MORMON CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1408, 8 April 1912, Page 4

MORMON CONFERENCE.

NATURE OF THEIR CRUSADE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Palmcrston, April 7. Tho number attending the Mormon conference at Awapuni now iotals one thousand, and meetings and services are being held for Europeans as well as Maoris. A largo number of Europeans visited the camp to-day, and were addressed by the elders. Amongst tho visitors to-day was Mr. John Stevens, late member of Parliament, who addressed the Maori, gathering commenting on tho work of tempcranco and social uplifting, and the proposed agricultural college as being beneiicial to the race. Speaking to a "Manawalu Times" reporter, Mr. Komney, head of the mission, said that ho failed to understand why the meeting of tho Wanganui Presbytery had condemned tho Hon. To Kangihiroa and Dr. Pomaro for visiting them. There was no more reason why lliey should not than why they should not visit a Presbyterian meeting. Tho Mormon Church was hero to teach temperance, virtue, and industry to tho Maori people, in the causo of their general crusade for Christ and humanity. As a consequence, thousands of Maoris had given up alcohol, tobacco, tea, and coffee, and were otherwise living more wholcsomo and Christ-like lives. The Mormons were doing what (.heir critics had failed to do, and were asking nothing in return. They were spending ctfiOll.OOl) a year on an educational erusado the world round, and out of this camo Jild.nilO this year for a Maori Agricultural College. They had an organisation within their Chinch for the prevention of poverty, ami no Mormon over went hungry or sought, charity from others. They taught the Scriptures, and tho latter day revelation, and loved clean, virtuous, ' and useful lives. Why, then, should they be condemned by a Presbyterian assembly?