Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-05-06
MISSION FIELDS.
Mohsmmedan soldier. Protect Then from
violence by q Mob.

provo Enqulrcr.l
Elder ]. W. booth. IN a LETTER dated
at Alntab. March y. 1896. gives an ac-
count Of n somewhat lively meeting
held by the Mormon" missionaries a
short time before. lie says.
one day last week we Ind little
outing" II was the ffut day of the
Armenian Feast Of nifty days" during
which time the people abstain from
meat and oil. There were mulutudca
OF people out among the tuinba ON the
hlllsidca TO the south of the city. aud
winding their way toward the summit
Frequently we glanced through our
windows and over the low rat roofa OF
the rudcr dwellings TO watch the mot
Icy crowd far out In tho distant hills.
little dreaming that ere the sun went
down We would be the cvntcr OF uttfic-
ton fgs all that mighty hest. and not
only THIS. hut the object OF their isnot-
ant and wicked ridlcuic.
Whcruvcr We ~ and remain q few
minutes we are almost sure 10 attract
crowd. Toward evening OF the day
entloncd, n number OF the Saints lvit
their work and went with Us through
the old cemetery where could be seen
people ~ all descriptions. with bowed
hcuda. and seated around the graves %
loved ones. weeping and wailing and
moaning In the most pitcpuH tones. We
had scarcely entered the place when
people began staring at ". apparently
forgetting for tino those for whom
they had come To mourn. iiigher up
and beyond the main part OF tho ne
cr,frnlla could be sven small groups
aented around aonne shawl or carpet
spread mt nr a meal board. and many
- thrm invited ~ 10 dine with them.
Near the top OF the hill We met num-
hcr u friends with whom prcrs. May
cock had convcrncd before. and who
now desired TO hear more Of our dor
trinc. Thcrc was good opportunity
tai present the Gospel Ia u few Of our
friends. and IN order 10 attract a. llttle
attention as possible we went 10 a place
fcw hundred yards away from the
main crowd and seated ourselves
among the ruckn ~ small raNinc. u
was not hong until We wcrv discovered.
and crowds came 10 "a until We were
surrounded by an army Of bright rcd
caps ,fczD under which grim, dirty and
dunky ~ well ~ fair faces confronted
~ In every direction. conversation
began mildly but grow warmer and
warmer. In about twenty minutes
one % the local teachers arose and be-
san 10 preach. Interruptions soon fol.
lowed and bcforr long he NaH pushed
from his rock rosirum down into the
gully below. lie was uniniurcd, how
ever. and resumed hia discourse. The
listeners 90 by their noise soon drrw
tho attention Of the MuHsclmen soldiers
MNn were out 20 hcfp p'aee ali"hh ht
great gathering. They rushed ~ ana
dispersed tho crowd. but on learning
that We were trying 10 hold a pcaccablc
meeting. the soldiers themselves ga
therrd around Us and told IN Ia pro-
coed, The crowd returned In Increased
numbers. and the brother continued his
remarks, IL was still difficult un the
soldiers were unable 10 keep the rnbblo
pulet, Soon small stones began 10 llsht
about the speaker and tho opposition
grew nercer. Shouts OF dcririon came
from the threats Of the multitude. and
me officers agnin dispelled ,hem anu
warned u To- ~ while thry wcfu thcto
In protect uH. The roar Of the hun
dreda Of people was at least Interesting
10 IA.
We were closely followed. but tho Of
ilcern kept Us from being touched, al
though few stones struck Us, but
without harm. The sons % Mohammcd
ruturned tho compliment In our behalf
but they did M more harm than the
others
What spectacle 90 see tho followers
~ ihs great founder OF Islam guarding
few humble advocates OF Peace ana
sod win from the attacks 81 a ,pro-
ir1sed) Christian mob. Though the re-
ilglun OF the MohnmmctinnH N less ele-
waiting In Its prcccptH than that OF the
olherH, yet II II lived up to more closely
and therefore brings better fruits In
many eases.
We made our way home through the
excited crowd. and all along the lnc
We were the centre OF their FarinH, ana
their wild wh0oplng and yelling were
IKE those OF pack OF heathenn. The
ulhcera saw ua home, where We thanked
lhem and gave them "baekuheeah"
fnr their trouble.
This was one Of the most Interesting
days OF my mission. Through all the
excitement we had no fear whatsoever
The whole city was In an upruar for
Two or three days nfter the event. We
fcilcc that this sect IN everywhere
spoken against" for We know that the
truth has always been thus unpopular.
The AFFAIR however has made frineds
Tor Us, and the cause has been aided
by the opposition.