THE MORMONS AMONG THE MAORIS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1227, 18 December 1882, Page 2

THE MORMONS AMONG THE MAORIS.

! Ths two Mormons elders tvhd wbre I recently in Wellington paid a visit to the Maoris recently at Papawai, and, ; judging from the report in the Wai- , rarapa “ Standard,” were rather 1 bowled over by a redoubtable chief J named Manihera. The elders, as | usual, commenced by a long discourse i on the origin of the Mormon Church, [ statiiig that the Angel Maroni des- ! ceiided from Heaven, and delivered into the hands of Joseph Smith two tables of gold, whereon were inscribed all the laws of their religion. Mani, hera here interrupted by asking whether they still had those two tables of gold. He was informed by the elders that the angel took them back again ; whereupon Manihera remarked that it was a very curious proceeding on the angel's part, as if he had left them fur the world to see it would have been a great proof of the ; truthfulness of Joe Smith’s revelation ; which he Very much doubted happen- | ing at all. Subsequently Elder Farr j indiscreetly remarked that the prophet Daniel spoke of “ the gods, whose ! dwelling is not with flesh. The astute chief asked if Daniel himself said these words. The elder said he did. Manihera, who is pretty well i versed in Scripture, turned up the : book of Daniel, and proved that it was i not Daniel who said so, but the Chal- : deans, when they stood in the prei sence of Nebuchadnezzar. At last, j when Elder Farr said he was inspired and had the spirit upon him like St. . Paul. Manihera asked him how it was he made so many mistakes and ac- ; knowledged them so. When the < elder said that he occasionally pos- ! sessed miraculous powers. Manihera ; said, “ If you exercise these powers, I ■ will gather 20,000 of my people to--1 gether, and if you can show that you have them, we will believe your doctrines and join your church"; bnt we will stay where we are until then.” ; Exeunt elders, discomfited.