Show I IN MAORIDOM Elder Bowlos Writes Interestingly I of His Exporloncos Among tho Natives of Now Zealand NGARUAWAIIIA Waikato New Zealand November ijth 1896 To the Editor In perusing your ever welcome paper Inch regularly comes to hand and Inch contains many reports ol the rapid strides that Mormonism Is making throughout the world I thought a brief report ol the progress feeling and condition con-dition ot this part would be read IIlth interest by the many readers 01 your much esteemed paper among whom are many Elders and Saints uho formerly labored and lived upon these isles of the sea seaAt the present time New Zealand Is clothed and adorned with the beautiful mantle and the decorations of Spring everything connected with this season 01 the year seems to smile and bid us I wtILome inviting all to freely partake ol the joy happiness and life hich it desires de-sires to Insllll into all hearts At present no signs ol that dreadful epidemic know as spring fever have been seen on the contrary the majority ol the inliabi tants here are as the busy bee Inrd at work from early morn till night throws her mantle over the toiler and then they realize the lime has come to rest From famous Waikato to equally fain ous Laranaki is perhaps the most important im-portant journey undertaken upon this the north island ol New Zealand as the former place is where the Wjaorl king Mahuta resides with his chiefs and followers fol-lowers the latter place being the home ol the two famous Maori prophets Te White and Tohu Elders George Bowles and Parley A Waters having recently traveled the above route the following ls I submitted A short time ago the writer visited the kings village to gain audience w nil him and lo ask permission to hold meeting with him and his people I was greeted by two ancient fully tattooed natives who politely informed me that the king would be in attendance shortly alter a brief chat with the two above mentioned Mahula was announced I arose to meet him and was greeted In Maori fashion with the exception ol the lion jl nose rub King Mahuta is a good looking man apoaremly ell verse < l and acquainted wall both European and Maori etiquette is intelligent but a little reserved Unlike his father Ihe former king he is not intoned Is i of fairly light complexion lor a Maori I should judge by Ills appearance that his wtight is 185 pounds arid he Is five feet tin inches In U 1 < Iht A friendly chat followed in M until made known my desire The answer was partially a disappoinunent it being that ihere was no suitable house at present but the one now being built would no doubt be available lor holding religious meetings when completed There was no alternative but to accept the forernentioned However I a few questions on the gospel asked bv the king I were answered to his entire satisfaction satis-faction One especial question was concerning con-cerning the blessing asked upon food I Informed him as to the plan adopted by the Saints he was delighted saying I he had never heard from other ministers of the different churches such a good and In his opinion correct one I Up to the present the king has Not united himself with any particular denomination de-nomination He is ol a lairly critical i nature from 1 reports the Church of England I are very desireous ol converting I convert-ing him and his followers to their faith but Irom past actions ot said church against this people Maori they will find it I extremely up hill work There are whispers afloat that the king has issued instructions to his people to take good care ol Ihe Mormon Elders when Ihey visit among them The Elders of this district have already enjoyed the hospitality i ol his people which we believe n eolohJct ifio lieve is the outcome ptb kings instructions in-structions On the 33rd of September lastthe be foremenlloned Elders lelt Waikato for 1irehak In the Laranaki district As we travel southward lie diverged from the main road to visit a number ol palls villages and lay belore our dusky skinned friends the revealed principles 01 life and salvation We were warmly welcomed by the majority and were Invited In-vited to preach qUickly availing ourselves our-selves of such goluen opportunity Our road led through portions of country which pen and paper fail to describe on account of the choice gifts which nature has bestowed upon those secluded spots We gazd enraptured upon the beauty of the scene beauties which is alone found in ancient foresls where as yet the woodmans axe has ni > t been weilded and man has not penetrated its thick undergrowth and stately trees Although surrounded Ills these beaotles 01 nature let not the reader imagine that the track we travel is as beautiful Not so AS seemingly we climb constantly up and up Into the very clouds In places we led our horses a s it requlrud all fours to reach the top One would Imaginu that our horses were ol circus fame from the agility they exhibited in ascending and descending Having met Maori named Whatal I traveling our way his extra I orsea he was uilm < lo let my companion ride at Intervals and so give Hat 1 > an opportunity of resting My horse wn twofold in the field to takenolice of any difhculiy arising aris-ing from an extra long days navel Such Journeys are second natore to him as he has carried I the Mormon Elders on their journeys from year to > ear When Hearing our destination on a certain cer-tain day Elder Waters horse