Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-01-30

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this portion OF the vineyard as our
Church was founded in the southern
part Of this village, left my home on
the second OF June last, and after visit
ing the cities OF New York aud Brook
Ign several days, was appointed to
labor with Elder Streeper, of Center
vile, Utah, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey,
where we labored for nearly three
months, holding meetings and tracing
rom house 10 house.
Myself and companion were then sent
o Scranton, Pennsylvania, where we
were separated, aud was appointed to
labor with Elder Bess. OF Granger, in
Tayloryille near Scranton, where | re-
NAMED until the 18th oil November and
then joined Elder W. +. Brim, OF Cassia
county. Idaho, at Seneca Falls, New
York: he had been visiting relatives ia
that place for several days.
Alter few days we concluded to take
a trip up to the hill Cumorab, Palmyra
and Manchester, and spent several hours
in each place inquiring OF the people in
order to find tue points Of historical in
terest to Utah raised Saints, and TO see
If they still have that bitter feeling
against our people. We found the peo.
pie Ia general, very anxious 10 learn all
they could about the Mormons and what
had become OF them, but for enlghten.
ment they had secured the History OF
the Rocky Mountain Saints, by I. b. II.
Stenhousc; and when we would tell
them the true character OF our people
they would contradict us and tell us
what they said was III CUR own history.
After our return from the spot SO
sacred to our people, we visited Water
lAT. L hrft ha
Latter-day Saints at Fayette, where the
Church was organized. We were so
well impressed with the way we were
received in this place that we decided to
locate for the winter and engage in real
earnest in our missionary labors. Alter
tracing part OF the day OF December
IAth, we went out to the old Peter Whit
mer farm, now owned by Mr.. Jesse
Snooks oil Waterloo, and stood on the
spot where the old log house stood
when the Church organization took
place The farm is one OF the best in
the neighborhood. All the old improve
mepts have been taken away excepting
the old well north OF where the house
stood. The people here have some
very curious stories to tell, in regard to
the visitations OF angels to the Prophet
and to the Whitmer family when the
Gospel first came to light.
We have been doing exceedingly well
in regard to spreading the Gospel here
where SO much prejudice exists, and
hope to sow many good seeds OF truth
in the hearts OF the people. We have
obtained the old M, p. chapel, built by
the Presbyteriaus in the twenties, to
hold services in, and we gave our open
ing meeting on the I7lh al p. m. 1t
was attended by an intelligent audience
OF about 100, who seemed interested in
the Gospel. The local papers have
treated US very kindly and have given US
very FAIR representations thus lar.
The following appears in the history
of Seneca county here: ''About the
year 1870. Seneca Falls and Fayette
were visited by an add.looking boy, clad
in tow frock and trousers, and bare
footed. He hailed from Palmyra,
Wayne county, and made a living by
seeking hidden springs. The boy was
Joseph Smith the founder OF Mormon.
ism, On September 25rd, 1898, an
angel appeared to Smith at Manchester,
Ontario county, and told him that in the
hill Cumorah lay buried golden plates
| on which was engraven the history OF
the mound builders full and complete
he plates were uuly uneartned anu
| translation commenced, Three men be.
leved the new doctrine, Martin Harris,
| well.to-do farmer. David Whitmer and
Oliver Cowdery, whose pen gave the
| Prophet great assistance. Harris mort
| gagged his farm for money to print the
Bool; Of Mormon, went to Ohio, lost all,
| and came back poorer and a wiser
man. Mrs. Harris consigned hundred
or more pages of the manuscript to the
| fire, delayed the work, aud finding her
husband infatuated, left him. Converts
embracing the new faith, the first Nor
mon conference was held June Ist, 1889,
in the town OF Fayette, Seneca county,
| New York. w. w. Phelps published
the anu.masonic paper in Canandaigua
and Brigham Young is reported to have
been teacher aud religious exhor,er
in the same place"
We nave made many good friends
since we came here, and have distributed
over 700 tracts aud held three meetings.
II any of your readers would like us
to call on any relatives or friends they
might have in this section oil the country,
we will be glad to do SO. We hope to
do much towards enlightening the peo-
pie and preparing them Tor the great
| future. THKo. +. BURTON.