Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-03-05

To the Editor:
We have Just passed through some
very interesting experience, and
thought u short sketch OF 1t might
De OF interest to your readers.
rev weeks ago Elder Israel c,
Canheld OF ogden. Utah. and myself
vent one fine sunday morning to hear
| sermon delivered by n Methodist min
| lister. For some cause he did not come
ana we were asked to fill the appont-
nent, which offer We gladly accepted.
we We're requested to speak on the
fruits and gifts OF the Spirit, and
though we do not like to speak on as
signed subjects. in this instance we did
soi therefore the people OF the little
railroad town of Oal5ton, from the
pulpit of the new NJ. Il. church house.
heard, by special request, the gift of
| the Holy Ghost explained by two Ell
ders who had been called OF God as
| was Aaron.
After the morning services we were
| given permission to use the house; so
| we commenced a series of meetings and
for few nights all was az calm as
a waveless sea But as calm gener-
ally prccedcs a storm on the ocean, so
| we also found II a sign of tempest
on land, as well as at sea, only the lull
among men was the forerunner of a
tempest of words, not of wind and
| waves. | was speaking on the essen
TALLY and object of baptism, and in
my remarks also said that II necces-
sary. Peter could easily have attended
| TO the baptizing of three thousand in
halt IA day. even If he had been en-
tirely alone to begin with. because he
had been given authority to seal, or
| loose,on earth and 1t would be loosed or
| sealed in the heavens above; therefore
| he could have gone down Into the water,
as Phillip and the eunuch did, and there
| he could have immersed (buried by
% ma ha1
| upon him, he could have sealed the au-
| thority to baptize, and then as fast as
others We're baptized Peter could have
! given them authority to baptize other
! believers, | also noticed that Mr.. Rash
who had first invited us to preach,
seemd u little Ill at ease while | was
| speaking, but as / knew what / said
| was true, / paid very little attention
| to his restlessness. We gave out APP
pointments for four other services, dis
missed, and until next evening were
unconscious Of any particular stir.
| Then we heard Incidentally that we
We're to be cast out of the synagogue.
We saw MIR Rash and he confirmed the
rumor; SO we preached In n private
| house that night. Next day, Saturday.
1t rained all day until toward even
Ing. We then went to see u friend and
on our way heard that Mr.. Pig, a
Methodist big gun, fighter and de-
batter. would speak Sunday night We
/
| pretty well what he would do; and be-
| Ing true shepherds we thought 1t best
| TO be present when the emmy came to
| scatter the sheep. So we went to what
we Elders call our funeral sermon. A
front seat was selected and the thun-
der began to rattle; thick and fast fell
| the hail of falsehood, nearer. nearer
| drew the clouds of Islander, then the
| lightning of hate was turned loose
| upon us. The people were scorched for
even giving us food or shelter. and told
| to give us neither food nor place to
lie down in the future and then maybe
we would go back to Utah where we
belonged
We could not refrain from smiling
and we felt that friends. not enemies,
| were being made by the railing ac-
cusation of the speaker. who claims to
| be teacher of peace and good will
to mon. After he closed I arose and
asked for the privilege of saying a few
words. mo sir! Sit down." At this
| answer several arose to their feet and
cries OF Let them speak. let them
speak came from all over the crowded
speay" came from all over the crowded
building. But the answer came back.
They can't speak in n Methodist
house; then to me, q was still stand
| ing) sit down!" / remained on my
feet long enough to tell the congrega-
| ton to remain outside for few min
| utes after melting and we would talk
! a Few minutes, as / had been very
| grossly misrepresented
After the benediction tried to have q
talk with Mr.. Pig. but he would not
reason at all. Several people, among
whom was a school teacher named
Humphreys, tried to get him to talk
with us but he would run away every
time we approached him. Seeing we
could do nothing inside we went out.
sang, DO what Is right" and both
spoke for few moments. One young
hodlum who tried to disturb us was
| quickly silenced. AS soon as we con-
cluded, several prominent men came
and invited us home. One said, Come
and go over home with me, you don't
have to lay out"
Never did | see congregation so
much enraged as this one was, and Mr.,
| Pig came very nearly getting his ears
| boxed by some over Jealous friends;
| and for some cause not made public.
| he arose very early next morning and
rode away several miles before he
| breakfasted. This was not all. The
grand jury met and the case was re-
ported to them, and fourteen witnesses
I were summoned to appear and tell all
| they knew of the case. The result of
! the Investigation has not as yet been
made public. but we hardly think any
thing will be done. because Mr.. Pig is
such a prominent man. Every one has
some friends, and those friends often
try to shield the guilty and punish the
innocent But think he VIII see how
thick the ice is before he slides on 1t
next time.
| This has served TO advertise us in a
favorable way among the people. and
we are finding friends on every side.
The people, seeing we were not per-
mltted to use the meeting house. pre-
pared n room In an old mill. and 1t be-
ing too cold and open. four private
houses were opened to us. So as the
angle said. 1.-THE more II Is opposed,
the more 1t Will spread"
We have been in this country since
Jan LIST. present year. have baptized
one and have several others seriously
thinking. on account OF the threatened
chills. Elder Garfield was removed to
another county and Elder P. p.
Eldredge of Ogden. Utah took his place.
and for the last few days we have
been laboring in the Mississippi river
bottoms where few years ago Elders
could get neither shelter nor food
Now several friends are there, and
those who were once so prejudiced ara
now becoming less bitter. Surely the
Lord Is causing the hearts OF the peo-
pie TO soften, and 'eer long many who
are still kicking against the pricks.
will, like Paul. turn and build up what
they have been striving to bring to
nnught Yours truly,
JuNIUS ]. TANNER.
nj II