| Show KOM NEW W ZEALAND to t to Conference To many of ofis ts is 1 in Zion these words are are asso- asso elo ara f pleasurable anticipations of g I 1 friends and nd associates children str b lip nappy y in the thoughts of riding on the Che he U Py Pyor P or R G W train lovers of look Took forward to concerts and a Je music rendered by the far far- fard far ia ii ed d Tabernacle choir faithful Saints hungering for the words of eternal 1 n by their beloved president presidents S es and others and all eagerly to te a spiritual feast lug Ig to Conference in di 1 many of these attractive features j id nevertheless li a happy experience A number r of Maoris and Elders ambled e at at Te Hora on the South New Nett We Zealand on June for J- J h j t the purpose of traveling to together ether to the annual semi annual confere conference ce of the Wairau district Some had come by steamer from from the North Island and ancl others had hadl l left tt their homes in various parts of the district in order to travel in one me com com- company company company pany Oft On the mm of the the village bell was rung before daylight daylight and soon all was bustle and confusion con A morn mom morning ing service was held according to Maori custom after which a hasty breakfast was partaken of A large number of horses were brought up and the Elders booted and spurred were soon mounted and ready for the journey journey Our Maori brethren loaded their pack-horses pack with blankets clothing etc until the ani ani- animals animals animals mals almost groaned beneath the load The drivers then mounted the pack and after placing a few children snugly behind joined the procession The Maori mother mother carefully enwrapped her babe swung it across her shoulders and taking a bundle of unmentionables mounted her horse and rode along be- be beside beside side her spouse When all preparations were completed the strangely equipped cavalcade moved off off and no merrier merrier company ever traveled to conference in Zion No wonder that Europeans along the route crowded to doors and win win- windows windows windows dows to watch the motley crowd go by surmising probably at first thought that it was a stranded country circus About sixty or seventy persons com com- comprised comprised comprised the from company company from the feeble and decrepit patriarch of an unknown age to the infant a few weeks old The horses were of all aU breeds and sizes from the shaggy pony and broken- broken kneed hack to the heavy built dray horse Every available steed was util- util utilized utilized for all the people must go to the Hui and not even a dog was left b to rd the village Many of the you young g men men and maidens tramped the thirty thirty mile journey on foot and at times made better progress than the horsemen About fifteen miles of the road was along a narrow trail through dense bush The forest scenery was truly magnificent The giant ant black birch Maire andant and Totara native timber towered feet high high their massive limbs stretching out and inter inter- intertwining intertwining intertwining twining above forming a canopy over over- overhead overhead h head ad adso so dense that the suns sun's rays could scarcely penetrate Beneath these fostering branches a numerous variety of ferns shrubs and vines luxuriantly flourished in all their primitive beauty undisturbed by the vandal hoofs of roaming roamine cattle As the the forest it was often necessary to pass under leaning trees or jump over over the fallen logs and knives were often brought out in order to cut a way through the tangled vines and One of the Elders was almost carried off his horse and readily believed that it was possible for Absalom to be sus sus- suspended suspended suspended in the thicket At times large rivers were crossed and women women and children had then to be conveyed over on horses the Elders rendering yeo yeo- yeoman yeoman yeoman man service crossing and the rivers conveying the babes and then their mothers until all were landed safely on the other side This labor was not necessary with shallow streams as the foot passengers were able to to ford them Many of the thes s sisters carried their footwear slung around their necks and all marched along barefooted As As they crossed the streams they modestly and dexterously raised their nether g garments as the water increased in depth and then witha wi a merry laugh skipped ahead of the horsemen The summit of an almost perpendicular mountain was reached by bya bya bya a zigzag zigzag trail and progress was often impeded impe by land slides and fallen fallentimber fallentimber fallentimber timber As the sun disappeared beneath the western horizon the cavalcade emerged from the forest and soon alter after the village of was