CHAPTER II.

MR. CLARK'S INTOLERANCE--ELDER FARRELL'S INFLUENCE OVER HIM--BAPTISMS IN STANWICK--CLARK FAMILY MIGRATE.

ON LEAVING the town of Northampton, Elders Morris and Farrell proceeded to the town of Stanwick, and held an out-door meeting the same evening they arrived there. At the close of the meeting a Mrs. Baker accosted Elder Farrell and said she would like to be baptized. He asked her if she ever heard the Gospel preached before. She said she had heard it a great many times, but that his talk that evening had convinced her that she should no longer hesitate about embracing it. He inquired if her husband was willing, and she replied that if she wanted to, he would not object. They went out about half a mile from the town and baptized her in a beautiful pond, and then walked back to town. She invited the Elders to go home with her, where they engaged her husband in conversation while she changed her wet for dry clothing. Elder Morris soon excused himself, leaving his companion to talk with Mr. Baker while he called upon the Clark family, close neighbors. Mrs. Clark and one of her daughters were members of the Church, but her husband was not. After awhile Mr. and Mrs. Baker and Elder Farrell also went over to the Clark residence. When they arrived there Elder Morris and Mr. Clark were engaged in a heated dispute, which threatened to develop into a quarrel. Elder Farrell exclaimed as he entered the house, "What in the world is the matter!" Mr. Clark declared he had only asked Mr. Morris a few questions about his religion, which, being answered, he said he didn't believe a word of it. Elder Morris had responded that if he didn't believe he would be damned, and quoted the words of the Savior to prove it. Mr. Clark thought he deserved more consideration, inasmuch as he had entertained the Elders, and offered them the use of a room to occupy whenever they wished.

While Elder Farrell was trying to pacify him and reason with him on religion in general, Sister Baker persuaded Elder Morris to return with her to her home.

Mr. Clark asked a great many questions, all of which were promptly answered, and generally to his satisfaction. He still insisted, however, that he did not believe in "Mormonism."

"Do you believe there is a God?" the Elder asked. "I believe," he replied, "there is some one ahead of us, who knows more than we do. You men call him God. He knew when I was born whether I would be damned or saved. If I was born to be damned, what is the use of me praying? It would not help me."

He went on to tell how he had abused his wife for being a "Mormon." He said if she went to meeting at night he would lock the door, and keep her out all night; but it made no difference; she kept on going to the meetings, and he kept on locking her out. His wife had a sister who was a "Mormon," and who had already emigrated to Utah. He said he went home one evening and found his wife writing a letter. He inquired who she was writing to, she replied that she was writing to Lizzie, her sister, in Salt Lake. He declared that he did not believe it, and accused her of writing to "Mormon" Elders. He demanded that she show him the letter, and she indignantly refused to do so, saying if he wouldn't take her word for it, she would not gratify him by showing him the letter. At that he seized her hands and tried to wrench the letter therefrom. She struggled to retain it, and he threw her to the floor. The letter stuck out between her fingers as he held her on the floor near the fireplace, and he pushed her bands up to the fire to burn the letter. She screamed, and her little boy nine years old, who was playing outside the house, came running in, and, seizing a stick of wood, struck his father across the face with it. When he arose the next morning his eyes were black and swollen, and his hands were burned. His wife bandaged his hands and put them in a sling; for a day or two he was about the worst used up man he had ever seen, with both eyes discolored and both hands burned, swollen and in a sling. He made up his mind then, he said, never to say another word to his wife about "Mormonism," but allow her to believe what she liked.

"And do you really believe," Elder Farrell asked, "that every man and woman is born to be damned or saved?"

"I certainly do with all my heart," Mr. Clark replied.

"Well," was the response, "I want you to excuse me, but I must say that you are about the most unreasonable man I have ever met in this country."

Springing to his feet, as though his anger was getting beyond control, he demanded that Elder Farrell prove it.

The reply was: "Your wife, according to your own words, was born a 'Mormon,' and cannot help herself. Don't you see how unreasonable you have been in locking her out of the house night after night, trying to burn her and indulging in other cruelty?"

