Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-05-08
PRESIDING INDIAN TERRITORY.
Kindness of nm Indian Govrruot-
Cruwds Come to Hear ths Eiiers-
several Bnptisms.

BLAcKGUM, Cherokee Nation,l. T.,
April 23ri, 1897
To the Editor
As we have the privilege OF reading
your valuable paper once in two or three
week., 1t gives us great Joy and sltls-
| faction TO know of the success attending
the earnest labors OF The Elders in their
vtious feds of labor.
On receiving word from our late
worthy presid mt, L der Andrew Kim
ball, to select a suitable place in this
part for our coming conference, We set
out from Illinois station. April Ist We
walked 10 this place. hold nS meeting
on our way at CJpple 5 tlemenl. w.
found the SANS OF Blackgum, abcu
thirty in number, in good spirit, and en-
joyns tn blessings of The Gospel.
iney were making preparations 10 EN-
crate to Coonia Iuarez, Mexico. We
held three nieetings with them AM en-
ioyed the prlvit g. and spirit IS none but
saints can ENJOY it. A time being set
for Us 10 meet them again and organize
Tor their trip, we journeyed on, no dag
a meeting at the residence Of Brother
John Davis, on the evening OF the 9th,
with an atten lance OF over twenty non
members. The spirit Of our calling was
poured out upon us, and at the CO ie OF
our meeting one Of our earnest listeners
applis d for baptism. For this our hearts
;re filled with gratitude to our Creator.
I he weather beng CO d and stormy
time was set to attend the sacred ordi-
nance ON cur return.
We travelled down the Arkansas river
through much mud and water, to rama-
haw, where we paid twenty cents, just
received for a hymn book sold, a1d the
4 t.RN fI,sa
a heavy windstofm. We were kindly
received and lodged in The town by one
MIR MCGEE, who invited us to cal again
Not being able 10 hold m let ng
there, we walked fife n miles TO Iron
Bridge, where we had an appointment
to preach in their meeting house Satur-
. day evening.
On reaching the Sans Bots river, near
the town, we found it high and over
, flowing its banks. We explained 10 the
good natural ierryman our mode OF trav-
ell, without purse or scrip. and asked him
to put Us on the opposite bank, but he
, would net as his boat was not built Tor
, preachers. AT that moment the proprle-
tor drove up, and on referring the mat
: ter to him, he replied that he did not
want religion but wanted money. 1t
looked as If troub was in sore Tor us
|
appo n,ments. We trusted in the Lord
. and not In vain, for there appeared on
: the scene a former friend, M. Williams,
| who paid our fare, and We went on our
way rejoicing. We were kniiy enter-
tain ed by this Mr. VIII ans, and at the
appointed lime found an audience OF
over ei ,hty waiting to hear us preach.
We were blessed with the Spirit OF the
Lord and at the clio e OF our meeting
were given the privilege OF holding two
meetings in the same building on Sun
1t day.
a Our Sunday meetings were held with
h an attendance OF one bundled and fJrty
/. good and anxi lus listeners, and they
I said "Come again. They also favored
II US by rendering some good singing for
v our meetings. This we were in a condi-
e ton to appreciate, although we both
v sang like birds, but could not think of a
It tune exactly suited 10 all the hymns we
o would be pleased to sing.
Il Monday we walked eighteen miles &c
the town OF Sans Bots 10 the Choctaw
IS Nation. There we were welcomed ~
: MIR. ]. II. Bustow, an earnest searchei
d for truth. The nsxt morning we made
1t our way TO the governor oil the natlon
o AS he owned the church, We had hope.
II of securing its use. He referred III to
+ the minister in charge, who found toe
:, many excuses. We again went to the
: governor. This time he received us
,e more kindly, saying the church is not IL
j, my care, but there is the court house
= 1t is mine and You may use it," The
IS people here become so anxious and in
o rested that we held a course OF five
e meetings with an attendance OF eighty
Is at some oil them. Our tongues were
n loosed and our prayers were answered
by an outpouring OF the S Jirit OF Coo
ID upon us. We we're made powerful il
testimony to the convincing OF severa
Is honest in heat, twooi whom applied fol
n baptism. Thi, ordinance we gladly ad
ministered with hearts of gratitude /,
our Master for His goodness and bless
ing TO us.
We left on Saturday, amid the man,
good wishes of crowds oil friends, wit
a hearty goodbye and grasp OF the hare
as they cued, Come back soon as YOU
d. can. That day we reached Whitetield
a distance OF twelve miles, secured tn,
commodious school house from the trus
ar tees, while the MINIS er did what h,
tn could to prevent 1t. We canvassed iht
lie town, and at s p. M, found an audienc,
re of eighty five anxious 10 listen. w,
IT were ag lin blessed with the power
ar given Us from above, and treated OF tn,
IN first principles OF the Gospel. Tn,
Ia pc ople listened with marked attent l
in and friends invited Jus home, bur W,
X were led to leave the town that night
We We called ON the ierrvman, who had re
s. liied for the NIGHT. He & ably rowed u:
lie over the beautiful Sou h Canadian river
lie under the Ugh VI glorious moon Thi
ry trip over the sparkling water, beted b,
IL The beautiful fores. trees intersperseC
lie with the blossoms OF the wild ruiz tree!
n and many vSrit gated flowers, was
e. SIGHT not soon to pe forgotten by mel
I'd whose hearts were full OF Joy and thanks
se giving to our Creator. We lodged tina
S, Night three miles from the river, witt
d. Brother Sebron Mabry where we hac
lr the pleasure OF meeting Elders Turner
III and Hewlett. Tney were in good healtl
in and enjoying their labors,
Sunday evening was time appointed
n by me mbeTs of various sects, anxious b,
in searching Tor truth to hold a praye
y, meeting, They invited US TO join them
We In gratitude our prayers assembled to GU
Of Father for this privilege, and we lou
as Elders united our faith IN support OF tn
We one OF US that might be privileged t,
IL speak. The opportunity was granted t.
Of Elder Richardson ana he spoke 10