Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-10-14

Hartsviiie. $. c.. oct 4. /

Hartsvilie. 8, c.. oct. 4. 1899,
To the Editor.
Some time In May last the Rev. II.
Hygemn. n free gospel advocate. is
sued q challenge 10 any Mormon" Eli
der In general. and Co Elder W. ].
Fife In particular 20 a debate upon the
principles ~ The Gospel OF Jesus Christ.
After consulting with Elder Geo. a.
Day the challenge was rcoptcd, the
date yet, for Friday. September 22nd.
1870 at Piroway. n. O., with the under
standing that the principles Of tho
Gospel were 10 be- taken up one by one
and Presented before the people In a
friendly manner.
Elder W. ]. Fife and myself ioft 60
cicty Iill, =. G.. where we were labor
lnT. We arrived at Pircway few days
before the debate. and visited among
the Saints and friends In Brunawlok
and Columbus counties. We also at
tended meeting held In a Baptist
church. The preacher took Tor his text
John q. i6, and exhorted his hearers TO
believe In Christ. no matter n the
'Mormona.' he said. do say that
Joseph smith Il Christ and hold him up
na Christ and teach that he was
christ" thus lmpresslnR II on his con-
vrcFntion that we teach that Joseph
smith was Christ. After the oongrcga-
ton was dismissed We stepped up TO
the pulpit and introduced ourselves ~
Mormon" Elders Elder W. j. Fife
called his attention 60 the mistake he
had made and asked that he would rec
tfy H. or allow him 20 do 20 before the
people left the house. This was re-
fused.
on Monday morning following, we
were arrested az the lnHtlFatlun u the
deacon Of the church. one Thomas stan
10y. The charge against ~ was "nb-
ruptly naaaultlnE the Preacher Gastnn
stanley. and disturbing the congrega-
ton" We were taken before the said
deacon, who IL the magistrate and ar
raiEncd for trial, but managed 90 get
the case continued for three days az
We were ia need Of witnesses. Excite
ment was high against us at the place
whore we were taken for trial. as the
whole ncighborhnod was bitterly ops
posed 10 Us. A friend Mr. H. smith
furnished money sufficient for our bail
10 Insure our appearance la court on
Thursday September 2ist. At the app
pointed time We were there, as were
also friends from the adjoining county
Of brunswick, as well as many from
different parts OF Columbus county. Oui
encmiea seeing 30 many friends Were
uHtonlahcd and talks OF compromis,
were INDUCED In. but the ease wa
/ called We plead not guilty and asked
FOR change Of venue. which wal
granted. Another Justice was uubatl
for trial. Then we demanded Jury
/ trial. which neceasiinted postpone
/ ment until a jury could be drawn. Bl
/ this time more compromise was talked
| about and finally they agreed TO dismiai
the ease ana pay two-thirda OF tn
costs. We gave them to understand
| that We did not do this because we wcr,
/ guilty, but "a make peace. Thus endet
/ this little episode. on Friday, Scptem
Der 22nd, az 10 o'clock. the discussion
between Elder W. J. Fife and Rev. II
| Hygema. was commenced, by Rev. Hy
/ gemn making the opening remarks an,
/ giving a panoramic view OF the doc
| trinoa he was advocating. Then h
went over the same ground In detail
taking nifty minutes. the time agree,
| upon. Elder Fife replied and aettinl
forth the doctrines Of the Church o
Jesus Christ u Latter-day Saints To-
| nifty minutes. Then each took ten min
utea to sum up, Two meetings wcr,
| held each day for three successive days
| closing Sunday. September e5th. A goo
feeling prevailed. and large CROW,
was present. one feature OF the dla
cussion was that there was no ridicul
Ing. All was peace and courtesy. Tn
| Gospel was preached TO many VIII
would not come out TO listen under an.
other circumstances. BY the help OF III
| Spirit OF God much good has been nc
complshed. Friends have been made
| honest investigators have been asslstel
! IN their Investigations some who hnl
grown cold have been infused with ney
energy and general good feeling pre-
| walls. As n result of our lnbora. Vi,
from our regular field OF labor on
month, and held twenty-six meeting
sYL. LAW, JR.