Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-02-27
REUNION OF
POLYNESIANS

Ihe reunion or the Polynesian MIS-
scenarios, held In Barratt hall last
night, was pronounced success and
reflected credit on the committee hay
INC 1t In hand, Besides large attend
ance Of natives and returned Elders
there were present President Joseph f.
Smith, Patriarch John Smith, Elder
Rudger Clawson, Elder Seymour b.
Young and many others prominent In
Church circles. The program proper
was preceded by half hours social
chat and at o'clock there was a hymn
by the congregation and Invocation by
Elder Rudger Clawson. Then follow
ed a song and chorus in Hawaiian,
kind Words are Sweet Tones OF the
heart by Elders and natives afte!
which Chairman Thomas l.. Woodbury.
made an introductory address. welconl-
Ing In happy terms all who had come
together to participate In the reunion.
Then came the Japanese national hymn
ny Elder Louis A. Kelsch and commit.
Tee, followed by an address on
Japanese Home Life" by Elder
kelseh. The speaker referred TO the
reception Of The Mormon" Elders In
Japan and the cordlality Of the people
generally towards them. He described
Their peculiar customs, paying particu-
mr. attention 10 their dress clearly
habits ana domestic life and touching
on their manner OF procuring and pre-.
pairing food and their serving It On
mats and tables. Some points touched
upon resembled the habits and customs
" the Polynesians.
The next number on the program
was sacred Tahitian chorus by re.
turned Elders. after which Elder o J.
T. Widtsoe spoke on the pursuits of the
society Islanders and the tidal wave.
describing clearly the Tahitlan group
ana particularly the TuamOtu. the
scene Of recent devastation. The
speaker related the circumstances
under which Elder Grouard and others
"ho were sent to the Pacific Islands by
the Prophet Joseph, commenced their
iiators on this group his narration be.
ing timely and interesting. He also
described the coral islands and Tho
rcarl fisheries IN which so many Of tho
natives are interested.
Miss Ida Thorne, a native Samoan.
rendered an ancient Samoan chant as
sisted hy returned Elders, following
which came an address on the trans
latlon OF the Book Of Mormon into the
samoan tongue, by Elder +. T.. Nor
us. lie said that Elders had been ac-
lively engaged for years In translating
the book, as the natives were deslrous
OF reading what they believed 10 be the
history OF their ancestors. The book.
said the speaker. was now being put
In type by the Dcseret News and II IL
that the first copies win
issue from the press about April 1
next.
A number much appreciated and re-
called was a guitar duet by Watene |
Mete, q native Maori, and Prof. c. ID
Schettler. Elder James n. Lambert
then read carefully prepared paper |
on the "Lamanites of New Zealand
the full text Of which will probably APP |
pear in these columns later on. b. |
Parker Lewis, native Hawallanthen |
rendered as q cornet solo Hawaiian |
melody, and Calvin, Samuel, James. An. |
drew and Jesse Smith, sons OF Presl- |
Dent Joseph +. Smith, gave a song and |
chorus, lie POM Moi" IN Hawaiian.
This number was followed by an ad. !
dress by Elder Bent Goddard. repre.
,enting the general committee Elder
Goddard congratulated the Stake com.
mlttees on having secured such a large
attendance and on the Increased inter.
sst IN Polynesian affairs. He referred
particularly 10 the representation OF
Japan at the Polyhesian reunion. be.
ieving II 70 be quite appropriate. In
his connection he read portion OF
clipping from q New Zealand paper OF
some months ago, stating that Mr.. c,
Asano, Australian representative Of a
well known house named Mtsui Bas.
'ano Kaisha was visiting New Zea.
and He WAS a. man Of much intelli-
yepCe, well up In events OF the day
md quite student. The article states
hat Mr.. Asano II much interested In
he Maories. He saw some over ln
Australia and from what he had seen
md heard OF them and from what he
Knows OF their history and language
he feels that they and the japanese
have a common origin. MIR Assno in
ended to make further inquiries upon
he subject while In New Zealand.
President Joseph r. Smith addressed
he assemblage. He said he was
,leased TO meet with so many Elders
rom the Pacific Islands mission. PER-
'onally he enjoyed associating with the
natives as he had spent some years
N the Hawaiian Islands as a mission.
ny. President Smith described the
climate OF the Sandwich Islands. stat
ng that he knew Of no place where he
would prefer TO 20 for rest and recrep-
ion. He loved the people and could
njoy even the poi" with a relish. He |
delight in attending such re-
lnlons and believed they would be bro.
Iuctive Of great good.
After hymn by the congregation
md benediction. the assemblage dis.
'ersed, much pleased with the exercises
4 the evening.