Mr. Clark retorted: "I will never say a word to her again about religion. She can go to Utah with you if she wants to, and I'll not say a word to her."

"I don't want her," said Elder Farrell, "I have plenty of wives of my own."

"Do you have more than one?" inquired Mr. Clark.

"Yes," was the response. "I have two wives and sixteen children."

"Well," said Mr. Clark, "I think more of you than any other 'Mormon' I have met for your honesty. Others won't tell it, but you have honestly confessed it."

"Now," added the Elder, "I want to tell you that God lives and I am sent here to preach the Gospel of His Son Jesus Christ. If you repent of your sins and are baptized for their remission, and live your religion like a good, faithful Latter-day Saint you shall enjoy life to a good old age, and your last days shall be the best and happiest days of your life. You will enjoy the society of your family and your wife and children will enjoy your company. You will grow fond of attending the meetings of the Latter-day Saints, and in time be glad to repent of your sins and be baptized for the remission of them."

Just then the clock struck one, and Mr. Clark remarked, "Well, it is an hour past midnight. I am sorry I have kept you up so long. I will take you up to bed, and you remain there until I call you in the morning. I will call you in time for you to arise and get your breakfast, and from this time forth, whenever you come to Stanwick, come direct to my house, and make it your home; and if you advise when you are coming I will have one of my daughters go out and notify the people when you will be here. We will be most happy to receive you, and we will come and sing for you at your meetings."

From that time Elder Farrell always went to the Clark home on visiting Stanwick, and the family furnished music for the meetings, Mr. Clark playing the violin and singing tenor, and in other ways proving a good and true friend.

When Bishop Morris was released to return home he was succeeded as president of the Birmingham conference by Bishop William H. Maughan. Elder Farrell accompanied him on his first round and introduced him to the Clark family, as being among his best friends. After Elder Maughan had been there about nine months, and had become well acquainted with the Clark family, two of the daughters who had not yet joined the Church induced Bishop Maughan to ask their father's consent for him to baptize them. Mr. Clark impatiently blurted out: "If they talk baptism to me they cannot live in my home."

This was on Sunday evening. On Monday Bishop Maughan, finding it useless to try to reconcile Mr. Clark, left for Birmingham, and on Tuesday Elder Farrell called at Stanwick, in making the round of his conference. On leaving Nottingham, his headquarters, he had left word for any letters that might come for him during his absence to be forwarded to Stanwick, care of Jonah Clark. Sister Clark had told him on his arrival about Bishop Maughan asking her husband's consent to baptize her two daughters, and of his refusal. She begged of him to try, saying that Mr. Clark thought more of him than any other Elder he had met. He told her he would do so.

The next morning when the mail came it brought some letters for Elder Farrell, one of which was from Liverpool. On opening it he learned that President Brigham Young had sent word to the President of the mission to release him to return home, as the person who had succeeded him as tithing clerk for Cache valley was unable to attend to the work, and they wanted Elder Farrell home to resume his position in that respect.

Mr Clark was about to leave home for his work, and when he approached Elder Farrell to bid him good bye, the latter said, "Wait a moment; I want to read this letter to you," meaning the letter he had received concerning his release.

When he had heard it he said, "Well, Elder Farrell, I think more of you than any 'Mormon' Elder I ever met in my life, and if there is anything in my house that you want, all you have to do is to name it, and it shall be yours."

The Elder replied, "Thank you, that is all I want you to say; I don't want your property but here are your two daughters, Annie and Lilla; they want me to baptize them before I leave, and I would not do so without your permission. All I want you to say is 'Yes.'"

He dropped his head into his hands for about one half minute, then said: "Mr. Farrell, if they believe 'Mormonism' with all their hearts, and they want you to baptize them, I say Yes."

The girls and their mother who had been in the next room, listening, rushed in crying for joy, and thanked him for his kindness, and then he cried too, and Elder Farrell couldn't help shedding tears of joy also.

