Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-02-27
THE WORK Ia urnuANY.
Exeernts fram f.rt,sr writtcn 10
Prssideut Geo q. Cannon by one oil
his Snn.. new On n Mission

hia Sons. new On n Mission
BREsLAU, Ger any, Jan 20, 1897 -
arrive here from Berlin last nj hit,
a, about eight O'Clock, afer a v.ry
tedious ride on the cars OF nine hours
without charg.. 1t is much different
10 travelling ut nome, as regards com
Tort
This will be my field OF labor from
now Oh, in all probability until the end
OF my mission | had expected TO re-
main III Berlin until released, but Elder
Maggie, our president, appointed me 10
come back here and Continue the Wor:
| had begun when here before. No
doubt you will rUmeml er having 10
ceived letter from me, written In Leii
iersdor AT tlat time was on my way
here, and at the same time | visited
several OF The branches OF the Church
md some scattered members. was
absent from Berlin six weeks in all, and
on coming back to Berlin remained
Dut five weeks, so ) on see have been
kept pretty well on the move.
Here in Breslau there is no Organized
branch OF the Clurch at present. We
have, however, two members, who
moved here several months ago, and
hope soon to be able to organize a
branch.
In Berlin lately have visited some
high personages and enjoyed the priVi.
lege OF disseminating the principles OF
the Gospel to them. Recently called
on a Rev Hermann Dalton, who Is
now one Of the highest dignilaIies OF
the Protestant church. His Office is tina,
OF consisional rath," or member OF
the church council 1t corresponds to
that OF cardinal ia the Catholic church,
One inuucement for me to visit him was
ms having written an article rather de-
rogatory 10 the Mormon people. 1t was
also written from a prejudiced stand
point. He mace a visit 10 s ut Lake
City some eight years ago, and inter.
viewed President Woodruff and others.
He was shown around the city, and
given good opportunity OF receiving a
proper idea regarding our people, but it
seems that lie went there with the lnten-
.tion OF describing the MCrmons IN
false light. As soon as / sent my card
in with Salt Lake City ON IT, he recog
nlzed me as beng a son Of President
Geo O. Cannon, whom il seems that he
knew oil while IN Salt Lake. He took
down a Voiume OF the Lite OF Joseph
Smith, turned 10 The fly.leai and asked
rue il | was not the authors .son. He
also had President Woodruii's picture
and seveTa! Church works which Brother
Woodruff had given him.
took his own article to him and
showed him TIE Inconsistencies OF some
portions oil IT, Several paris OF the
article were not at all compatible with
others. He could see that he had over
done the matter, aud made some con.
cessions, but he chung 10 his opinion
mat Mormunism is on the retrograde;
to use his language, Tin its last throes.
| told him he was welcome TO hls opIn
ion, but that he had seen the Church
make progress since writing his article,
and assured HIM that il would SO CON
tinue He is no admiTer oil Brigham
Young as a Church leader, but as an
organizer and pioneer he thinks he is
unequalIed.
1t was not my intention TO attack his
religious system, but only 10 reiute his
erroneous statements in an amicaple
manner. We, however, came 10 the
subject OF religion, and more especially
the baptism OF small children as against
the baptism by immersion. H got very
badly confused in trying 10 JUSTLY this
dogma OF Pfolestantsm, and was very
glad to change the subject by telling me
that it ould be labor III VAN on my part
to attempt TO convert him to my views,
after his having been a theologian the
greater part OF his lite. told him that
with all difference TO his learning and
experience, it would be an impossIbillty
for him 10 prove 10 me that the baptism
OF small children, as applied in the or
thodox churches, was scriptural OF
Christian baptism He attempted TO
justify himself in his adherence to this
baptism by reasoning and iheorzlng,
but he could not prove or confirm it BY
single Bible passage.
Our interview, which was very friendly,
lasted about two hours. He showed his
regard Tor me personally by presenting
me with two valuable work, OF which he
is author. He is the happy possessor OF
most valuable library which he showed
me, in several different rooms. He
speaks English quite well, but our con-
versatton vas carried on in German.
He complmen,ed me highly upon my
good acquisition OF the language, and
when left he confessed he could not
consideration ly wish me success in prose
lyting, but he wished me success III
other directions. He looks at every
proselyte which we make from the ranks
OF the Lulherans il the Light OF one
misled from tue truth.
have also wished count on several
occasions recently. He is now reading
the Book OF Mormon, and maniiests a
great interest therefor, The Count Won
III lckdofil is the appe'lation TO which he
answers, and he lives in the height OF
opuleuce At his house almost every
Thursday evening IS held an informal
meeting, at which a discourse or some
special theme is given by some more or
less eminent parsonage. The last time
was there Herr Won Massow, member
OF the pIivy.council and well-known
juiist, gave discourse. 1t was very
learned dissertation and enjoyed il very
much, although | could not agree with
all statements made. had a talk with
a considerable number of those present,
and in most cases they acquiesced in
what | said, but when II comes to the
actual performance OF the requirements
OF the Gospel there are very few who
can humble themselves sufficiently 10
bring themselves into strict conformity
with the principles which we teach. |
often think, how striking is the similarity
between us and the people of God in
former dispensations-how they were
rejected and their warning voices disre-
garded. | find great comfort in this
iact but it is not comfort derived from
man but throuph a consciousness of