[Nov.] 26 Elder Hickman and I prepared to go to Suniatu, he to remain, I to visit a few days and return. Leaving Pesega about 9 A.M. we hurried down to Apia so that our boat crew would not have to wait on us. On reaching Apia we saw the big Frisco steamer coming in. expecting the mail we went to Mr. Helesac’s to wait. While waiting for it to be distributed we ate candy and read novels. At about 2 P.M. Bro. Osi came down, brought me one letter and Hickman three. We continued to wait on our boat crew but they did not come so at 3 we returned to Pesega. We no sooner left than they arrived and went off without us. So we set about to obtain horses. // About 8 P.M. we left Pesega on horses for Sauniatu and arrived in Sauniatu at about 1 A.M. having had a very pleasant ride in the cool night air.
[Nov.] 27. I attended Sunday School in Sauniatu and visited the Theological class. In the afternoon we went to church and I was asked to speak and spoke about 15 minutes on Tis the hope within that keeps up the ambition. That night we went to mutual and heard some horrible singing.
[Nov.] 28 Spent most of the forenoon copying up the Journal in the afternoon I visited among the saints and studied also attended Relief Society meeting and spoke to them on their duties as “Mothers in Israel”
[Nov.] 29 Read news papers and studied, visited several families of Saints having some splendid Gospel conversations. In the evening Bro Hickman and I went to swim and latter we attended. Mutual.
30 Today being Thanksgiving we decide be there in celebrating. We killed a goose. Myrtle (( Myrtle Wilcox, age 14. )) and I made poi (( Samoan poi is a creamy dessert created by mashing ripe bananas with coconut cream. )) // Made some pies, soups, candy and we had a swell time. In the afternoon Bro Hickman and I went down before the Sauniatu falls and had some good fun swimming currents.
December 1st
[Dec.] 2 Visited and studied
[Dec.] 3. Attended Sunday School and Church
[Dec.] 4 visited several families and studied attended Relief Society.
[Dec.] 5 Heard that a boat was going so I prepared to go to Apia. The boat fail to go so I remained & studied.
[Dec.] 6 Studied most of the day. Visited some and went swimming.
[Dec.] 7. Returned to Pesega in the Sauniatu boat.
[Dec.] 8-15 Nothing special accept work, work, on yearly reports. Did not receive reports from some conference and hence the yearly report was not complete but was sent anyhow.
Elder Seely returned from Tonga going home because he was discouraged and felt that he could not get the language. I had a long talk with him and think // that he should not be released but stay and fill a good mission.
[Dec.] 17 Since the 17th we have been visiting quite steady at Pesega but too many Elders have been around for the good of our work.
Last week Pres. D.C. McBride asked me to accompany him to the west end. After leaving Pesega he told me it might stand me well in hand to get acquainted this trip and take notes etc. for we don’t know what may happen. He told me that either Bro Hickman or I would be appointed conf. Pres. We went as far a Salovi spent Sunday and returned. I took up most of the time in the afternoon. Returning from Salovi we started to prepare for Xmas. On about the 2th the Dorigo came with it a nice lot of mail and our [25] new Pres. Christensen Jensen. (( Christian Jensen (1868-1958) had previously served in Samoan. He returned to preside over the mission in spite of poor health and pressing family needs. He served from Dec 11, 1911—Jan 13, 1913, when he was released due to increasing health problems. )) All the elders left for Sauniatu to spend Xmas but Bro. Moody, Petersen and I we spent Xmas at Pesega and had a very nice time.
[Dec.] 27 Elder Tangreen returned from Sauniatu and asked me to accompany him // to the west end.
[Dec.] 28 We left Pesega and traveled to Fasitoatai visited and Bro Ima give them all his parting exortation prayers etc and introduced me to them as his successor.
[Dec.] 29 We went to Salovi visited most of the day and at night returned to Pesega.
[Dec.] 30 Elders left Pesega for Sauniatu Bro Taugreen and I remained in Pesega.
[Dec.] 31 We held services in Pesega but owing to rain they were poorly attended. Bro Ima spoke his farewell sermon.
Jan 1st 1912
Bro Ima went to Soulii and I was left alone in Pesega.
2. I arose early, saddled old French and journeyed to Sauniatu. I arrived there about noon and after a good dinner we had a good swim in the good old river of Sauniatu. That afternoon we had meeting and Elder Christian Jensen was sustained as Mission President. Elder McBride was tendered a vote of thanks. //
Jan 3 Another Elder’s meeting was held next morning and I was sustained and set apart as Conference President of Upolu Conference, Pres McBride acting as mouth piece in the ordinance. Today also they held the farewell party for Elders McBride, Taugreen, Bennett and Moody, all are to leave on the next steamer for U.S.A. a fat young cow was killed and a genuine feast was had. with a social in the evening.
[Jan.] 4 Elder Petersen Bro Jensen and wife and Ruth (( Ruth Wilcox, age 10. )) and I came to Pesega in the Sauniatu boat Pres. Jensen & McBride rode horses down.
