Letter from John Waldemar Beck, 29 December 1895
To the First Prests. of the Church of J.K. of L. D. S.
Dear Brethren:
The last two mail Steamers have brought no word from
you, and for about the same length of time we have been
away visiting the islands to the East Viz. Tutuila and also the
Manua groupe, the latter for the first time. This groupe consists of
three small islands the population of which number 1800. We were
well received by the cheifs and their people who turned out to hear
this "new" Religion, and after we had held one meeting the
cheifs told us that we could hold meetings in their houses when
ever we wished to; we held seven meetings there in three villages
and had many conversations besides. The people seemed unusualy
interested in the Gosple, perhaps from the fact that it was the first
time they have heard it. The cheives and rulers came to our meetings
and listened attentively to our message and testimonies; they asked
many questions, seemed to have the spirit of investigation, and we
[are] pleased with the results of our trip, for the Truth was made plain
to them and when any one attempted to refute our doctrine it only had
attendancy to bring the Gosple truths more fully to light, - insomuch
that many became almost disgusted with the religion they claimed
to have, and avowed their firm belief in the Gosple we advocated.
We found upon reaching Manua that the L.M.S. society had made
a covenant with the King of and rulers of these islands many years
ago, to the effect that no other church but their own should ever be
