Show IN FAR OFF SAMOA P A bemoan islands april 4 1898 1893 according to previous arrangement the saints from lalovi arrived here in a small email open boat this morning wednesday as did also brother boat and crew from cuipa Pui paa pa the latter were on their way to siupapa Sin papa at the east end of the island it having been decided to hold bold the semiannual semi annual conference of the island ot of upolu at that place they remained here until the strong eastern wind that blows almost incessantly during the day time had bad somewhat subsided and the peaceful rays of a lovely clear moon were beaming brightly oer land and sea when they made preparations to continue their journey elder eider george E browning president resident of the samoan mission and edere elders goo me mc cune and TH TR Hilton were added to the company elders browning and hilton going in boat while elder eider mccune accompanied the saints sainte from lalovi Lalo vl we bade tofa and left the faraldi wharf at 11 pm the natives were compelled to row on account of the slight head wind but bu 1 found it much more pleasant than rowing beneath the scorching rays of a samoan suu sun our boats glided smoothly along inside the reef our oed oarsmen oarsman keeping time like clock work to one of their charming native boat songs song A ride lf if fifteen mii mi utes jutes brought us to sailele Vail Vai ble lele where we went outside the root reef we found the sea comparatively speaking quite smooth but it did not take to make us feel that it would be better fur for our health on land As we continued our journey the sea became quite rough and our boats were tossed about considerably but through it all we experienced that feeling of safety peculiar to the saints when in we tie path of duty W we a arrived at Fale apuna at am and suds as our oarsmen oarsman were tired dropped anchor and remained ina in a native house until 3 rpm pm thursday when we resumed our journey and arrived at at 8 pm there we were kindly welcomed by the natives and stopped over night the following morning friday we were informed by the saints that the path leading to our place of destination was a good ones oue and as were very anxious to avoid the sea eta as much as possible we decided to walk and let the natives take the boats the remaining twelve miles we arrived at siupapa at 11 a in and received a hearty welcome from presiding elder 0 E Summer bays and elder john W beck also elders eldera R M stevens and david JR morgan who had arrived with the saints early in the morning the meeting house had been tastefully decorated by elders summer bays and beck assisted by the saints of their district after partaking of some of the bounties of flies hiie consisting of taro palusami 11 fish etc we bt bb gan preparations f r confer conference eLce on saturday april 8 our first meeting of conference was called to order by presiding elder C E Summer bays at 10 a ru the following loping lol named elders from zion were present goo geo E browning B R M Steven Fi george mccune C E Summer huys john W beck D B R morgan and T H haton hilton the morning meeting was addressed by elders george E brown ing and george mccune in the afternoon elder bider ar B M stevens addressed the congregation after the afternoon altera services the natives of the district gave a Tas taalolo lolo jl the bringing of food to visitors in honor of our visit the high chiefe and talking men led out in the first procession each carrying a basket of food which was laid on the ground before us ue F Fal ll lowing owing after them oame came young men and maidens from either side of the village some gome throwing and twirling sticks and knives others singing and dancing and keeping time to the beating of a native drum the whole ceremony was performed in a very dexterous man manner nor after the noise had bad abated three of the principal talking men stood before OB and held a brief consultation leaning upon their staffs staff as is ie custom ary with them when address addressing loir an audience at the close of 01 their con vers verea atlon tion two of them retired and the remaining one oce stepped forward and madean made an appropriate speech when he concluded i elder geo E browning responded and in a few well chosen words thanked them for the kind ness nese and respect shown us some of the tul alalee sl or tal talking kingmen men then came forward and presented each article of food with the name dame of the donor while thy they were thus engaged a number of the young women present began the aiva x or native dance which was very inter esting several of the brethren present the taalolo l the best they had bad had the privilege of witnessing in the evening the elders and native saints with a few of their friends assembled in the meeting house and whiled away an hour or two listening to music and singing by some of those present brother B R M Steve risso school children from went through some exercises in samoan and english la a most creditable manner all of the school children received presents in the shape of little calico jackets or costs coats which had bad been made by the sisters at Fa magalit fagalii Fag galit alii on sunday april fth the morning meeting was called to order at and after singing and prayer the names of the church authorities general anti and local were presented and unanimously sustained the names of the missionaries sion aries on samoa were also placed before the conference and sustained the statistical report for six months ending april ath was also read showing an encouraging increase remarks were th n made by elders T H hilton jno W beck and C E I 1 immediately after the morning meeting was over we held a sacrament meeting at which elder george E browning spoke soke on the sacrament ae afe also presented the names of balat and tagaloa as being worthy of holding the priesthood and favored their ordination to the cafice of deacons which met the approval t f all present the meeting was wag then given into the bands of those present to speak as the Spi spirit of the lord should dictate the following brethren and sisters responded flames fiame ifopo Ta timal natal faalogo Faa Fas loge loges tagaloa sl si el ei salina and tevaseu Tevi seu the sacrament was administered by elders stevens and mo me cune abood A good spirit prevailed through out oat the services the afternoon session was addressed by elders browning george mccune and C C in Bibe the evening after appeasing the clavings cravings cravi of the inner man by partaking of some of the fruits of the taalolo we held a priesthood meeting in addition to the missionaries sion aries present were the following natives holding the priesthood ifopo flame fiume faalogo and and tagaloa elder browning gave some very good instructions regarding the duties and responsibilities of the priesthood and was followed by elders eiden stevens mccune and Summer bays upon the same subject each native present also spoke a few words bearing on cn monday the we lett left sin papa at 9 a m upon our journey homeward eders E ders browning and mccune decided to walk as far us as Salea aumua and there join elders morgan and hilton who accompanied the lalovi saints in their boat some little difficulty was wag experienced in passing through one of the openings in the reef on account of our saints saint not being so acquainted quainter with the passage the boat got a little to one side bide and was struck by is a large wave and thrown against the reef almost cap it ane natives seeing the danker danger we were in sprang from the boat and with a powerful effort pulled it from the reef into the proper passage where there it escaped being dashed to pieces 16 by a large breaker that rolled in a few seconds later the elders who were in the boat realized that an alloise providence had watched over them the boat arrived at Salea aumua about 11 a m elders browning and koluse reaching that point at the same axne time we waited there about an hour while the natives made some ava a va and procured csome 11 young cocoanuts coco cocoa anute nuts after which we our journey reaching salua fatu about 8 pm where we were corn com polled lied to stop on account of low tide rider belder browning was very desirous of continuing towards Fa galli ll but the natives complained of being tired so we remained there over night we left early the following morning tuesday and reached at 10 am we found all well the sea ea was quite smooth and we enjoyed our trip nome home very much having sailed the greater tf reater part of the way T H HILTON HILTOM clerk |