Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-12-29
THE MISSION IN THE ORIENT.
An Interesting Letter from Elder
Siauirrr.

Having been called nv the Presi.
dency to assist In prociaiming the
principles Of the Gospel to the people
OF Turkey, took leave Of ffiends In
this city aud started for the Orient on
April g8rd, 1859, In company with
Elder T.. ID. Simmons. Our Journey
eastward through tue States, across
the Atlantic, and over the continent Of
Europe was both interesting and in-
s,ruc,ive to these two U,ah boys.
After six weeks travelling aud visit.
ing In the graudost elite, Of the world,
viz: New York, London, Parls, Vienna
and others, we arrived at Constant
nople, which, though not ~ lOurishing
20 artificial grandeur, was OF greater
moment TO u, therc being spread before
usa new scene " the panorama of our
Incorporating the Gospel TO a nation
whose language aud every custom were
foreign to us.
Atthe call OF Elder Hiutz8, who
vns then president OF the mission,
left Con-tantiuoplc on the 2Dih OF
August and j0urneyed eastward TO
sivas, city IN the eastern part Of
Asia Minor. where took up my abode
with a family OF Saints. Being thus
left alone among the natives, found
10 necessary to acquire their language.
During the fall aud winter Of ls3g.Oi,
1 learned sufficient 10 carry on "A con.
Versation Oh Biblical eubjects. In
AprIl, 1879, called native Elder 10
necomt any me aud commeut odtravol.
ing aud aching the fret principles Of
the Gospel 10 the ArmUnlans and
Gro ks (it being forbidden 10 teach
Curl-llnnity TO the Mohsmmedsns), In
various towns and cltire OF central
AsiH Minor. Although WI always
met with m attitudes Of Investigators,
we had not the privilege OF adding any
members 70 tne Church.
In the latter part of July we r..
turned TO 5ivas SOMEWHAT discouraged
Mt the condition " thiug' there.
In the meantime sickness, death
aud releases OF Elders had leit
the m ssi1n without Elders except
myself. The Aintah branch, bting
the most promising aud there being
rime applicants for baptism and no
Une holding auto Iiy, - pilciate IN
that ordinance tnrrc II was ieclied
1lAi NNDnll AllfNf ANNt WI tilN laNANNt
fr which purpose I took leave NJ the
saints lin SiyAs anu cOmmenc. d my
Journey thithor on September u, 1880,
arriving at my destination ln O'lOber
2lth. Ia clnuec.lou with BUlhefs
NrIrisn and SrIj, whom I or iduel
Elders, began 30 lNpor among the
Armenians OF thbt y lace. Daring th .
winter about twelve HIul- were added
% the Cnuroh aud VIZ upca ~. regular.
ly organized as v branch enjoying the
comforts of the Spirit and muuu salts.
faction I'm our lauofs u0twithsta ndiug
the pppo.iti0n that We met Ia the
various Protestant sccts. Having no
printed matter 10 distribute among the
people, IL was decided that | should
so TO COnstautinOplc TO attend 10 the
matter Of getting printing done. Ac'
COrdingly, aitur having appointed Ell
der Nczirian 10 preside over tue
branch, started for GOusitntiuople
ON the 20lh OF March, spent six weeks
In visiting with the saint, VA syria
and PAlos,ine, thence 10 CONSTANT
NOBLE, where | arrived on the l0sh 81
May, aud imme lately cOmmeucui
my labJrs with tue government In try
Ing TO obtain permis.iOu ~ print anu
publish tracts iu tue empire. ! was
sill working with considerable success
when on October Gth Elders J. Il.
Schoeufcld aud A. Herman arrived
In the field. a fer stuylng with them
IA month they were lott ~ charge Ot
the work while /, 10y permission Of
President Young, went 10 Switzerland
10 visit relatives a few days. While
there | was honombly released from
my labOrs 10 return home; embarked
on the =. 4. "WyOming" ON December
9th with four returning Elders; arrived
Ia this city ON the 28rd inst. ii the en-
joyment Of good health. Though |
experienced many hnrdships, / en-
joyed my mission better than any
other period VI my life.
As regarding tho mission In the
Orient | nave many reasons 20 believe
that much good Will result from the
work that has boon commenced, N
properly carried on In tho future.
FRED STAuFFER,