MEETING OF MORMONS AT KIRIKIRI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10378, 1 March 1897, Page 6

MEETING OF MORMONS AT KIRIKIRI.

Ifroji our own correspondent.] Thames, Saturday. A bather novel and interesting ceremony took place on Thursday night at Kirikiri, about five milee from here, in the church recently built by the Mormon natives for use for their religious services, About 60 or 70 natives assembled for the purpose ot saying farewell to Mr. Lazonby, the president of the Mormons in the Hanraki district, who is About to return to Utah, having been called back suddenly owing to the illness of his wife. The meeting was held to show their appreciation of the work he has done for them during the two years he has laboured among them, eighteen months as elder and six months (since Mr. Pullman's departure) as president. Meetings have been held at Te Aroha and also at Omahu, as well as at Kirikiri. At Kirikiri several of the leading men and women including Raika and Murray spoke, expressing their sorrow at Mr. Lazenby's departure, wishing him a happy voyage, and hopiu? that when he arrives home he will find everything satisfactory, Several hymns were splendidly sung in Maori by the natives, and one led off by a native woman beginning " The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning," was rendered beautifully and feelingly in English by the assembled natives. Mr. Waters,. who has been appointed to succeed Mr. Lazenby as-president of the Hauraki Mormons, has just ariived, aud was present at the meeting. In the Hauraki district there are 175 Maori Mormons, 45 being in Kirikiri alone. President Waters proceeds to Wairarapa on Monday for two months, where a large conference is to be held. _ The church in which the meeting was held is situateS close to the Episcopalian Church built by the Melanesian Mission for the natives some yeara ago, and was designed by Elder Asper, and built by the nativee, under his supervision. It is 40 feet long by 20 feet 6 inches broad, and 20 feet in height /roni the floor to the ridge, with, a porch in front, surmounted by a spire rising to a height of 35 feet. -It is 'capable of seating 200 people, and is now completed, as far as the present finances of the natives will permit. "As soon as possible, the windows and doors will be put in,-and the building, which is limit of rusticated kauri, will be painted.