Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-01-09

first is. written at Richmond, the capital
OF Virginia, and is addressed TO the
president Of the conference, Elder De-
Grey Dixon. 1t reads:
RICHMOND. VIRGINIA.
While we have an opportunity
we will endeavor to write you our
proceedings during the past week IN
the city OF Richmond, the capital OF
the "Old Dominion" Our health
is excellent. We have never felt
better in our lives either in body or
spirit. During the past week, as you
will see by our ten meetings held, we
have been endeavoring to show to the
people OF Richmond the truths in Nor.
monism, sui jsct some OF the people
here have never thought of before.
Our meetings have all been held on
street corners. We have been I'M
successful thus far in procuring hall
or church in which 10 preach. Occa-
sionally our meetings have been quite
slimly attended, but this has not dis
Outraged us in the least, for we realize
that God will not hold us responsible for
the sins OF this people, providing we do
our part in teaching them the truth, ard
we feel that we have done and are still
doing that. While some of our meet.
ings have been small, on the whole we
have nothing to complain Of Last night
we had about five hundred eager listen.
ers who had their ears and mouths wide
open ready to catch the words as they
flowed from our lips, which words were
dictated by the Holy Ghost and deliv-
cred in earnestness like Peters message
upon the day of Pentecost. We COM
nanded them to repent OF their sins and
prepare Tor the coming of the great day
OF the Lord, when every son and daugh'
ter OF Abraham will be made to appt ar
before the judgment seat of Christ to
give an account OF the deeds done IN the
body. In all Of our meetings and can
wasting we felt that the Lord was with
us, and rejoiced in being permitted 10
testify TO the world OF the truth of the
Gospel. The'Lord SO blessed us that we
had no fear of men in the least, but
were calm and perfectly composed. We
do not feel hoastiul of these things and
mention them only as incidents OF our
labofs here. Our feelings were ex-
pressed by the Apostle Paul upon one
occasion, when he said, "ior | am not
ashamed of the Gospel OF Christ, for it
is the power OF God unto salvation"
Since arriving in Richmond we have
done all in our power to procure halls
and churches to preach in; we have
begged, pleaded, en,reated and remon-
slrated with the people for churches, etc
but to no purpose. Not only did we try
TO secure public buildings, but private
houses also. Our desires and mission
have been published in the leading
papers OF the city upon different occa
sions. We have gone before the Lord in
mighty prayer beseeching Him to oper
up the way Tor us to obtain some place
where we could place the Gospel before
the people under favorable circtimstan
ces, but for some reason this great bless
ing has been withheld and we have been
compelled to preach on the streets.
This morning we have been up to visi,
DR.. Storke, according to an appointment,
made with him; had an excellent time
We conversed with him at great length
on the Gospel and he certainly does
appear to be honest at heart. He be-
lleves that we are teaching the indebted
religion OF heaven, and is seeking a
testimony of the fact. Upon his request
we administered to him for the restora
tOh vi SPOh ilG
gave us each silver dollar with whicn
we will probably purchase hall Tor a
few days in which to hold meetings. We
yet have faith that we shall secure hail.
Our labors in this city will be completed
IN week or two. THOMAS c. RoMNEY.
w. w. HuFFAKER.
The other is from the capital OF Texas,
Austin, and is written to Elder A. c.
DALEY, conference president:
AUSTIN, TEXAS.
At your request we give you report
of our work in Austin, the capital of
the state OF Texas.
The work in the city was finished up
last evening", we having fulfilled the
prediction OF the Prophet jeremiah in
taking "one OF city, and two OF a
family"
Since conference on September 18th,
we have visited 726 families, made 81
re.visits, had II2 rejected testimony Of
Elders, Ia refused entertainments, dis
tiibuted ISL tracts, sold.35 books, loaned
and gave away IS; held so meetings,
4, OF which were held on the street and
II in private houses, We tried in vain
to secure "a different churches and two
halls in which to hold services.
We feel that we have performed our
duty toward this people, as we have
preached night and day, holding as
many as three meetings each day. We
always offered them books and tracts,
and when four books ran out we Dor.
rowed some OF those we had sold, re
placing these later by those received
from the office, thus always keeping a
supply on hand for the people.
The newspapers and attorneys are
our friends. The policemen tell us that
nothing but good has been reported of
us, and when it happened that we
blocked the street with our meetings
they waited until we were through be.
fore asking us to move to another corner.
Infidels and skeptics told us that we
were teaching the best common sense
doctrines they had ever heard, while
protested Christians frequently re.
marked, "The doctrine is all right, but
look at the name"
Five months have passed since we
first entered the city in fasting and
prayer. Many are the lessons we have
learned through experience. We men,
ton few: Never rent halls. promising
to pay for them when you have no visible
means OF doing SO; rather have faith in
God and He will provide them for YOU
il He desires you to use them. Always
accept at the opportune time all that is
offered. Never bargain Tor things with.
out money TO pay for them. When YOU
have seemingly failed, sup anda try ii
again"-iaith and will power will assist