| Show conference IN SAMOA macaela Ma laela upolu soma october 19 1897 conference of this island convened at this village saturday morning oct 16 1897 with the following elders present ed J wood D foster cluff wm A moody abinadi olsen oisen jabz W dangerfield wm W winegar wm mcdermott jr joseph quinney jr wm L N C edwin smart G chauncy joseph R witbeck and wife lavern the eight branches of the island were all well represented and meetings commenced with a good attendance irk in a bowery of cocoanut coco anut leaves two general gatherings and a testimony meeting for the elders were held on that day at which a very good spirit prevailed A magic lantern exhibition given by elder wood in the evening at mua was enjoyed very much by a crowded house of native saints and friends owing to the scattered condition of the saints meetings were held sunday morning in both the adeane meeting house and the macaela with large numbers at each place sunday school exercises commenced at 1130 in the macaela bowery and the Alei pata which includes the adeane and malae la schools and siupapa schools each rendered a program consisting of exercises such as questions and answers on the organization of the church personality of god articles of faith etc in a vei very y creditable manner the exercises were a little long but none the less enjoyable priesthood meeting was then held with thirteen Sev entys two elders one priest four teachers and two deacons present each made a few remarks and we all listened to some valuable and encouraging words from elder wood the following were ordained deacons thomas purcell by brother wood maiva by brother quinney and alfred by brother olson appointments point ments were then made i as follows wm W winegar at sluhu abinadi abinadi and edwin smart at N G at siupapa Stu papa jos quinney jr jos R witbeck and wife at macaela and adeane wm L at tagaloa Fag aloa J W dangerfield at vm bvm mcdermott jr at G C and D F duff cluff at fagauli Fa galli after a well attended meeting in the afternoon conference exercises were brought to a close with a meeting in the evening at which brotherwood brother wood made the closing remarks all having had a spiritual feast the like of which was never before on the island of upolu in all there were six general meetings and remarks were bete made by 18 elders and natives holding the Priest priesthood hoDd it is pleasing to note that S canoot who came to samoa in 1863 from hawaii as a mission missionary axy under gibson is still firm in the faith and made the opening address at conference them the authorities of the church were presented and sustained by the people at the saturday morning meeting but one baptism was recorded during conference exercises but since the conference held in may last baptisms have been made on the island and there are good prospects for making at least that many more in the comin five months on monday after a closing testimony meeting by the elders we partook of the hospitality of brother alfred kenison at dinner and spent the afternoon in distributing some little prizes among the school children and to the winners of races of various kinds A concert in the evening consisting of a farce by the Alel pata school songs by elders and schools with a lantern exhibition hibi tion brought our day of pleasure toa close and with the dawn of tuesday morning commenced a scattering of saints and elders to their various stations with a determination to make more baptisms and to prepare for a better time next conference than has been had at this t our missions mission ts mother Sister witbeck who came to samoa on last steamer is stationed at perhaps the most healthy part of the island and will receive most excellent treatment at hands of our native and half cast saints and although but few are able to converse with her in her native tongue her gentle nature and motherly smile sinks deep into their hearts and has already made for her many warm friends to see her is to love her and with the help of the lord a great and ana a glorious work can and will be per formed by sister witbeck N G dINGHAM ST clerk of conference |