Controlling his feelings, he said, "Mr. Clark, you remember the last five persons I baptized down in the pond of water. Some of the people announced in the newspaper that if I ever baptized any more there they would duck me as long as I had breath. These people know that you don't like the 'Mormons,' and I want you to go out in another direction and find a good place to baptize the girls, and when evening comes you and I can go down and the girls may follow us, and be baptized without the people knowing anything about it."

He replied, "All right, Mr. Farrell. I'll not work to-day, but will go and find a suitable place."

He returned some time later saying he had found a place about a mile and a half east. He spent the rest of the day mostly in conversation with Elder Farrell. In the meantime a thunder storm occurred and a heavy shower followed.

A bed of water cress about six feet wide grew at the bottom of the Clark garden, and Elder Farrell walked down there to gather some water cress for supper. While doing so he heard the sound of running water the opposite side of the garden wall, where there was an orchard. He stepped across the water cress bed and looked over the wall and there saw a stream of water about four feet wide (doubtless swollen by the recent shower,) and just about twenty feet down stream two posts stood--one in either bank. He called Mr. Clark to come down and notice the stream, and asked him if he could find three boards, a foot wide, to drop in the stream above the posts, to form a dam, thus making the stream deep enough to baptize in, and so secluded that no one would notice them or suspect what was going on.

It was also suggested that Mr. Clark arrange a safe bridge across the water cress bed, which he immediately complied with, by taking the kitchen door off its hinges and laying it down there to be walked over, and also made steps to descend into the water.

Along towards evening Elder Farrell set out to walk to Mr. Baker's, who was always on hand to lend him a pair of pants and high topped rubber boots to wear when he was baptizing. He had not proceeded far when someone approached him behind, and clutched him by the arm. Turning around he faced Mr. Baker, who inquired if he was going to his house. Elder Farrell replied that he was, for the purpose of getting his uniform to wear in baptizing. Surprised, he next inquired who was to be baptized, and was told that it was Annie and Lilla Clark.

"Well, bless me," Mr. Baker exclaimed, "it was only on Sunday last that Bishop Maughan asked if he could baptize the girls, and was told by the father that if they talked baptism to him they could not live in his house."

Elder Farrell explained that Mr. Clark had not only given his consent, but had prepared a place in which to baptize them.

"Well," said Mr. Baker, "that is wonderful! I can't stand it any longer. Mr. Farrell, will you baptize me too?"

Elder Farrell replied that he would be pleased to do so.

On reaching the Baker home Mrs. Baker was asked to get the "uniform," as Elder Farrell was going to do some baptizing.

She inquired who was going to be baptized and her husband replied: "The Clark girls and Charlie Baker."

The good woman raised her hands in ecstacy, and exclaimed: "Well, the Lord be praised!"

Just then Mr. Baker's apprentice, a young man about seventeen years of age, came running in from the next room, and eagerly asked: "Elder Farrell, will you please baptize me?"

Elder Farrell inquired if his parents were willing, and he replied that he dare not tell them anything about it. He was advised to go straightway to them and tell them frankly that he wanted to be baptized: that Elder Farrell was going to do some baptizing that evening, and that he thought it would make a better boy of him if they would only consent.

He walked towards his home very slowly, and with apparent reluctance, but he was soon seen coming back on the run, and bubbling over with happiness, for his parents were willing that he should be baptized.

When Elder Farrell was about to descend into the water he gave Mr. Clark a pocket handkerchief, and told him to stand on the bank and help each one down into the water, and, after he was baptized, to help him out again, and when he was safely on the bank to wipe the water out of his eyes.

He did so, and his wife told Elder Farrell the next morning that he had never felt happier in his life than when assisting the people in and out of the water. She begged him to go and wake Elder Farrell up and be baptized by him, but he said "No."

The next morning after breakfast Mr. Clark said: "Now Mr. Farrell, I am going to walk with you to the station, and carry your valise. I may never see you again."

When they got out of town he stopped Elder Farrell, and, standing in front of him, said: "I want to tell you that you have made a 'Mormon' of me from the ground up, and I cannot help myself; but I will never be baptized until I pay for every bill or account that I owe; then if anyone says anything to me about being baptized I will tell him it is none of his business; that I am not beholden to him, but if you are in this country and one hundred miles away I shall want you to come and baptize me."

