Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-05-01
RIDDLE TENNESSEE CONFERENCE.
Threatened by N mob-Enmiiy super
seeded by Friendsbip--Good Pro-
gress MADE.

JACKSON, Madison County, Tenn,
April 18th, 1897.
To the Editor;
In our weak way we are trying to keep
pace with the rapid strides that are now
being made in the work here. The past
two weeks we have been canvassing the
seventeenth district of this county, in
which we met some opposition at first.
There have been no Mormon Elders
through this part ior number of years,
and many Of the people never saw one
in their lie. So, the old story, that we
have from seven to seventy wives, still
rings in their ears.
Many people thought that we had
come to entice their wives and dlugh.
tiers with us to Utah, they not realizing
that polygamy was thing OF the past,
and, that if it were not, the Nor
mons never engaged in the enticing bus
mess,
With little difficulty we succeeded in OBJ
tanning permission to hold meetings in
the school building. On arriving to fall
I'LL our FIRST appointment, we were con.
ironled with the following notice, which
was tackled on the door:
NOTICE:
We give you Mormon preachers, as you
claim 10 be. i1lr warning to get out OF this part
of the country at once for we do not want
such tramp preachers, and We are not going to
have them; We have got preachers TO preach the
Gospel TO us. We have got white caps in this
part OF the country, and II you don't get out
at once you will have 10 take what follows.
COMMUNITY.
Mr.. William Allison. the school di
rector, tore the notice from the door and
promised us protection. We proceeded
with our meeting as though nothing had
happened. Our congreg ition was small
ard all men with the exception OF one
woman. As our series OF meetings con-
tinued the congregation increased in
size, until the house was filed to over
flowing with men and women.
AT the close OF our second meeting an
old gentleman came up and gave Us a
hearty grip and said: Those are my
sentiments, gentlemen. | am a poor
man, but have some meat and bread.
Consider yourselves welcome at any
time, and will expect you to call on me
before you leave the neighboIhooi We
had many invitations to call on the PEG
pie before we were through.
At the close OF our last meeting, two
ladies came 10 us and said: "You have
selves" and insisted that we should
visit them at their homes.
We sold, loaned and gave away a
great many Voices Of Warning, and all
received our little tracts.
During the following week, as we were
canvassing and making our appointment
in another neghborhood OF a series OF
meetings that we expected TO hold
there, we called at large farm house,
and lady, OF about so years, received
our mss'age. She was quite surprised
10 find that we had the audacity 10 come
into that enlightened community with
Mormon doctrine. In very few words
she was convinced that she had only
heard one side OF the story, and had jus,
quoted down as her son came up. As
soon as he found that we were Mormons
he ordered us off the place, using words
OF an immoral character, and declaring
that we should not hold meetings in thai
neighborhood. As we were leaving, we
met his father, explained to hun what
had happened, gained his iriendsh p, and
p he promised us that he would be at oui
meetings. He also apologized for his
sons conduct.
Our meetings were a success, and we
eradicated from the minds of the PEG
f'Nf $500 ~ 'iAN lANJhAANNA ANNiAEo LOO
existed toward US aud the, people tina
We represent.
During our stay in that vicinity we
were royalty entertained at the farm
houses where We were i'll treated but :
few days before; and our friend did al
he could toward us procuring church
buildings in tne future, and thought ",
ought to get hearing in all communi
ties.
God moves in mysterious way, HI.
wonders to perform" And, as ON
worthy president says: There is n.
limit 10 the capacity OF servant OF Goo
.or doing good, if he will serve Him auC
keep His commandments"
Ohm l. BENCH JR.,
RAY " MENTz
Missionaries In r+nn'sser.
HENDERSON, Tennessee,