Prest Wilford Woodruff
P.O Box "B" Salt Lake City, Utah.
Dear Brother:
We are in receipt of your favors
bearing dates of March 19th and April 26th. Also
the Draft for £153 3/4 sterling. I appreciate the
information given in reply to questions submitted.
We are also pleased to learn of the pros-
pects of more Elders in August and October. It
would be to the interest of the mission if they
were already in the field, getting a start in the
language so to be better prepared to replace the
prospecting releases mentioned in my last to you.
As regarding the propriety of dividing the
Australasian Mission, I have felt for some time
that a move of that kind would contribute
largely to causing the work to progress far
more rapidly in Australia and Tasmania.
As the Maori people and work are of so peculiar
a nature is to wholly absorb one president's
time. And at the same time the prospects are
very encouraging, at present, in those parts, and
could undoubtedly be followed up
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closely with very satisfactory results.
Our last report showed a total of 21
souls in Tasmania; 22 in Victoria; 53 in New
South Wales and 82 in Queenland, total 178;
4 organized branches; 2 Sunday Schools and a
Mutual Improvement Association. A number of
additions have since been made in every place
except Victoria. There are now 21 Elders in
those parts, as follows: Tasmania 4; Victoria 2
South Australia 2; New South Wales 5 and Queen-
sland 8. Each conference president has, some
time since, written me suggesting the propiety
of more Elders. And in N. S. W. and Queens-
land particularly have pleasing openings been
made, and desires been manifested for
Elders, which have not, as yet, been respond-
ed to, for no other reasons than the lack of
enough to deem it wise to spare some from
elsewhere. I have been very anxious about
the work in those parts for some time, being
desirous of taking every advantage of these
favorable oppertunities as they present themselves.
And for the lack of sufficient time to visit
the Continent in person. I have recently been
led to write a general letter for guidance of
the European work and working Elders, with a
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view of economizing our time, and introdu-
cing a more systematic and progressive
course, and thereby perchance make better
progress. Since its issuance I have heard
from a number of the Elders, who have fully
endorsed the move, and expressed themselves
as having felt, for some time, the need of
a more thorough and systematic plan being
adopted.
Elder Andrew Smith Jr., whom I men-
tioned in my letter dated April 10th, is 33
years of age, and has labored in the miss-
ion since Sept. 1895 energetically and satis-
factorily. Should you fully decide to divide
the mission, you may be led to either appo-
int him to the presidency of the new one, or
send an Elder from Zion whom Elder Smith
could labor with and assist in getting thoro-
ughly initiated into the work, while he
would yet remain in the field. Elder Smith
seems to be endeavoring to preach the Gospel
without "purse or scrip," and do his duty as a
servant of God.
Bro. Reha Aperahama, Prest. of Te Aroha
branch, Hauraki District, and an influential
chief, died fore part of this month. It was
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a great blow, as he was a great support
in those parts and much respected by many
without, as well as the saints. Another
great chief of the Manauatu district, has also
died recently. He had formerly belonged to the
Church but been excommunicated.
A number of the Elders and many Maoris,
have a burningitch. When nothing else presents
itself they fill in the time scratching. 'Tis very
annoying indeed while it lasts, but wears off
in time. Aside from this the Elders are, I beleive,
in fairly good health. Elder Petersen's removal
to Mahia seems to have improved his health
some.
Since my last writing, a terrible storm
and flood has taken place on parts of the island, notably Hawkes Bay District, where
some few people lost their lives. And thousands
of cattle and sheep, as also other property
damaged and destroyed. Very many are left
in a state of destitution. Pleased, however, to
note that none of the saints lost their lives
and but few were damaged seriously, as far
as learned.
With earnest prayers for your good, and
well being in your advanced years, even that
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the full use of your limbs, faculties and
mental powers may be retained unto you,
and the visions of eternity ever before you for
the good of the work, and with kind regards
to your fellow laborers. I remain
P.S. Some years back, on this mission, it
was customary to place converts under covenant
on the water's edge, previous to baptism, but the
practice is now discontinued throughout the
mission. I would be pleased to have an ex-
pression from you as to what would be proper
in the matter, or in other words, what order
you would like to have carried out