reached It Itis Itis Itis is situated upon a shallow bay of the ocean on the northwest coast of the South Island As the Elders advanced advance t the natives came forward and amid the waving of handkerchiefs and songs of greeting bade them welcome The usual salutations the ever welcome ever were freely given and many of them were quite prolonged and accompanied by a copious copious flow of tears according to Maori custom Such evi evi- evidences evidences dences of affection were very gratifying to the Elders who had labored to bring them to a knowledge of Christ Elaborate preparations had been made for the accommodation of the people A large new meeting house 9 feet feet had been erected for the the occasion occasion frame work being of heavy timbers and the sides and roof covered with Nikau a native palm The culinary department was replete with a large variety of viands and the pastries puddings and other delicacies would compare favorably with most of the pic pis in Zion The conference commenced on Satur Satur- Saturday Saturday Saturday day morning June at xo 10 o'clock The Elders present from Zion were President William Gardner Elders B Goddard J Johnson J W Linford R RL L Bird and W Bunot A large CODi congregation had had bled assembled many Europeans being amon amongst st the number some of them government sur sur- surveyors surveyors surveyors and others saw-mill saw hands who had secured a holiday for the occasion Conference was called allied c to order by Elder Johnson president of the Wairau district district and opened with singing hymn 99 Prayer by Hemi Elder Johnson addressed a few words of greeting to those assembled especially especially especially ally welcoming the Europeans present and urging them to attend all the meetings Elder R Leo Bird addressed the con con- congregation congregation congregation through an interpreter and spoke at some length on the subject ct of unity as embodied in il fn Christs Christ's t teachings by implicit obedience to the laws of God When the divine command love thy neighbor as thyself is strictly ob observed ob- ob observed observed served it will indicate that we are ap approaching ap- ap approaching approaching true Christian unity In this connection he introduced faith repent repent- repentance repentance repentance ance and baptism as laws of God quoting quoting quoting ing many scriptural passages relating to the subject Tuiti Hone Tui and all faithful native members also addressed the Maori Saints after which the meeting was closed by singing hymn Prayer bv by In the afternoon aft after the usual open open- opening opening opening ing ceremonies Elder Joseph W Lin- Lin Linford Linford ford Lin-ford ford arose and spoke unto the people in the Maori tongue He delivered an interesting address referring to the various erroneous doctrines taught in the world and te testifying th that th the Elders of Israel were preaching no new gospel but the fulfilment of Johns John's Johns John's prophecy Rev 14 6 and the r restoration of the true Gospel of Christ through the min min- ministrations ministrations ministrations of angels in the latter days organization He treated also upon the tion of the Church with Apostles Prophets etc after the ancient order He concluded by exhorting all the mem memo members members bers to be faithful and true to their covenants Te Hemi and Renata To Te presidents of the branches of ofTe ofTe ofTe Te T-e Hora and reported their respective branches stating that the members were enjoying the spirit of the gospel and magnifying their callings Te a visiting Elder from the district also spoke at some length on the fulfilment ment of prophecy Hemi delivered an intelligent address on the Book of Mormon quoting many scriptural pas pas- passages passages passages sages relating thereto and also bearing a faithful testimony y President W Gardner made a few closing remarks after which meeting was dismissed with singing hymn Prayer by Charles Hippolyte In the tle evening a testimony mee meeting ng was held held and twenty-six twenty members spoke very earnestly and testified to their joy in being connected with the true Church of God A number of small children spoke at some length and quoted numerous pas pas- passages passages passages sages on the principles p principles of the Gospel thus giving a a reason for the hope within them Sunda Sunday morning July 1st was Fast day and it was rigidly observed by all the Latter day Saints Saints even the children refraining from partaking of the morn morn- morning morning morning ing meal tho the tables were set for the benefit of outsiders present Conf Conference ence meetings were resumed at a aso t so 10 a m After the usual opening cere cere- ceremonies ceremonies ceremonies monies three newly