Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-07-13
ST. PETERSBURG. RUSSIA,
lune 18Th 1895

lflYeggidi Star, June eth
Thinking that a few lines from this fai
off land will be interesting to you
desire to send you few items, to lei
you know how the prospects are for the
spreading OF the principles Of the Cos.
pel in Russia. At our conference In
Go,henborg, President Sundwall called
ME to take trip to St. Petersburg, to
visit family with whom he had CORES.
bonded, and at the same time see what
could be done for the PRONUNCIATION Of
the Gospel in this land.
leit Gothenburg on the roth Of May
in company with Brother Sundwill. We
held meeting with the Saints In Wing.
aker. and on the following Sunday
attended the conference meetings In
Stockholm. then visited Upsala my
native city Tor a few days and returned
70 Stockholm. Here called on the
American Minister and asked him to
give me passport to Russia; he did
this freely. then went to the Russian
Consul and had him sign my passport.
Thursday the 9th OF June | wen, on
board the steamer FmidRd which was
bound Tor ST. Petersburg, Russia. We
touched at i've places in Finland on the
way and Sunday evening at six O'Clock
we landed at St. Petersburg. / had
taken a lot OF our books and tracts along
with me. inquired Of the Captain II !
the Russian custom.house officers were
very strict in their examination Of the
travellers luggage. lie answered that
II one had books along they were very
careful to see what kind these were, and
u the traveller had tracts and pamphlets
these would have to be taken to the
censofs, who examine the contents
critically II they find anything they do
not like they make It unreliable by
covering 1t with black ink. wanted to
take a Book OF Mormon with me SO
pu, one In my pocket and LETT the
balance In my yalis.. When the Gus ON
officer came stood with my passport in
my hand. lie asked II ! had more
luggage with me than was contained In
my ydlisc, told him | had no other.
Then pass on, " he said: was not even
requested to open II. thought this was
curious, and when had got ashore /
looked 1t the others to see II this wag
NE common way OF treating travellers.
but found that all OF the others had To-
ipen Their travelling bags and show what ,
hey carried with them. In mentioning
bis afterwards TO some friends / was ,
old that they had never heard of such ,
thing as passing the customs without ]
iprnlng their valiscs and they we're !
much astOnished that should have I
zen able to get through SO easily.
0ok II as sign that the Lord would
elp me. Mr.. Lindelof, who has been Il
with Brother Sundwall. b
yet me, and took me 10 his home where x
was very kindly received by his vile q
no had good supper awaiting me. d
'let supper we Commenced TO talk ii
bout the Gospel, and SO interested ~
ere We IN the things forming the topic :.
our conversation that 1t was daylight y
slOie we thought of retiring TO rest. "
continued our conversation on the ~
oniday, aud they requested that they p
lGhi receive baptism the next day; Il "
As Win longing they looked forward to al
e tuesday. Tuesday morning, lune
~ We went outside the city In search IA,
= suitable place Tor performing the ~
H'hahet' We hired boat aud foyed -.
y on the river Neya, but II was hard '"
ma place where we could be alone ~
mere were people all along the shore IN
y o2ats on every part OF the river: pl
me were fishing aud others pleasurinr' re-
seemed rs u we should not De wi
D"vu 10 90 lhat Tor which we had set gr
we landed, however, aud united on
heaiIs IN prayer. Then We waited a MI
moments to see II the people would
leave the place; as Il by a sudden
l,I'anu tue DoaS sailed away and the
,p!e leit US alone. The baplisms were 4,
.o'Insu anu the new members con. "
~ uy the laying ON OF hands after ar
~ We khcIt and thanked the Lord tut
ills goodness, for we felt that our trg
yer had been answered. ION. how is
'py ! am said Sister I.indeInf 81
," God has forgiven my sinsl" rbs
''iO.y uey bore was very impressive. !
vas now about three o'clock I'm Inc n
moon and we returned home vb.,c W
"I'Ne9 al SIX, all happy that this
req ordinance had been pefiormeJ
,"GVe nus Is the first time that bap.
mas been administered by divine
ioTliy, N Russia. in the latter DAYS,
'ner Lindeloi and wife are an e..
'N family, they appear to ME IN.
type OF Latter.day Saints, lie Ia
lsmith and has lived in Russia sis'
Years. but was born in Finland
'al's Russian and Swedish and is
acquainted with all the Scandin,. u,o
people In ST. PeteTShnys Wv
H. oeeh warden for three years In Coz
rec church Temperance Society .'I'
belonged TO a branch OF the LII. turn
~ Shurch called In Sweden ''lVai. tree
.ugtnafe' taking their name from met
NeieoTaied lecturer Waldens,rom ON d
= IL more religious liberty in Russia impl
Il senerally supposed. Besides the T. 10
~ Saulollc church there are found rods
!, Roman Catholic churches, thrrc o,Ii,
,'So several German, Swedish nnd 80
lAh Lutheran churches. and th"ss mann
: are divided into smaller nar,i.' bree'
ia ae halis IN which they hold their ohaS
Jugs, The Blptists are holding tree
meetings at the homes OF the mem. III
'oHglhg to their religion. Nobody dian
,"a Ihese meetings, The only re. meth
Hen' winch the police makes ol iron
:, 'ha' they inform the authorities with
"ey nave their coffee and lea r.,
- or hold bazars which brj,g 4, 'no "
y lor at such meetings the po1ice a''oN
oe present. What will he he freely
Tor the Gospel here viii he NJ W." his !,
"a,