[The following extract has been sent to us. May it stir us up to prayer! The laborers are indeed few. — ED.]
“... WHEN writing to― by the Frisco mail, I inquired if he had any simple and short papers showing the errors of Mormonism, and asked him to send a few if so. These people have been in N.Z. a long time, and have made converts among the Maoris. About six months ago two of them went to the Chatham Islands (a tiny group off the east coast of this island), and there they have been going about from house to house seeking to spread their evil teaching. A Mrs. P―, whom I know, writes saying no Christian evangelist has visited the Chathams, and now these people are there.
There is no minister on the islands — a clergyman goes about once a year for a month or two, but he may not be a converted man. The population is about four hundred, half being Maoris. The people live far apart mostly, and communication is difficult, but the Mormons have tramped, wet or dry, and help in whatever work is going on, whether it be mustering the sheep, or shearing, &c. &c., Mrs. P― tells me. Through her I have become acquainted with an old Christian woman living at one of the two townships on the islands, and receive letters from her. Mrs. D―’s great desire is that others should know the Lord. Though she is poor and old (eighty-five), she sent me money to pay for some Maori Testaments she wanted to give, and procures many tracts and books for her neighbors and grandchildren. She has mentioned a Mr. C―, a Christian gentleman owning a sheep-run, who, with another, reads the service in the little church, and does what he can in visiting the Maoris; but he has a family, and must attend to his sheep, so has little spare time. There are day schools, but the Bible is not read in them. Mrs. D― says, Is it not terrible to think of the Mormons going there? They are pleasant, well-mannered young men, and have won their way into houses all over the island, and obtained the use of the only hall, Mrs. P — has heard....”
[Hearing of needy places such as this makes one wish there were young evangelists to visit them, men fitted by the Lord to carry the good news of salvation. There are places in Australia, too, where many months pass without any service being held, the people being careless and indifferent. — W. J. L.]