[Jan.] 5. I wrote on the type writer nearly all day copying releases and letters for the Presidents.
[Jan.] 6 Waited on Elders a good deal and helped Br Osi straighten his accts. Also helped them take an inventory of Church belongings.
[Jan.] 7. Visited some in Pesega and wrote some personal letters. Went to Saulu
[Jan.] 8 Sunday rested and talked with Bro. Bird. (( Martin Ivan Bird, b. 1887, served from Jan 15, 1910—Feb 13, 1914, He was from Murray, Ut. )) Preached in meeting “Seek ye First the Kingdom of Heaven.” Mat 6:33. //
[Jan.] 9. Returned to Peea and did Mission M business with Presidents.
[Jan.] 10 Studied and wrote personal letters.
[Jan.] 11 Visited in Pesega and Apia. Also called on the Samoan King Tamasese and got his explanation regarding the divorce of Willie Laurence; Willie paid him $10.00 to grant them a divorce which was granted. Fao’s subpoenaed Willie before him. After ward the Gov annulled the work of Tamasese. (( Tupua Tamasese is the title of one of Samoa’s four paramount chiefs. Tupua Tamasese Lealofi I held the title in 1912. ))
[Jan.] 12. Visited with the returned Brethren also attended a special Elders meeting at Pesega. After supper we all went to Apia. Seven of us including the returning Brethren went out on the ship we sang songs in English and Samoan. Bro Tangreen played the piano and we had a great time. We returned home about 11 oclock.
[Jan.] 13 The crowd having left we can get down to business again. Pres Jensen intends returning to the east and I intend going to the west end for a trip. We have hopes of establishing a new branch. //
[Jan.] 14—Visited in Pesega and prepared my clothes etc for a trip. Half soled shoes etc.
[Jan.] 15 Spent Sunday in Pesega and preached “The Fruits of the Spirit:” Visited Saints and said Tofa to Pesega
[Jan.] 17. Jimmy Ray and I left Pesega intending to travel around the west end of the Conference to visit branches and try and establish new ones. We slept that night in the house of “Tuilupe” the Magistrate Pulemenr of Malie. We had a real nice supper and next morning Jimmy talked Gospel to him about three hours then we had prayers and left. He was very pleased with our visit.
[Jan.] 18 We Journeyed to Sulumoega stoping in at several houses on the way. We had a nice long talk with Native missionary Tinei and also Panoa a member of the church.
[Jan.] 19. We left Sulumaega early and crossed over the mountain to Lefargo a distance of about 14 miles with out anything to eat. This was where we had hopes of starting the church but before we slept that night our hopes of that village were shattered. Our man // our man had been long driven from the village for stealing a name faaSamoa
[Jan.] 20 We arose about five oclock next morning and left that part of the country feeling quite shagrinned we crossed the mountain to Falelatai had some nice talk there and were invited to spend Sunday but Jimmy did not like it so I gave in to him and we went to Solovi. I called in at Sauniatu visited ate supper and went over in the cart with Willie
[Jan.] 21. Spent Sunday in Solovi were treated very loyal. I spoke on “our conduct as Saints.”
[Jan.] 22-23 I visited in Salovi Had some good conversations and fine dinners. Jimmy left for Sauniatu. I remained.
[Jan.] 24 I returned to Sauniatu had a long talk with Willie. Blessed his baby. Talked also with some Chinese of Sauniatu.
[Jan.] 25 Went in the village and had some talks with Chinese. They’re just luke warm. //
[Jan.] 26 I remained at Willie’s and fasted also read most of the day.
[Jan.] 27. Returned to Salovi and prepared for Sunday. Spoke in meeting in honor of Kaiser
(To be continued)
Most memorable take-away:
“That night we went to mutual and heard some horrible singing.”
Laura, Do you know what happened to Elder Seely (Dec. 8-15)?
Also, conference president was roughly equivalent to stake president, right?
Right, Gary; the conference president was responsible for multiple branches in a given area, so roughly equivalent to a stake president.
Oops. I slipped up on that one. Apparently George Willard Seeley went back to Utah and was married in the Salt Lake Temple February 19, 1913. He and his first wife, Olive, had five children. His wife died in 1958, and he remarried in 1959 to Anna, a widow a few years younger than himself. George died in 1961, and poor Anna married a third time. George did his best to raise his family in the church, as evidenced by the fact that his children were all baptized within a few months of turning 8, and that his daughters married in the temple. FamilySearch doesn’t tell me any more, but it doesn’t appear that his life was ruined by his early return from his mission.
“Spoke in meeting in honor of Kaiser”!
Well, it was January 1912. Still, I wonder what he knew about Kaiser Billy that would have made good material for a sermon.
Interesting glimpse into the government of Samoa at that time, and I had no idea there was more than one kind of poi. You can learn something new every time you read Keepa!
Thanks, Laura.