MORMONS IN N.Z.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 54, 22 July 1912, Page 8

MORMONS IN N.Z.

AN EXTENSIVE WORK. Auckland, Saturday. '•'The Church of the Latter-day Saints has 0000 converts in New Zealand." Such was a statement made by President Romney, who is in charge of the Mormon Church in the Dominion, to a representative of the Star to-day. President Romney explained that a majority of these were Maori followers, with a fair sprinkling of Europeans. The President has just returned from a visit to the Latter-day Saints' Maori Agricultural College near Hastings, which is now in course of erection. This institution, he said, will cost £IO,OOO. Attached to it are 130 acres of land that were purchased some years ago. this land will be used for agricultural purposes as soon as the college is opened in February next. The presidency of the college and a professor of the agricultural department- will probably arrive from Utah in October of this year, when the college will be completed.

"What are the Church's methods in selecting its missionaries?". President Romney was asked. He replied that followers of the faith who were deemed to be likely men received "a icall" for mission service from the President of the Church. It was, however, quite optional whether they responded to the "call/' although, as a matter of priiftciple, they always did so when they possibly could". i'Tom all iparts- of the United States and Canada they came. All manner of trades and professions were represented. Some came from t'he colleges and universities, and some even from distant cattle ranches. They were scattered through both islands of New Zealand, but mostly they labored in the north, where their principal work was among the Maoris. At the last conference, held in Owatune, there were 58 elders present. In Auckland City there were six missionaries engaged in the proselytising work, exclusive of the president and his wife. The elders seemed very adept in acquiring the Maori tongue, and some of them, who arrived as recently as last November, are now speaking the language fluently.