Show SAVAII ELDERS REUNION AVALU aug 1 1895 I 1 in n obedience to orders f from rom pi t J W beek beck received july eth I 1 re turned from Sal saleaula esula to avalu july 6 where I 1 was to make my headquarters elder C jensen was wae appointed to lo preside at saleaula Bal eaula with elder eider J C knudsen as his hie assistant asi tant oo on tuesday the ab eljer J A sailed failed for upolu on the schooner vaipapa where he be has baa been called to labor from this place according to us instructions and arrangements all the enera of savall gathered together at this place for the purpose of receiving and an amering their wail mail to visit together and rejoice with the saints and friends for a few adayr on wednesday july elder goo geo B S burnham arrived from upolu he is perfectly pel delighted with samoa and especially with he ha been called to labor here with his bie relative and we both rejoice exceed angly over his bis appointment elders aldere walker and silver arrived from the at which place they have been laboring under some difficulties curties and trials since conference april jtb elder walker reported that he be had been baen feeling poorly since they went hack back to tue toe west but at present him is in well weil and hearty bearty over which we all rejoice and thank our maker on saturday july elders jenson and knudsen arnvid from saleaula well and happy we expected and looked for elder J W book beck to come and meet with us on this occasion but for reasons yet unknown to us he faiet failed d to appear on sunday the we held meeting between 8 and 9 a m with elder jj B burnham presiding Brot brother herC C coneen jen sen addressed the saints anti and friends soon after our morning meeting closed our saints brought a lot of nice will prepared food in baskets which was spread upon the floor oo on banana leaves after all was ready we sat down around the boass fo aa moa 11 and did justice to the inner man for we were hungry and ana to as the food was delicious at p m we uain again assembled and held meeting soon boon alter after meet jog ing was out we elders and a few saints and friends went to the spring near by where we initiated into too the told of christ another soul by the sacred acred ordinance of baptism after returning we went over to brother fred Ken leonc where he had bad a sumptuous sum supper prepared and waiting for us there were roasted aig jg and chicken bread broad bread fruit tolo I and nd plum buddin pud din we indeed ate ale heartily and J joyously foy for to us it was a treaty especially to 0 o the elders eldera from the west between 7 and we again hold bald meeting this thin evening eve aing in which we confirmed our new DOW sister a member of the church of christ after meeting closed the natives rt r bained with us a couple of hours and we spout the time very tory pleasantly singing hymns both native and bullish with the natives native aj they singing flinging for us and we for them monday the he we spent the tim visiting the saints answering letters letie rc conversing and feasting until when we all got in a boat and started started across the bay to vleit visit and spend the evening with the grovef governor nor of the island the ibe king kings a brother who bad to io kited us to do so eu we called in kt our neighbors mr allens aliens on our way over and there learned that elder bider william sears had bad just arrived from upolu sod and was 0 on n his way by lanu lano to 0 o our house a mile across the bay this was good news newe but it broke up our arrangements for the evening go BO we returned and found brother sears sea re making himself quite at home at brother house bouse we soon boo all went to our meeting house where we live where we had supper together gether with brother fred anti ana his good wife who is ever a dear faithful fait bul friend to the elder again we the evening playing music singing slid clug together toge lher tuesday the was another a a other happy feasting day our saints and friende seem to be trying to excel each other lay by fetching etching for us the most and nicest food to est eat this evening we had a grand affair according to the program our saints and many friends as together with us at our house where after having singing au ara prayer in the usual way baskets of food were brought in and spread upon our large table the floor there was a large whole roasted pig furnished by alfred Ken keelson lson with other food in furnished turnis bed by brother fred and the native 0 what a and our folks at home rejoice to have seen it and us at that hour after over what was before us tor for a little less than an hour everything was cleared laway away and w we kave gave a little concert which wa very much appreciated by our friends and neighbors wednesday july As was previously agreed upon and arranged for soon after sunrise we started out marching in single file up the busby stony trails rails to visit tb the a woods old graded roads sol aej ruins an old long extinct crater and other noted places pi noes a ew miles inland from this village ana to celebre lebre oe to a day when our great it leader found for the driven an i misted saints another resting place where they might live in peace and worship god according to the dictates of their conscience abid tid the be lard larda a commandments unto them we took a good supply of food along PS er lunch and also had bad five old rusty runty shotguns with lots of ammunition with which to shoot wild pigeons pigeon there were io in our company seven u if us elders three keilson brothers and our natives who kindly joined us ud to us through the wo ds do we marched steadily forward inland gitil a m when we were itt informed formed ba b our guides that it was no use to go at aty any y farther for in our excitement trying to shoot about had baj passed unheeded eo be most of the sights we meant t tu see at 11 o elock we reached the tb boys whom we left behlund to prepare our dinner against the ime ilme of our returning wt V returned a little too soon but did not have to waif wai long for everything was soon cooked warmed up and X ready which after saying grace over we partook of with thankful hearts and full of joy and we wondered how bow many klainos klain t ts even to la zion were enjoying themselves better and t bad more good things for dinner than ban we were in possession of and enjoying As aa soon as aa dinner was wag over we climbed to the top too of a steep round hill bill known by the name of