Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-06-12

Opposed, ami Get Ihrir uessnke
Brtor- the People.
The following is from letter written
at Birmingham, Ala, by two mission
aries, to 4 der + las S. Kimbal, presi
dent of the Southern States ms ion;
We take pleasure in submitting few
items OF our experience in The magic
city, Birmingham, a a. Elder Maths,
son, president of this conference, aud
Elder Nes P. Nelson president OF the
Middle Tennessee conference spent one
week here in visiting public men, editors
and ministers, inquiring Tor places to
preach. They received cordial treat
ment; and, although public buildings
we're not at their disposal, they received
hearty assent and approval from Mayor
Evans who gave them permission 10
canvass the city and use the street cor
ners at will. The court house is in con-
slant use; and although Sheriff O'Bi,en
was very friendly, we could not get it
The news man interviewed us, explain
ing through his paper that we were not
teaching polygamy, and also that we de-
sired to establish ourselves here and not
take our converts to Utah. 1t did us
great deal OF good.
We attribute our success not to the
efforts OF one or two, but TO the united
faith and prayers Of our brethren We
tasted Two days and prayed, as confer
ence, months before this place was
opened. The brethren who cam. here
first exercised the same privilege OF a
two DAYS fast when they dedicated it.
and after Elder Nelson was called away,
Elder Matheson Joined us.
Three Yeas ago, Elders +. M. Bel
nap and Alexander Campbell came here
to canvass the city. They stayed at the
hotel, but paid for it; now we stay at the
hotels gratis. TEey were put in prison
with negroes and had 10 pay about
twenty-five dollars TO get out, Tor carry
ing Gospel tract to citizens door; we
are invited into the parlors to explain
our teachings; to sing, preach and pay,
and then they give us needed money :
fore leaving. God Is soitening the he arts
Of the people.
You may be assured we would not
dare to be in this large city and break
the purse and scrip" commandment.
We made no preparations for money,
yet we have not wanted for anything;
laundry, ties, collars, hats. have all been
provided as we needed them. 1t gives
us pleasure TO go up to the hotel pro-
prietors and tell them that we are ser
wants OF the Lord, travelling without
money. We are seldom turned away.
All the time our brethren were here
they stayed at So hotel Tree; and since
we have been here we have stayed SIX.
teen days in twenty three, at hotels OIL
public boarding houses. They usually
say, Come again. when you need a
place 10 stay" or, as Mr.. Gelders, the
restaurant man said, I'VE don't take
thanks. lust come any time you get
hungry" At the Florence hotel we
have room which is ours as long as VIZ
want it. We could relate many in
stances, but, to say much in little, W,
are cared for in Birmingham, a strictly
modern city OF 60. eco people. An en-
eagement Tor dinner is now waiting u
and we must hasten to meet It
Elder Matheson opened IN this place
by preaching on our mission here, as
theme. The Twentieth street and Sec
ond avenue was full oil people to listen
and he spoke well. To gather crowd
we began to sing and pray. It doesn'
take long We always try to explai
the Gospel, and have spent most OF on
effort on the principles Of faith and re
pentance, because our crowd wa
chaugeable and unstable. We usual
explainyour mode Of travelling with re
lation 10 money; and when we are !
neeQb1 money we ucNcI ldii 10 BCt u
More than fifty persons have given Il
money. And even the darkey say.
"That's Gospel; help dem men along
Well, dinner Is over now, and we dr
safely lodged for the night We dine
with Mrs. Baldwin and son, aud tonigf
we are at the residence Of DIR. Charlie
Whelan, an eminent physician, propri'
tor OF the large opera house and hote
and prominent citizen. He kindly II
vited us to supper; and, after spending
pleasant evening, he simply SAID: mo
will show you 10 your room," befol
we had limited our desires.
The Elders IN Lynchburg were met /
friend when they were in need OF
place 10 stay; ours is hotel awaiting u
We don't know how 10 express OF
gratitude We only wish that we
we'll as all our Elders could trust Il
Lord more perfectly.
We hope Tor branch OF the Churt
in Birmingham. We would not have
many rejected testimonies to report, b
there are a great many Jews here, al
they reject us because 1t is Christian,
We average conversation once
three. How joyiully we anticipate o
conference in August To say that v
were sorry that we did not meet V,
here as you wired u, en- route to Flo
da, does not express our feelings.
CHARLES l.. HAIGHr,
GEORGE T. WRiDE..
tu.l IL I...