When they reached the train Mr. Clark bade the Elder good bye, while tears ran down his cheeks. He also thanked him for his good advice and teachings, and the good example he had set before him and the world, and said he hoped to see him again.

Three months after Elder Farrell arrived home he received a letter from Mr. Clark stating that he had been baptized, and had stood in the meeting of the Saints and borne his testimony to the truth of the Gospel, in the house which he and a few other residents of Stanwick had generously leased and paid the rent on for one year in advance, so that Elder Farrell would not be under the necessity of preaching out in the open air. He knew the Gospel was true, and that it would save and exalt mankind inas-much as they were true and faithful to its principles.

In two years from that time Mr. Clark and his family arrived in Salt Lake City, and in course of time removed to Smithfield, where he worked at his trade as shoemaker.

He did well and entered all work that he did in a book, and at the close of every year took that book to the Bishop and had a careful computation made of his earnings and paid one-tenth for tithing.

The whole Clark family joined the choir, and the father continued to take his part in the choir until he was past 87 years of age and had grown so weak that other members used to be under the necessity of helping him up the stairway.

He died just before he was 88 years of age, a firm and consistent Latter-day Saint, and up to the last manifested the utmost respect for Elder Farrell, and also taught his family to respect him and seek his counsel.

His family are all faithful members of the Church, and are now residing in Cache County, Utah, and doing well.

Prepared For the Gospel

JOHN ANDERSON'S SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH--PROVIDENTIAL WAY IN WHICH HE WAS FIRST LED TO ATTEND A MEETING OF THE SAINTS--EMBRACED THE GOSPEL--FIRM ADHERENCE THERETO.

IT IS probably a fact, though it may not be possible at this late date to prove it, that a very large proportion of the early converts to the Gospel were, at the time its message reached them, and for years before, dissatisfied with the creeds of the day, and were searching for the Truth as portrayed in the Bible.

One of the early converts to the Gospel in Scotland was John Anderson, a native of Leith, who is a typical example of the class mentioned.

His daughter, Mrs. David Smellie, who died in the year 1909, has left a sketch of his life written by her own hand, substantially as follows:

My parents had a family of twelve children, six sons and six daughters. I was their seventh child, and the first one born after my father joined the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

This step he took in the year 1840, and I will here relate how he became acquainted with the peculiar people called "Mormons." He was an intelligent, studious man, of a very fixed purpose when once resolved. My dear mother was like him in that respect. In the early years of their married life they were members of the United Presbyterian church, but became dissatisfied with that sect, my parents not being able to see the need of a man having to go to college so many years to learn to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They then became associated with a body of religious worshippers called Separatists, who did not believe in clergymen or infant sprinkling. This suited them better, as being more scriptural.

In the year 1839 my father's mind was directed to the necessity of baptism for the remission of sins, and the laying on of hands for the conferring of the Holy Ghost, by one having authority. These the Bible told him were among the first principles of the Gospel. But where was he to find one who claimed such authority? He knew none, and yet the Bible indicated that these ordinances were to be performed by one who was called of God as was Aaron--by revelation. My father put those views before the Separatist brethren, who, after due consideration, requested him either to give up his ideas or leave the sect. He therefore left, but my mother remained with them.

The year 1840 found my father in this frame of mind. In the meantime he studied the New Testament scriptures, and his previous convictions were increased. But what was he to do? The Lord had ceased to speak from the heavens--had not done so since the days of the early Christians. The world said: "It was not necessary, as the Bible contained all that was needful."

I will here insert a short story which will help to illustrate the point in view:

John Wesley, wishing other lands to hear the message he held forth, assumed to ordain Coke and others to be bishops, to carry Methodism, and on this point he and his brother Charles became divided, after being so firmly united in the cause. This was the wedge that split them. Charles did not believe that either had the power to ordain others, and he opposed the scheme. John went ahead, assumed the authority, and laid his hands on the head of Mr. Coke and ordained him a bishop, a position Wesley himself never held.

