| 50 With the instinct of true Latter Day Saints they applied for baptism, etc. Resting satisfied with the assurance of the brethren that we would not be violating any municipal regulation, we appointed the next day (Sunday), to attend to ordinances; and at the same time gave notice that we should transact important business connected with the Reorganization.
In the evening all hands and the choir met at our rooms and entertained us with, "The Spirit of God like a fire is burning," and other inspiring songs of Zion, all sung in the Tahitian language. But anxious as they were to give us pleasure, they were still more anxious to hear from us; and so we entertained them with a discourse upon the history of the church, in which we averred that polygamy was a device of the Devil to corrupt the Saints and overcome them.
On the next day the morning service commenced at eight o'clock in the forenoon. At its conclusion we found that nearly the entire branch, with certain visiting brethren from the neighboring islands, were intending to be rebaptized. Knowing that this would create an excitement in the public mind, we again questioned the brethren concerning our right in the premises; and being assured by them that it was "all right," we repaired to the seaside, and there in the pure blue waters of the Pacific, Bro. Rodger baptized fifty-one persons.
There were many bystanders present, and a Catholic church stood within the distance of a half mile, while one of its spies was in our midst taking notes of our doings. The baptisms being accomplished, we retired to change, and then to reassemble at the meeting-house.
At the afternoon meeting we confirmed the newly baptized; after which we organized for business purposes, with Elder C. W. Wandell in the chair, and Elder Reipu, clerk. The following native elders were present: From Tonboni, Teapo, and Pe. From Anaa (Chain Island), Tara, Parata, and Tenate. From Tomotou, Teagi. From sundry places, Tave, Paea, Raidoa, and Paita. From Tahiti, Taniera, Reipu, and David Brown. Taniora is the presiding elder at Tiona. He is a gentleman of education and refinement, and was formerly connected with the Protestant mission at Papeete. By a regular vote in each case these brethren were reordained elders, and were appointed to specific fields of labor, with instructions that they were to do no ordaining except for branch government purposes, until they should hear from Bro. Joseph, or until an elder should be sent from America to preside.
That afternoon the Saints appeared in their best. The brethren were dressed in pants, shirt, and coat, scrupulously clean. The sisters modestly and tastefully dressed in the American style; in fact the congregation would anywhere have been considered decidedly respectable. After the meeting the regular old-fashioned hand-shaking had to be gone through with. The meeting, however, had been a very long one; and so many confirmations and ordinations, with the instructions, had made me very tired, and I went to our room and lay down for a nap. I had been
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