baptized members were confirmed after which President William Gardner occupied the time of o f meeting Aided Aid d by the th Spirit of God he spoke and interestingly in Maori for about an hour and a quarter and dwelt upon the duties of parents to children the th laws of God as taught by inspired men the restoration of the Gospel in the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and adduced a large num num- number number number ber of Scriptural proofs He showed at some length the fulfil fulfil- fulfilment fulfilment fulfilment ment of the prophecy in the gathering of Israel In the latter days and the building of temples referring to the great work already pe performed o ed in the Houses of the LOrd ID in ZIOn Zon H He exhorted the Maori members to care care- carefully carefully carefully fully compile and preserve their genea logical genealogical records In order that they might become Saviors on Mount Zion when permitted to enter the Holy Temples Meeting was closed with singing We thank Thee 0 God for a Prophet in Maori Prayer was by Elder R L Bird A sumptuous dinner was spread at atthe atthe atthe the close of the mee meeting the Europ European ean visitors being seated at the first table All present appeared to enjoy the repast especially our Maori Saints to whom fasting is quite a task tho rigidly observed For the Ac benefit of the Europeans pres- pres present present ent the afternoon meeting was conducted conducts entirely in- in English and opened with I singing Now let Jet us rejoice ic et etc After prayer the congregation sang our favorite hymn 0 my Father Thou that Sacrament was ad- ad administered ad administered ministered to the members after which Elder B Goddard was called to address the prejudice people He referred to the dice Latter existing against the Latter days Saints showing that the spirit which crucified the Savior and caused the martyrdom of His apostles also caused the persecutions and misrepresentations of His Saints in the latter day He forcibly repudiated the base slanders circulated against Mormonism and quoted a number of recent reports from unprejudiced observers Elder Goddard then dwelt upon the religious condition of the world ing proving the of the early Christian chuch and the necessity of divine reve reve- revelation revelation revelation lation in the latter days He com com- commented commented commented upon the restoration of the Gospel with all its gifts blessings and power and earnestly testified to the divinity of Joseph Smiths Smith's mission The speaker was listened to with marked attention for an hour and a half The meeting was closed with singing Lord dismiss us Prayer by Elder Linford A second testimony meeting was held in the evening which was opened with w brief address by Elder Walter Bunot who has recently arrived from Zion Hoera Te To President of Ran Ran- Ran branch reported the condition o ohis of f his members stating that all of them were magnifying their callings He also bore his testimony to the work of God established in these days Sixteen bore their testimonies and the Spirit of God was manifested in the midst of the people This closed another eventful confer confer- conference conference conference ence in and another interest interest- interesting interesting ing page in the lifes life's history of the th e Elders from Zion Three days later the latter took too k their departure for their scenes of o f labor July Independence Independence day There was no opportunity for express ing expressing loyalty to Fair Columbia but thoughts and feelings reverted back to the dear old Mountain home where amid the noise of the booming cannon the he music of patriotic songs sonis and the waving of the stars and stripes Utah's sons and daughters were rejoicing in inthe inthe inthe the blessings of peace and pr prosperity penty Early in the the morning Elders Elders and Saints bowed before the Throne of grace race and expressed th their ir gratitude to to U the Giver of all good for the blessings of the Gospel craving His divine protection protection protection tion as they part parted de an affecting scene as the fare fare- farewell farewell farewell well adieus were exchanged A boat was held in readiness to convey the parting friends across the bay where their horses were in waiting The part part- cart ing was given the shed tears of sorrow as their beloved pastors left them As the boat paddled across the bay baythe the natives stood waiving their good good- byes goodbyes shouting farewell greetings and chanting songs of affection May teachers and taught remain firm firmand firmand firmand and steadfast to their covenants until they meet with songs sp gs of joy on Heavens Heaven's celestial shore PH PHOENIX NIX CANVAS TOWN New Zealand July 1894 |