Charles grew angry at this, and remarked:

"How easily are bishops made By man's or woman's whim; Wesley his hands has laid on Coke But who laid hands on him?"

On Sunday afternoon in October, 1840, my parents were visited by my mother's sister's husband--Uncle John Grieve, who resided in Edinburgh. In the course of conversation he informed them that a celebrated clergyman was to preach in Edinburgh that same evening, and invited my father to accompany him to hear this man speak.

He consented, and together they set out to walk from Leith to Edinburgh, a distance of two miles. They had reached a place called "Dickson's Nursery," which was about half way, when suddenly my father felt that he could not proceed any farther. Uncle John walked on a few steps, thinking my father would follow, then turned and inquired if he was not coming. Father replied, "John, I can go no farther with you to-night."

Uncle John insisted upon his going, but all in vain. Father declared that he could not lift his feet-they seemed sealed to the ground, and he felt that he must go back.

Just as soon as he had said "Good evening" my father's feet were loosed from the ground. He walked towards Leith until he reached the street which led to his home, called Kirkgate. Then something prompted him to take the street to the right, called Constitution. Down the street he walked until he came to an entrance leading to the "Mason's Lodge," which entrance was called a "pind." This was an arched alley-way, leading to buildings in the rear, where the Mason's hall was situated. At this "pind" stood an old, fresh-complexioned man, dressed in home-spun clothes. He bade my father "Good evening," and inquired if he was aware that the new sect called Latter-day Saints were to hold meeting in the Mason's hall that evening.

Father replied that he was not, whereupon the old man invited him to attend, and led the way into the hall, where he put father into a good seat.

My father turned around to thank him for his courtesy, but he was gone, and he never saw him again; but to the last he maintained that the old man was one of "the Three Nephites."

The speakers were Orson Pratt and George D. Watt. They preached the first principles of the Gospel, and claimed that the Lord had again spoken from the heavens and restored the everlasting Gospel in its fullness, with the gifts and blessings belonging to the same. They declared too that the Lord had promised that the Gospel would never again be taken from the earth until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness.

My father sat listening and amazed at the good news--just what he had been waiting for, and it seemed to fit into his heart. The precious seed did indeed fall into fertile soil, and it bore "a hundred fold."

To hear was to investigate; to investigate was to embrace the new and everlasting Gospel which the Lord had again restored to the earth, and which He in His loving kindness had gradually prepared my father to receive.

My father rejoiced greatly, for he realized he had indeed found the "pearl of great price." This jewel he wore and prized for forty-five years. He died December 19, 1885, in the 81st year of his age; and so valiant a soldier was he in the cause of truth that it was said of him "he did not owe his country one testimony."

One day while sitting by his bedside shortly before he passed away (I don't like to say "died", for father did not die, he only fell asleep and O, so gently; just like a tired child,) I inquired if there was any message he would like to leave for those of his family who were out of the reach of his voice. He replied, "Yes, tell them from their father if they have gone outside of the fold, to get in again just as soon as ever they can."

I feel prompted to record a few facts in the life of my father which may be of interest to those who may read this, although my father never desired me to do so. They will show that the Lord was with him to uphold, defend and bless him. As I stated previously, he was ever ready to expound and maintain the principles of the Gospel, and many of his former friends and acquaintances turned very bitter against him because of his fidelity to his convictions.

One of these was a sea captain named Robert Storm. Father had made boots for him and his crew for a long time, but, because of the change in his religious opinions, he became very bitter and withdrew his custom.

My father was in the habit of taking a daily constitutional walk down Leith pier. One day as he was coming up the pier he saw the vessel Robert Storm was master of being towed down the river on her way to France. Father took off his hat and waved a parting adieu. To this act of courtesy Robert Storm responded with a look of scorn. Father was impressed to say, "Robert Storm, you will never have the opportunity to do that again to me."