diverged from the track The next moment it was almost hid from sight in the salt black mud of the swamp The order I extricating himself made for terra firma After some delay and labor vv e pulled the horse out The picture that stood before u > horse and rider well covered with a good thick coat ot mud only lacked the snapshot On and on we traveled each day until un-til on the 16 h of October when we arrived ar-rived at our desired destination Tareliaka Iarehaka Is situated about two miles Inland front the west coast of the North Island lying 1 200 miles north I ol Wellington capital ol these Isles and about 300 south of Auckland form er capital When nearing the township town-ship the road divides Icadme l tialae White and Tohu respclivelj No hNo seated in a large room used for gatherIngs gather-Ings I on the I7lh ol wIflohcU which bv Ihe way is the iSth with them V As ulillclna 11sathe I suiual n Maoridom I we were soon Invited I In-vited to partake ot refreshment I enquired en-quired as to their customs I rites c and giJd Jd as I Europeans are seen In that town although al-though a number ol line European reSidences a ir J here ntl there among he many of Maou design numbering 139 IriaY lust back ol the low ridge vnich tutruunds the path stands sidands majetically Mount Igmont pjramidical in shape Itssnon capped peak towering lSa flrl rl 8500 feet above 1e level The lull view can only be obtained hen the weather Is very clear and cloudless le White ll the most prominent ot the two socalled prophets his fune having spread far and near If I reports be true the various sectarian ministers cannot hold their own against him it being be-ing his cillom to talk in parables which they are unable to Interpret We were weg = Scorned by To Whites sonin law Waitara and were soon comfortably was informed that they never ask a blessing upon the food We were granted permission to please ourselves and therefore asked the Lords blessing upon the bounties of life set before us It was not long before we were lit fonnedSth l hPtfo approaching the house Arriving at the door we arose to meet him greetIng each other and hongi A short chat followed then ail were called to supper blessing was asked at the close of the same Te White I addressed the company and expressed ex-pressed his opinion concerning the blessing asked once again it is in favor ol the Mormon Elder When supper was over all returned to the room The time arrived lor us to state our desire in visiting him In doing so we asked permission to lay before them the principles of the gospel I was informed that they had no desire lor worship or to listen to the gospel they having a form with uluch they were satisfied Te White gave me a parable which was as fallows A peach stone planted grows a tree The top is cut oil leaving root and trunk a new piece ol another tree is brought and grafted lo the peach It grows and many branches shoot forth FIrSt question can any of those branches say they belong to the peach I answered no as they have come front that which was grafted lie then told nle our church was one 01 those branches I answered No verily no and explained lo him that this Church is not ol man but that it has been established estab-lished by God therefore belongs to the root In this parable all other churches have fallen belore this learned man If I the first branch coma ol the branch which grew out of the church ol Home the fruits ol the reformation they all alike could not prove they were of the root the church of Christ which lie established Tc While could not have given a better parable wherein he illustrated illus-trated our true standing before the world The great prophet realized the fact that he could not contest Ins point so said that I all the churches u ere 01 God His statement was proved to he a mistake His next was that there was no trusting a raveling miisionarj Sr lo h arr Scriptural evidence was brought ls I prove that we were called as were the seventies of old It was evident that Te White could not hold his own His followers seeing his predicament came to his rescue suggesting that the conversation con-versation close to enable them to proceed I pro-ceed with their own affairs Next morning a long conversation was I held with Tc Whites son 10 aw I Wailara in the presence ol a large company of his followers I who had I gathered together t upon this dayit being the great day for the Te vVhitiites and Tohuites IVaitaras stntenenis wen as follows First it is i impossible to tell which Is the true Church as all claim to have the right 1 informed him as to the many scriptural promises made whereby ue might know which was of God Second the Te Whit hies had the true Gospel In questioning it was soon evident that not one ol their principles could be sustained from holy writ Third that they lelt it for their good works to proclaim the gopel throughout through-out the world lie was informed as to the proper method as laid down in scripture for the promulgation ol the Gospel Through the rich outpouring of the Spirit ol God I was enabled to overthrow over-throw their manmade doctrines prove ours to be established upon that reek ot revelation which ue are told not even the gates of hell shall prevail against us The divinity ol Joseph Smiths mission and restoration and first principles ol the Gospel were dwelt upon and explained ex-plained to the assembly Time had sped so rapidlj it was near noon when a