| 54 effort to prove that two and two make four, that we threw it aside. The question now arises, What do these Saints need? In the first place they need two competent white missionaries to live with, and labor among them. These men should have a fair understanding of the grammar of the English language, to enable them to readily understand the construction of the Tahitian; they should be well versed in the doctrines of the church; they should be men of fair business qualifications, and of sterling integrity of character. Also, they should have arrived at that age in which they can look upon a woman, if not with indifference, at least with tranquility [tranquillity].
In the second place, they need help to raise them out of their present pitiable condition, in a commercial sense. With a world of wealth in the form of pearls, mother-of-pearl, marine shells, and coral, beach-le-mar, fungus, cotton, coffee, sugar, cocoanut [coconut]-oil, and the finest tropical fruits in the world, they are poor because they are compelled to take in exchange for them the pittance allowed them by their commercial masters. Nothing could be easier than the formation of a joint-stock, or cooperative organization, by the California Saints and these brethren, unitedly. This, in due time, would make the mission self-sustaining; would bring some revenue into the tithing fund, and would make the parties wealthy. Finally, we think it imperative that these islanders be no longer neglected. It is certainly to be hoped that the ensuing April conference at Plano will revive and set in more perfect motion the South Sea Island Mission.
On Christmas day we hove up our anchor and stood out to sea, all in high spirits at the prospect of soon accomplishing the remainder of our passage. On Thursday, January 8, we crossed the one hundred eightieth degree of longitude, and instead of calling the next day Friday, the 9th, we ignored it entirely, and called it Saturday, the 10th. Our time thus corrected would correspond with the Sydney time. . . .
On Thursday, January 22,1874, we entered the harbor of Sydney. I left Bro. Rodger on board to take care of the baggage, while I went on shore to secure lodgings. Went to John Benneth. They were very glad to see me. Bro. Benneth took me to the hatters and fitted me out with a new hat, and then took me to Bro. Ellis's. Had a good talk there. Sr. Ellis had seen us in a dream, and was expecting us. Bro. Ellis went with us to Bro. Pegg's, and from there to Bro. Nichols', where I hired a room, and the next day Bro. Ellis paid for the drayage of our things to our lodgings. We immediately began visiting the Brighamites and distributing tracts.
On Saturday we went to visit Elder Beauchamp, at his lodgings. He is the Brighamite missionary. We urged the privilege of speaking to his congregation on the next day. He refused, and also challenged us to a discussion, we to select the subjects. We returned home, wrote out and sent him the following:
1. "Was Polygamy a tenet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
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