Some eight or ten days afterwards a severe storm swept the English Channel. One afternoon just at this time father heard the postman call out his name in the stairway. This was the custom in tenement houses, and the person so called was expected to go out and get his letters. Father received from the postman a letter addressed to him in a clear, bold hand, sealed with wax, as was the custom, envelopes not then having come into fashion. (Letters were written on a large double sheet of paper folded neatly and sealed with wax.) It bore the London postmark, and contained a statement that Robert Storm was drowned at sea on a certain day and where it occurred, indicating that it was in the English Channel, but bore no signature. Father had gone direct to his workroom when he received the letter, and as soon as he had read it he laid it down on his work seat, and crossed through the lobby into the kitchen to get my mother to come and read it also. She immediately followed him into his workroom, when to his surprise he discovered the letter was gone, and yet no living person had been there during his absence.

The Lord had sent that letter, it had performed its mission, and was taken away.

By and by an account of the wreck was read in the newspaper, which stated that it had taken place in the English Channel. Thus was my father's prediction fulfilled.

In illustration of the character of my father I have heard it related that a certain Elder W...... (his name is suppressed for the sake of his relatives) presided over the Edinburgh branch at a period in the early history of the Church there. One evening after the regular Sunday evening service was over he called upon the members holding the priesthood to remain and hold a kind of council meeting. At this meeting Elder W...... proposed that certain funds belonging to the conference, collected for a certain purpose, be used for an entirely different purpose, in which he was personally interested. My father being a very conscientious man, protested against this proceeding, and said, seeing the Edinburgh conference had given this money for a special purpose, they as custodians had no authority to use it in any other direction without the consent of the donors.

Elder W......, indignant at my father's presuming to oppose him or his wishes, arose and proposed that, seeing that John Anderson had been guilty of dictating to him, a superior officer, he be cut off the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A show of hands was called for, and in less time than it takes to tell it the vote carried.

My father remained quiet until the matter was settled, then he arose and requested permission to speak. The request being granted, he said: "Brethren, all I desire to say is that ...... ...... W......, (mentioning his name in full) will be out of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when I am in it."

My father renewed his covenants the following week, and continued an honorable member during his life. He died holding the office of a High Priest, while Elder W.... died a poor outcast and apostate.

My father remained in Scotland, laboring in the Gospel cause, both at home and elsewhere, paying his tithing, and trusting in the Lord for his promised blessing until the year 1863. Previous to this period he had at various times requested my mother to accompany him to Utah. This she refused to do, not being able to see the Gospel light. Then father decided to gather with the Saints, taking his youngest son with him, and leaving four daughters, two married and two single, with their mother.

Shortly before leaving Scotland my father, in conversation with one of the brethren, expressed his regret at leaving his wife and daughters behind him. The brother told him to be of good courage, for his wife and family would follow him, and that he would live to see the promise fulfilled.

Father could scarcely believe this prediction, it appeared so very unlikely to ever come to pass. However, he trusted in the Lord, knowing that He "moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform," and surely in the case of my father's family this was exemplified to a wonderful degree. The prophecy concerning the gathering of my father's family was fulfilled to the letter, for he had the satisfaction of receiving us all in Salt Lake City. He located at 54 East First South Street, where he built a good comfortable house, in which he lived until called to his final rest.

A Prediction and Its Fulfillment

PREDICTION THAT AN APPARENTLY BARREN WOMAN WOULD GIVE BIRTH TO A SON--ITS LITERAL FULFILLMENT--THAT SON'S REVERENCE FOR THE ELDER WHO MADE THE PREDICTION.

ACCORDING to the Scriptures, prophecy was one of the gift which should characterize the Church in the last days, and thousands can attest that the gift has been enjoyed by the Latter-day Saints to a marked degree.

Under the influence of the Spirit of the Lord many of the Elders have made predictions that have really frightened themselves when they have contemplated them afterwards, for it was only by the eye of the Spirit they could see any probability of their fulfillment.

