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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
July 13, 1978     Shelton Mason County Journal
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July 13, 1978
 
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ETELEI, sister of Sekeli Menu, is shown with two of her three children. Shelton Samoan families keep culture aliv By JAN DANFORD More than 30 years ago in Western Samoa, Sale Manu and his family were persecuted because of their religion, preferring death to a denial of their faith. His descendants are today residents of Shelton. In the autumn of 1945 Sale Manu and his family were called as missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. From their home island they traveled to Sataupaii, Western Samoa, to establish a branch of the church in that village. There the Mormons were hated, and the family of Sale Manu was constantly tormented and harassed. Once while they were visiting tile sick the local minister threatened Sale with a machete. "Leave the village or die!" the Mormon was told. Sale Manu paddled all outrigger canoe for two days and two nights to seek advice from John Adams, president of the Samoan mission of Latter Day Saints. According to instructions, Sale then made his way across the waters to return .to his frightened family. "It is the Lord's will," he said to his wife and to his children "that we remain here to seal our testimonies with our own blood if necessary." They prayed for guidance. On December 24, 1945, their gardens and trees were destroyed. The village high chief warned the Manus that they would be burned alive if they did not leave by the following day. The Manu family knelt in prayer on Christmas morning as the crowd set fire to their home. They retreated to the cookhouse. This, too, was ignited, and a huge bonfire burst into flame at FA'ANA WILEY will coordinate the entertainment for the Samoan luau to be held in Kneeland Park on July 22. AT A FAMILY HOME EVENING, a spiritual lesson may be followed by a class in Samoan song and dance. NESA BLAKELY teaches her daughters to dance, and has provided entertainment for many local luaus. Page 10 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, July 13. 1978 tile order of the high chief. Heat from the blaze forced the murderous mob into the background as the high chief announced: "Sale Manu, 1 give you a chance to save your life and the lives of your wife and children. What do you say?" "We are ready to die! exclaimed Sale Manu, refusing to fail his God. Suddenly the high chief relented. "You are truly a man of God," he said, "and I cannot do this thing." One by one the villagers walked away, and the fires burned into ashes. In the evening police arrested the high chief, the minister and approximately 40 other persons involved in the incident. Later, in a courtroom, a judge decided to make examples of the persecutors. He declared to Sale Manu: "There will be religious freedom in these islands! I will order whatever you deem to be just punishment for these people who have used violence against you and your family!" Sale Manu replied: "I forgive them. Let them go home to their families with the understanding that they shall never again persecute Latter Day Saints." The judge so decreed, granting the Mormons the right . to preach anywhere on the island and to.erect a chapel. Hundreds of villagers joined the church. A chapel, today one of the largest buildings in Western Samoa, was constructed upon the site of the fire that so nearly consumed the Manu family. Until the end of his days Sale Manu traveled as a preacher from village to village. To his children he gave a blessing that all who obeyed the teachings of the Mormon Church might leave Samoa to prosper in America. The picture-postcard beauty of Samoa is countered with a scarcity of money, a lack of opportunity, and primitive facilities. Although sea and land merge in vistas of unbelievable loveliness, there is no electricity and fresh water is at a premium. Only two of the four Samoan islands are inhabited, the others being little more than rocks protruding from the ocean. On the island of Upolu is located the only town, Apia. Here American products are available when brought in by ships, but cost three times the price for which they are sold in the United States. Schooling is expensive and there is a charge even for kindergarten. Medical care is free, but limited. Difficult cases are sent to Hawaii or to New Zealand for treatment. Boils and minor infections are rampant. Sale Manu wished for his offspring an opportunity for a better life and a chance for advancement. The children loved their native islands, but followed the wishes of their father. Nesa, daughter of Sale, attended the Latter Day Saints college in Laie, Oahu where she majored in education. She also studied Polynesian culture and was employed as an entertainer for tourists. In Hawaii she met Leo Blakely, who was serving with the U.S. Army. After his discharge from the service Nesa joined Leo Blakely in California and they were married. Sekeli, son of Sale, was ten years old when he faced death in Western Samoa. At the age of 17 years he was called as a labor missionary, and after completion of a two-year mission as a carpenter in Samoa he obtained a good position with the Samoan government. Six months later he was again summoned as a labor missionary and went to Hawaii with a group of young Samoan men. There he learned the sheet metal trade, and for five years plied his skills as additions were built to the q Hawaiian Mormon Temple and while dormitories were erected at Brigham Young University in Hawaii. Sekeli M anu also assisted in the construction of the Polynesian Cultural Center. He then joined his sister and her husband in California and shortly thereafter met and married a girl reared in McCleary. In McCleary Connie and Sekeli Manu made their home, and there Sekeli opened a sheet metal shop. In 1973 he purchased a sheet metal shop in Shelton, and was joined in this business venture by his brother-in-law, Leo Blakely, who has since that time gone into the plumbing business. Nesa and Leo Blakely have three children to whom Nesa has taught the Polynesian arts of singing and dancing. Nesa has assisted with entertainment for many annual luaus. In 1976 Sekeli and Connie Manu and their five children returned to Samoa for one year. A son was born there and another child was adopted. Another son was born recently. Alapati Manu and his wife, Losi, arrived in Shelton in 1972. In January of 1978 Fa'ana Wily, wife of Sekeli's nephew, came to Shelton with her husband, Ueni, and their seven children. Prior to this time Fa'ana was a teacher of English in the Mormon College of Western Samoa. She had been educated in New Zealand and was graduated from Ardmore Teachers' College. The more recent arrival of Sekeli's older sister, Etetei, and her three children brings to a total of five the related families, descendants of Sale Manu, who, live in Shelton and have formed a group to continue the study of Samoan culture which might otherwise be lost to their include various Samoan children, tasting and will feature As members of the Church potatoes, corn and fruit of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, these Samoan families observe a weekly family home evening. On certain of these occasions when all are convened under one roof the spiritual lesson is followed by a class in which the youngsters are taught Samoan songs and dances. Local Samoans under the direction of Fa'ana Wily will present, a 'tear f Samoa, irJY$ong and dance and legend at the luau scheduled for July 22 in Kneeland Park. The menu will Interested persons may the pig placed in the pit at a.m. on the morning of the .and its removal at 7 p.m. luau will begin at 6:30 in evening. Sale Manu sired 11 five of whom died in Filesi resides in Hawaii Tenari has not yet left The others ar in Shelton " The:'meon/ of Sale burns brightly in the his sons and daughters, prosper according to his / LOSI, wife of Alapati Menu, poses with a son and a daughter. The coul) has five children. SAMOAN DANCERS, left to right, are Loaloa Wily, Nesa Manu, Elai Blakely and Montez Wily.