Tiraboo, Tahiti used to
choose a female out Of his congregation
to sleep with before leaving the house.
after he had administered the Seora-
ment on the sabbath; and the mission
aries who were here on Tubuai used 20
tell the Church members that II was
not wrong for them to have sexual in
tercourse with each other, but that they
must not do 1t with the people Of the
world. on one occasion some foreigners
came here to build vessel. and while
here some Of them desired to marry
native women; but the missionaries
told them that there was no sense In
marrying them because when they left
the island they would naturally leave
their wives; but IL they wanted women,
they might take and live with them
While they were here. and they did as
they were told"
Sunday, June 2Srd. Elder Pratt
preached again to his American con-
gregatlon, which paid him very good at
tention, In the evening a number OF
natives came to see him and hear him
talk. BY the assistance Of Messrs.
Bourne and Hill who interpreted for
him. he was enabled to teach them the
principles Of the Gospel. and the even
ing was spent In talking, singing, read
Ing, praying. etc.
Two days later dune 25th). Elder
Pratt commenced a regular English
school. There were a number Of half
breed children on the island whose
parents were anxious that their of
spring should learn the English Lam
guage. Other children desired to be-
come students also, besides some of the
white mems wives who were young.
He commenced his school with about
twenty-five pupils
After that Elder Pratt was visited
nearly every evening by natives, who
came TO receive instruction from him
on the principles OF the Gospel. Mr.
Hill who was taking deep interest,"
In the work, generally acted as inter
prefer.
On the 9th Of June a schooner ar
rived from Tahiti. bringing Elder Pratt
a letter from Elders Rogers and Grou.
ard. and another from Or. Winslow. In
the evening Of the 2Sth. native wo-
man with sick infant came TO Elder
Pratts lodging asking for medicine,
By the assistance Of Mr. Hill
Brother Pratt took advantage Of the
opportunity by explaining the principles
of administering TO the sick, as taught
IN the Bible, to a number Of natives
who were present Prior to this Elder
Pratt had administered successfully
TO two men. zone of these" he writes
is teacher In the school: he is a batch
elor, but a very exemplary man. and
consider him the best native have seen
yet: he Is with me much OF his time.
Once he was taken violently III with
a fever. and was sick 36 hours before |
knew Il. Immediately on being in
formed Of his condition. | took some
consecrated oil and went to the house
where he lived, whore | found that his
nurse had prepared a trough full OF
liquor TO wash his head in. as he was
I'm great pain. told him that I would
administer TO him, which ! did. apply
ing the oil both internally and exter-
nally | then instructed hem not 10
use the liquor which they bad prepared
This took place about dark, and about
an hour later the man came 10 me
quite well and spent the evening en-
singing and conversing with the COM
pany that happened 20 be at my house.
The other subject Of my administration
was man who had considerable
doubts about the principle Of healing;
but he finally mustered sufficient faith
10 receive the ordinance and he imme-
diately commenced 10 recover he is
now walking about the village"
June 2ath Elder Pratt, In response 10