A case in point is related by Elder C., who filled a mission in England in the early sixties. He, in company with the president of the mission and several other Elders, visited a branch of the Church in which a large number of Saints had made preparations to migrate to Utah, and who desired a blessing under the hands of the Elders before undertaking the journey. It came Elder C.'s turn to bless a. sister who had been married a good many years, but who had no children. She was not perhaps as old as her appearance indicated, but her hair was almost white. In the course of the blessing pronounced upon her Elder C., under the prompting of the Spirit, promised that she should journey safely to Zion and there establish and enjoy a comfortable home, and give birth to a son who would live to call her blessed.

In a spirit of fun the other Elders afterwards jollied Elder C. a good deal about the promise he had made that sister, telling him he had better look at the color of a woman's hair before making her any such extravagant promises as he had in that instance. He was somewhat plagued by their raillery and could offer no defense except to say that the Spirit had prompted him to say what he did. He remembered the promise, but had no means of learning the subsequent history of the sister until a year or so afterward, when, after his return home from his mission, he chanced to meet her husband, who joyfully hailed him with the exclamation, "That boy you promised is born!" But then he added, with tears in his eyes that his wife, who had fondly clung to the promise, was fifty-three years old at the time of the child's birth, and had only lived a short time afterwards, but died happy in the consciousness that the boy survived her, and in the hope that he would indeed live to call her blessed. The parents regarded him as a child of promise, as much so as Isaac of old was, who was born to Sarah in her old age, and named him in honor of Elder C. giving him his christian and surname as well as the surname of his father.

Years afterwards that son, having reached a marriageable age and grown to be a stalwart man, journeyed a long distance with his intended bride to get Elder C., (whom he had never seen, but whom he had been taught from infancy to revere) to perform the marriage ceremony for him, and his ever-increasing posterity will doubtless be taught, as they come to years of understanding, the story of the inspired prediction and its literal fulfillment, as here related.

A Tongue of Utility

ELDER BASTIAN INSPIRED TO PREACH IN THE DANISH LANGUAGE BEFORE HE HAD LEARNED IT.

ON THE DAY of Pentecost when the ministry of the Apostles was ushered in with such a wonderful display of supernatural power the assembled multitude heard the Gospel preached in many different languages with which they were severally familiar, but which were strange to the Apostles. This was in fulfillment of the promise of the Savior, as recorded in Mark XVI. 17, that these signs shall follow them that believe: "In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues." The utility of their so speaking must have been at once apparent to those who heard but would not have understood them had they not been inspired to so speak.

Of similar utility has been the gift of tongues enjoyed by a number of Elders in our day when sent upon missions to foreign countries. A case in illustration of this is the experience of Elder Gearsen S. Bastian, formerly Counselor to the President of the Wayne Stake of Zion, but now a resident of Sigurd, Sevier Co., Utah. He was sent on a mission to Denmark in 1888, and was appointed to labor in the Aarhus conference. He found much difficulty in acquiring the Danish language, so much so that he felt discouraged and began to fear that he would never be able to learn it. About that time his missionary companion was released to return home, and Elder Bastian was left in charge of the Randers branch.

Only once had he attempted to speak before the public, and he was only able to say a very few words. Sunday came, and at the appointed time for worship the meeting hall was well filled. After the opening exercises he called upon one of the native Elders to speak, but he had only occupied a few minutes, when a burning desire to speak filled the soul of Elder Bastian. He arose, and under the influence and power of God he preached the gospel with much plainness in the Danish language for an hour and twenty minutes. At the close of the meeting the native brethren and sisters all flocked around him to congratulate him; and they claimed that he had spoken the language with as much plainness as they could have spoken; and they rejoiced greatly. But as yet he could not converse with them; nevertheless the Lord had given to him a testimony that he should thenceforth have freedom and power in preaching the gospel.

Judgment Upon An Anti-"Mormon"

THUG HIRED TO ASSAULT "MORMON" PREACHER--HIS MISSION DIVINED BY THE ELDER--A PREDICTION CONCERNING THE INSTIGATOR--ITS LITERAL FULFILLMENT.

BREACHWOOD GREEN, Hertfordshire, England, was the scene of an episode connected with the early preaching of the Gospel in Europe that is worthy of record. About sixty-four years have passed since it occurred but it is still remembered and frequently talked of by the present inhabitants of the place, strangers as well as Saints.

