Show FROM NEW ZEALAND LETTER ELDER coon COOK OF 01 CARDEN CITY E editor THE roundup round BOUND UP since w writing ru ting my last letter to you we have been very busy making an extra effort to get the gospel before the people our beloved president ezra r F richards and jno IT 11 ellis paid us a visit avisia in may and we had our conference on the and having a grand time AL ab the close of our conference a debate with a church of england clergyman was decided upon as our president dent and elder lillis ellis were to leave for the other ish island and elder jacob E and I 1 were appointed to meet the rev gentleman elders bunot and casper went with the president and elder E ellis ilis to see them off on the steamer mcf at the time appointed tor for our debate the house was well filled and it tell fell to my lot to do the talking our debate lasted six hours being divided into two sessions at the beginning my opponent tried very hard to get me excited but the spirit of god being my helper he failed and our debate from that time proceeded without further trouble as lie saw we were s thereto there to stay as long as he desired at the close of our second session a third was decided upon but when the time arrived at which it W was is to begin the rev gentleman desired to show some lantern views and the third session tailed failed to come off we happened to be at the same place the following evening and spent the time until after midnight in private debate and on bidding us good da bye the rev bev gentleman expressed a desire to meet with us again chepur he purchased some church works and show ed a disposition to investigate the gospel but after we returned to this city he reported his labors to those placed over him as follows 1 I met the two who were left with whom I 1 had a debate lasting six hours I 1 left i them silenced but not convinced C when I 1 saw this I 1 was very much sur ff for I 1 had looked upon him as a truthful man I 1 wrote a cieply in as mild and as plain a manner as I 1 could I 1 in which I 1 gave the straight of our debate giving the public to understand just how we stood at the close just what will come of it I 1 cannot isay say at the request of our president elder caspar and I 1 closed up our labors here and started out to hunt new pastures we walked in miles lies and the privilege of using three school houses made a few friends and returned for our things after remaining with the saints over IP sunday and holding meeting with them I 1 returned to this city but on account of ill health elder caspar was unable to accompany me and I 1 am very sorry to state that I 1 have rece iv n ed information that lie he is no better y but he is in good hands where he be will I 1 t receive the best of attention i I 1 have now been here tw two 0 weeks but owing to the people being so ex cited over the queens jubilee I 1 have been b een u unable n able to hold more than two meetings and have met with some very strong opposition A man who N ho i professes to bei bea good eb christian ristian got up a petition and took it a lound the k three districts where we had secured the use of the schools lie he got a I 1 number of signatures protesting against us using the schools but the committee would not sign the petition this created a great stir among the people but instead of bf doing harm I 1 as intended it brought the people i out and the house was crowded with p I 1 earnest listeners which gave me renewed newe strength streng lito to put the truths of the gospel before them i I 1 have another opponent for next i sunday night and I 1 trust that the jt good spirit chuch attended the last debate may attend this and all others for without the spirit of god there would be no success for poor weak men such buch as the lord has chosen to promulgate ills his gospel in this tile the f dispensation of the falness of times y preparatory to the second advent of fi the messiah and the great reign of 1 peace upon the earth i ever praying for the success of gods servants and the up building of dzion zion COOK nelson city N Z june |