mount from the top of this m mound or hill bill the large mountains and peaks further inland the son in different diorec t eions the reef and coast were beautiful to behold upon the abe top op of this thin hill bill we fired a volley with our old rusty guns euni in honor of the day after spending epen a naif half hour or so BO upon this hill feasting upon the lovely scenery which greeted our eyes in every direction direct iop iou we descended anil and mide our way lor jor nearly a mile east to the foot of the old crater here we stopped loni long enough to 10 get all the young cocoa cocoanuts nuts we wished to drink then amended to abe tp tip or of the crater on lie its south side the crater inside is ie about as aa deep anthe aa the country and is about reet feet higher at its if highest point it Is IB covered with a daume forest both in side bide and where it has baa been cleared off inside ineide by the natives native la in which places I 1 large taru patches are growing and aad look very beautiful from the be opposite ite side aide it la is about halt half of ft a mile the top and its rim and aad height varies vanes in different places all 1 or the elders elder except myself went down into the gorgeous pit with A and F kenison Ke so they got one point ahead ot or me that day but while I 1 was trying to find a pigeon to afoot at I 1 ran on to a large deep cave on the east side which I 1 took the crowd to see aee when they returned up out of the pit at 8 3 p m we started for home where we arrived alter after an hours houra last fast walking we were somewhat weary but were all well pleased with what we bad seen and done during the day after bathing and cha changing noring our we sat down to another sumptuous meal brought in by a couple of our oar neigh bors who have not yet embraced jhb but for a long time lime have been very soc sociable loble and kind to tile the elders according to abe pro gramme we got ready abou alter alier supper aupper and went over to brother F kenimond d where with him and bin big wife we all got in a boat al ai d abfal airai started stared for or SApa to visit moll the kings brother we indeed were a merry marry crowd and taft bright new moon and evening eta down epou us through tug the fleecy clouds which were banging over the green western mountain with a heavenly peaceful silence and seemed to whisper per I 1 joy aud and peace to our happy soula tyre colre was blowing a soft gentle cool land breeze which only rippled tue too glassy briny son BOB and caused the stars shining in the water below to dance and blaze with exquisite beauty with all nature so no beautiful and our hearts arta go BO ligal and yay may WO we sang nang bongo and rowed our or boat along for two miles woon we lamed tan jed at the wharf of itie gover governor DOrd place we found fouad him dressed up with a white suit of clothes aud anti ebora and SOCKS ou on bith B th be and his good wite wife acted as aa pleased to see us come as I 1 ever saw law any one act before V after they bad bid us a hearty come and a short bort conversation was engaged to we were invited by our friend to conduct evening prayer blab we did after which supper was wa soon prepared which we allain again par trob of together with the governor govert or and his hia bride after bapper was over w we informed our oui friend that we would preach sing fling or play for him and the assembled borowa or er do it all if he be sold aid no ao of course they chose the latter for the samoans almost no go wild over music no BO brother silver and I 1 got 0 out tit our inspru merits and be an to play and of all 11 the delighted people I 1 ever abw aw I 1 believe this was wag the hap bap pleat crowd especially the governor and dd bla bin wife after we played for 1 about an hour we asked them to sing fling for up which they did for a short abort time after which we played a few mure more tunes then left them to return home borne fl the way we came the moon and evening star were sunk but the southern cross stood high in the heaven beave of and our trip home was wag quite as pleasant an the one earlier lu the i evening thursday the the first thing this morning several of the brethren bret breo went in the boat with brother sears bears i over to mr allens allena as an we believe i his ble schooner wits about to leave lor for upolu and brother sears was to seburn on it ane schooner set sat aall all about 10 and about t an hour later the brethren returned without brother sears we were tf I 1 very B sirry rry he had baa to go for we expect t ed ad to nave have the grandest time yet yei this about p m elders jenpeo petition knudsen aud walker went aou t overland to sivi to brother david jr where we had bad arra arranged igea waa agreed to hold bold forth this evening that at brother davy and family might also be made to rejoice by our presence prea ence i and music alettie As abe shades shade ot evening were vera fast overcoming the last rays of 01 the sunken oun we who were Is ie t behind together with brother fred and family set get sail nail for Tua sivi where we arrived an hour later after a moat delightful evening boat riat by the hialit of the moon anu ana awn tars and in the lovely breeze which tanned us as we sang anu rowed along danyla large new nev tw tory altory house was well lighted and from the sea and in the abe night it looked like a mansion we were met on the wharf by brother davy and sister bister fam usual his hin wife and were heartily greeted by them they led us to their house by the light of their lantern y where we found the brethren up stairs nd tull full of the spirit of the occasion rt supper u PPL r was soon ready anti and it was a grand one aul wil w partook of it heartily with grow ing appetites after supper supper we re mumbled Mm bled where with the additional company of mr allen alien ani au i vyine rife and a mr harryman who bad bome ome to listen to us we played OUT oui music asang sang songs and conversed the midnight hour arrived when out our dand friends left us and we retired loi I 1 the be night under the roof aud and in an upper rooi of our dear kind brother and lster friday morning we gave each other the parting hand band with a hearty good toye and god bless you for out oui carlous fields ot of labor W thus ends end our reunion and celebia tiou and let m me here say lay that this ban bai been one of the most pleasing eating pl hadel dying and enjoyable period of our lives yours in the gospel L B BUM HANf |