The "Red Lion," one of the principal public houses of the village, which stands facing Oxford Road, was, at the time of which I write, kept by one Samuel Peters, a man of influence and property, who combined the business of baker and provision dealer with that of publican. His family consisted of a wife and six children.

Beneath the wide-spreading branches of a great ash tree which grows opposite the "Red Lion," stood a humble Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, declaring the principles of life and salvation, revealed anew in this dispensation. He was a stranger in the place, and had chosen this spot on the public highway in which to hold forth, as he could not obtain the use of a more comfortable or appropriate place. A goodly number of people had gathered about him, and were listening attentively to what he said.

Annoyed at the attention and respect paid by the assembly to a religion and a sect which he so heartily despised, the publican offered a man named Henry Thrussell, a low, drunken character, who was hanging about the tap-room, a quart of beer if he would go out and strike that "Mormon" preacher in the face. The lout, who was half drunk already, willingly accepted the offer and made his way across the street, being watched from the door by his patron and a few loungers about the tavern, who were eager to see the fun.

As Thrussell began elbowing his way through the crowd who had gathered about the speaker, some little resistance was offered to the intrusion, but by his bullying manner be soon forced an entrance. The speaker paused in his remarks on seeing him approach in such an aggressive style, and reaching out his hand to him, he said, "Well, my good man, what do you want?" Disarmed by the friendly greeting, the bully hesitated about replying, when the Elder continued: "Did some one send you here to disturb this meeting?" "Yes, sir!" the follow answered, still hesitating about executing his errand. "Was it the publican yonder?" asked the Elder, as he noticed the men at the tavern door watching the proceedings. Receiving an affirmative reply, he then continued: "I am sorry, very sorry, for his sake! You go and tell that man that judgment will soon overtake him. Though he is now prosperous, he shall soon come to want. Though his family is now healthy, sickness and death will soon come among them, and he will die in poverty, forsaken by his friends!"

The intended assailant turned upon his heel without accomplishing what he was sent for, and retraced his steps to the tavern, where the publican, who had heard the prediction of the servant of God, berated him for his cowardice.

Time passed on. That Elder no longer came to Breachwood Green to preach, for he had journeyed to the land of Zion, in search of a new home and probably thought little of the prediction uttered under the inspiration of the Spirit, and perhaps never knew whether it was fulfilled or not. But if he forgot it, the people who heard it upon that occasion did not. Although many of them, perhaps, did not believe that it would ever come to pass, they have had time since to test by the rule laid down in Deuteronomy xviii, 22, whether the Elder spoke presumptuously or by authority from the Lord. The Lord told Moses, "When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken."

Soon after the prediction was uttered sickness came into the Peters family, and the wife and four of the children died. The husband became dissipated and neglected his business and squandered his property. Financial ruin soon followed and his friends deserted him. After dragging out a miserable existence for a few years, he finally died, forsaken and alone, in a little out-house.

The man Thrussell was still living when the writer visited that locality some years since, and was pointed out to him on the street. He occasionally, in his sober moments, referred to that event, and to the feeling he experienced when facing the Elder, and declared that for the life of him he could not lift his hand to strike the Elder. He also tells of the interest with which he watched for the fulfillment of the prediction, and testified that it was fulfilled.

That Elder's name was John P. Hayes, the same, who lived for many years at Pleasant Grove, Utah, but who is now dead. He is survived by a numerous progeny, who may be interested in learning that the memory of his words still lives in his former field of labor. A few of those who listened to his testimony have since embraced the Gospel, but the most of them are as prone to follow after fables as they ever were; and they still languidly hold to their hollow creeds, which differ as widely from the true Gospel as the light shed by a farthing "dip" does from the glorious effulgence of the noonday sun.

Transcriber's Note

In the text, Chapter IV was originally "Chapter IIII" and part of the heading was cut off; both errors have been corrected to match the Table of Contents. Various errors involving quotation marks have been resolved as seemed reasonable.