Isit was made to fohu He being absent a long talk was held with a number ol his followers chief among whom was Tahana their Maori orator inlormed us their forelatheis came direct here Irom Jerusalem upon dry ground lie could not however give the necessary proof Next that the Maori people were ol the lineage Of Lphrann This also he was unabie to substantiate These with the remainder ol Ins remarks which occupied some two hours be was unable to verify lie and his friends lacked the intelligence which Tc White and Waitara had displayed dis-played At this juncture Elders John H Ellis president ol the Manawatu conlerence and Rent Maika Maori his traveling companion arrived It Is needless to say that our meeting wa a pleasant one as all who have labored in the world lor the spread ol truth know the Jv j which attends such meetings fir from Zion and the habitation ol the Saints The late arrival ut the two before mentioned brethren occurred through the departure from tins life I of one of our dear timers who has been in yO deed a mother to the mal Elders who have labored from time to time in the Mana watu district This was the beloved wile of our leliow laborer Reui Maaka Sister Merl Ntko Maaka passed from th s sphere on September 27111 at Porirua She died as she had lived since the time ot her embracing the Hue Gospel a true Latterday Saint in full hope of lhatjeternal I life which U i promised tj all those uho prove faithful unto the Gos pel pelin the evening u e visited the residence of > f Tohu At 7 30 he and followers wet a ready to t commence their usual celebrations I First a few Maori I greeted greet-ed our native companion Kcwi He replied re-plied tsking pe mission for us to preach to Tohu 1 and people This Is i how we were answered 1 winty six men arose and performed a It aka lor ancient Maori war dance second In filed eleven wo men and girls who poi I which I consists of chaining keeping time with tile iiovemcnt of a light ball to I which I Is attached a cord this illustrates or cons viry con-s the n i1if f Iheirsong nnd I Is 1 moved with an ngihty that 1 showed them to be thorough ajcpts at the poi Third tins company was I followed by another uf uornen and girls twentyone in nUll her who also poi singing me first Peak Upon reaching I tne name Lord they bow In honor to Tohu demonstrat ing the fact that they acknowledge their prophet to be God upon the earth ifs if-s 3 owed us their desire uas not lor the Gospel but for that which was of manmade man-made origin Tohu occupied about two and a half hours in advocating his principles prin-ciples lie dwelt upon the evils of drink and admonished ail lo abhor same also to use discretion ill voting for members mem-bers ol parliament The scriptural portion por-tion of his remarks was that in Christ came Only the shadow of peacrbut cow the Tohuites had Us lulness Scond Jesus sad Come unto me all je that are heavy laden Talus claimed there was no rest lor any ol Ihe Gospel iijjiont Ihe world the only lifepeace and rt being in his ohus 1 hooselie I desired to say definitely that hu would give rest to nil who took his joke which was light upon them even should l153 churches come all should have rest with him Another claim made by lohuism Ice l that To Whit and Tohu are the two prophets spoken ol in revelation 11 chapter chap-ter Such an absurd claim only shows how far men will depart Irom truth while battling with private interpretations of the scriptures and not having the light and Spirit ol God to direct them on the way which leads to life eternal October iplhwe lelt on our return journey bidding an affectionate farewell to Brothers Ellis and Maaka uho traveled trav-eled southward Brother Waters and I going northward After continual traveling travel-ing lor two weeks we reached Ngarna wahia having I been absent six weeks lacking ii two dajs n traveled Sis miles held 22 meetings had 18 Gospel conversations conver-sations and baptized 5 persons Preparations are being made In this district lor our annual conference to beheld be-held In Icbjary next for this part ol the island I Llders and Saints are being blessed abundantly by the Lord The good work is progressing Well Bright also are the future prospects in this portion por-tion of the Lords vineyard One especial item is i worthy ol mention men-tion which testifies of the blessings which are in store lor Ihe Elders el Israel if they will only live for the same Jtr LI thehpine Kirtharris hpine Elder Francis WKirkham ol Lchi i who came direct from Zion and was appointed appoint-ed to labor here among the Maoris In eight weeks Irom arrival a able to preach the Gospel in power and demon ration In the Maori language His knowledge of the same has increased verj rapidly This blessing has been received by prayer humility and fasting He traveled in the north part of Wai kato district during the journey of Brother Waters and myself south This proved to be my last interesting in this land alter of Irip a sojourn nigh three and a halt years Ihe I sometimes not unwelcome letter has arrived front our beloved president Brother Ezra F Richards telling me I might bid adieu to Sums and friends of this land I and dwell once agaiu in our dear old mountain moun-tain home Rejoicing I in the glad tidings i we hear I of the progress of the wo k ol God and ever praYing for a continuation ot the same Elders and Saints send love arid greetings to all the Saints ol Zion HOKI |