| Show concerning ELDER DEATH auckland new zealand wednesday jan ath 1898 to the officers and members of zions maori association salt lake city utah beloved brethren and sisters sad bad indeed was the intelligence conveyed by our home mall of dec 2nd and informing us of the death of our beloved brother and former mission president elder wm we had learned previously of the painful accident which had befallen him whereby he was confined to his room and deprived of the pleasure of attending the october conference and meeting of the maori association cia tion but had hoped and prayed that his confinement was but for a short time and that a few weeks would have found him at his post of duty there to comfort bless and encourage the saints as was his wont at all times never tor for ape one moment did we think the grim reaper would take our brother from us through the death of president we feel that the saints of god throughout all the world have been called to mourn the loss of a loving brother a wise counselor and truly a man of god our fair state has also lost one of her brightest citizens ana the people generally have been deprived of the association of one of whom it can truly be said the world is better for his having lived in it the maori association and other organizations with which he was so closely connected will feel keenly their loss lose but with us will also feel to acknowledge that god boeth all things well and will bow in humble submission to his decree i As the news of brother Pax mans death spread throughout this mission and numerous were the expressions expression given vent to by the elders and saints located in these parts those of 0 our native brethren and sisters who had bad been blessed with the privilege of as with our departed brother and of receiving counsel and advice from hm at various times felt that they indeed had lost a valiant f though it is many years since he presided s id e d here he has ever remembered uw US at our annual conference by sending an epistle full of loving exhortations which has been read in our meeting ark an has assisted materially in making our conference successful and beneficial to ta all I 1 buring during a conference held at te hua I 1 puni december and a memorial i 1 service was held I 1 in honor of president no sooner was the sug aug made that such a meeting be held to show our love and respect for our noble brother than it was taken up most heartily by our maori brethren and sisters the result being a most moat impressive service our worthy president elder ezra JP richards who had labored under the th presidency of brother in these islands spoke most effectively portraying many of the godlike qualities of our departed brother and paying glowing yet deserving tribute to his labors performed here he also made reference to prophecies uttered by president and testified of their liters litera in the remarks of the maori saints some testified of the fulfillment of prophecies in their behalf which had been uttered by president others spoke of hla his untiring efforts to present the gospel 0 of f christ before them in plainness and of the lasting impression made upon their minds by his labors and example in their midst in the remarks of every speaker there was plainly manifested that love which I 1 is onry felt among those who through the of a fellow laborer and associate feel they have truly lost a brother and friend we condole with you all in the loss of your able president but feel that god has called him to perform some greater work in the great beyond our sympathies also go out to the grieved family who have been deprived of the association of a loving devoted husband and father praying tor for the comforting influence which cometh only from our heavenly father to rest upon all who mown and exhorting all to follow the example set by brother william I 1 am in behalf of the new zea zealand mission your brother in tb he cause of truth W C CASTLETON mission clork clerk |
