| 662 free for the holding of meetings, it was necessary to rent a hall for the purpose, funds for which and other exigencies were provided.
On February 7, 1891, Elder Waller wrote:
We have had to fight every inch of our way here, so the work is slow; but I hope it will stand. Ever since Elder Haws came we have met almost every day for the purpose of praying together for strength and guidance.
Failing to get any place in which to preach, we took a small room used by a native lawyer as his office, and started a Bible class, which we held two or three evenings in the week. On Sunday afternoons we had a meeting at a native boy's home who works for me. Though these meetings were poorly attended, still we received strength and encouragement. An elder from the Utah church here tried to bother us. He endeavored to induce the native lawyer to have nothing to do with us, but did not succeed, and finally ceased to trouble us at our meetings. Being invited by this native lawyer, whose name is Kaulukou (who makes no profession of religion at all) to preach in his office, we arranged to hold service one Sunday evening, when Elder Haws preached to a small number who went away highly pleased. . . . We met again on two or more Sundays in the same place, and then decided to look around for a larger and more convenient room. All the religious places being closed against us, we succeeded in getting one of the halls from the Odd Fellows' Lodge, where we have had four meetings both of natives and English-speaking people. Some natives and white people are interested, and one old native man is preparing for baptism.
Of course, there is much prejudice on account of the Mormon church and polygamy; but all who have attended our meetings have spoken in high terms of the preaching.
We took the hall for one month for which we paid fifteen dollars. . . .
We have gotten out two tracts in the native tongue; one "The Successor to the Prophetic Office in the Church;" pointing out how the apostasy took place under Brigham Young, and the distinction between the two churches: The other on baptism. I hope they will do much good. The translating and printing of the tracts will cost about two hundred and fifty dollars.
Elder Waller says again in his historical narrative:
The first meeting for prayer and sacrament was held at the room of Elder Haws on Beretania Street, at which were present Bro. Haws, Bro. and Sr. Luther, and Bro. G. J. Waller.
The second was held at the office of a lawyer named Kaulukou, situated at the comer of King and Bethel Streets. In this office on Sunday evening, December 21, Elder Haws preached his first sermon, which produced a favorable impression on those present, who were mostly Hawaiians.
For some weeks, until a hall could be secured suitable for holding services, prayer-meetings were held at the homes of some of those who manifested
(page 662) |
