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Apr. 8 1912

Beautiful day at sea. Past several small islands of coral formations also saw two places where wrecks had happen upon the reef. I was told that one was a shipment of Indian coolies of 500 and all were drowned. Now they have established Light Houses at different places along the line. Owing to the 180 latitude we skiped Easter Sunday, but held services nevertheless.

Today we made our acquaintance with Mr. Moody, an American from Portland, Oregon, and had an interesting talk with him. He said he had never heard Mormonism except thru magazine and hence he was somewhat prejudiced. He asked several questions, especially about our attitude on plural marriage which I told him we defended as far as principle was concerned but forbid the practice of it as strong as did any other set of people and a violation of the prohibitory law would mean//

Apr 8. expension from the church. He said that a man that accepted the Bible had to accept it as a principle. I gave him my Art. Of Faith card and he promised to thoroughly consider them.

[Apr.] 9. Had many Gospel conversations and seemed to make many friends with people on board. Most everybody was very seasick.

[Apr.] 10 Early this morning we went aboard at Levuka Fiji (( Levuka was the first capitol of Fiji. It is located on Ovalau, and small island to the east of the largest island of Viti Levu. )) and enjoyed walked over some of its pleasant ways. Took two pictures with Kodak several people got on again at Levuka and again we made several friends among some of the Cotorelest [?]

[Apr.] 11. All foernoon we traveled among the reef bound islands of Fiji and at noon arrived at Suva (( Suva is the capitol city of Fiji situated on the east coast of Viti Levu. )) shortly after dinner we set out to find lodgings suitable for the occasion—our purses. We inquired at Mrs. Remries but she wanted 15.00 for only a shanty[?] dirty looking room so on up the street we went // until we were finally refered to Miss Wilkinson away up on Flagstaff road. Here we obtained a good nicely furnished room for 10 shillings and board at the rate of 25 shillings per wk. We accepted it and boarded there 6 days during which time we enjoyed ourselves very much feeling very much at home and being treated splendidly.

[Apr.] 12 went to town early and visited Samoans and in the Botanical Gardens, Library, bought cards and filled orders of Tutuila X Samoan Elders and returned home.

[Apr.] 13. Today Elder Petersen and I took a boat trip up the Rewa River. We visited several small ports on the way up and went thru the Hugh Sugar Mills which was very interesting. We returned home late at night.

[Apr.] 14. spend the day at home reading In the afternoon we in company with several others took a short // walk up flag staff and while there took a few pictures we were also permited to look thru the Gov. field glass and could see practically all over the island. We were told that ships were seen 3 hrs our at sea.

Went to Church in the morning in the Fijian to hear some beautiful singing but was greatly disappointed. In the evening we attended the Methodist Church and quite enjoyed the sermon.

Apr. 15 Visited some of the places in Suva and especially the Museum. We were with Mr. Moody most of the time.

Apr 16 We arose early this morning and packed our bundles paid our good Land Lady off 20.00 and beat our way down to watch for the steamer.

After waiting in Suva nearly an hour we saw the flags go up announcing that the boat was in side. Two hours latter she wheeled into the wharf // and we hurried to board only to be told that she was “full up” and they could not take us. We returned to the office and were told we could go First Class or not at all but that it would cost us L 15 extra. I immediately made up my mind to take my chances but Elder Petersen preferred to borrow the money so having met nine returning Elders from New Zealand, the same bunch that I went out with, we borrowed the money and took first class passage. It was a trying time but we finally got aboard, baggage and all and then found that we had no cabin, only a promise of one from Honolulu.

At about 5 oclock we left Suva and set out into the calm beautiful ocean.

[Apr.] 16 Today we were put back and enjoyed another Apr. 16. Sea fine. Some sociable others curious. //

Apr. 17/12

Another very pleasant day at sea. Very calm with a nice facing breeze. Made acquaintance with several people and were treated kindly.

[Apr.] 23 Week past with nothing very important taking place. All well at sea and good weather continually. We made many friends and became the objects of many curious people who were surprised to see a “Mormon.”

Last Friday night we met a young lady from Provo who was a mormon and had married Mr. Iver Lawson ((Iver Georg Lawson was born in Sweden in 1879 and died in SLC, UT in 1960. He and two of his brothers were professional cyclists. )) the famous cyclist. Latter in the evening a Ball was given on deck but as I had some boils on my leg besides all my other infirmities, which however was nothing much greater than laziness, I could not dance.

Last Sunday I went to Church and was surprised to hear the Rev. Bishop of Christ’s Church N.Z. make such a statement to us this: the greater part of what goes under the head of Christianity today is all rot consisting mostly of a long prayer and taking up collection.

[Apr.] 24. When we awoke this morning the beautiful islands of Hawaii were in sight and about eight oclock we stoped out waiting for Gov. Doctor to come aboard and look at our hands to see if our insides were all right. Having passed us up with a few grunts to repared to breakfast after which we started sight seeing. Going thru the large ware house we came out onto Main Street where auto mobiles hacks and cabs were lined up on either side asking patronage. Being filled with sympathy for them I perhaps would have taken the first but it suddenly flashed upon my mind that I was // as destitute of money as the day I was borne. Yes really I, as usual, was broke flater than a Desert plain so I wheeled around as borrowed $2.00 from a fellow missionary and started for Mission Headquarters with a business scheme in my attic. Having a boil just at my shoe top I was so lame I could hardly walk so we got a cab 25 c each and Elder Petersen Thurgood and myself went to the mission house where we met Pres. Woolley and several of the elders. We had a very nice time together I got brave and asked Pres Woolley to aloof mai. I explained our condition and what we did. He sympathized with us. Said we did right loan us each $25.00 and wished us a most pleasant journey. One of the Elders who had been released and was waiting for a chance to return home // took us sight seeing and showed us around. We visited aquarium, museum, and road thru town. Visited also shop and a few large buildings particularly the Alexander Young Building where we went up on top to the garden and had refreshments. I returned from here to the boat and waited for her to again set sail. I had scarcely got in the boat when the Hawaiian native Band came down to the boat and played land and loud and pretty until the boat pulled out playing the Star Spangled Banner as we left the wharf.

[Apr.] 25 Today all is well on board and we are traveling along pretty nicely.

[Apr.] 27 A very cold heavy wind came up and liked to have frozen us to death. The sea was very rough and a few on // board were hurt being thrown down by the boat.

May 1 We landed at Victoria and spent a pleasant afternoon seeing the City. We left there late at night and landed in Vancouver

[May 2] next morning about 8A.M. and spent the day seeing Vancouver

[May 3] We came to Port Seattle but we were compelled to wait about nine hour for the overland and hense were very late getting into

[May 4] Seattle. We left Seattle that morning and came to Portland changed cars, waited long enough to see the city by cars and then set out for Utah landing in Salt Lake about the

[May] 6th and after doing necessary business we hurried home arriving here at about

[May 7] 1 P.M. Tuesday. I ate lunch and went up town with Father. I saw many faces that I was acquainted with, but those in my crowd had either married off or were gone and a younger generation had taken our places. I felt like a stranger in a strange place so I returned and tried to help in odd jobs about the place. I helped Father make a cafe pen.

(End of the Diary)