Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-07-12
IN FAST TENNESSEE.
Elders and Saints Enjoy a Feast OF
Fat 1hings.

on Wednesday, June IS, 1902, the FL
ders and a number OF Saints or the
East Tennessee conference met IN con-
ference capacity at Greeneyille, Tenn
A coincidence making this conference
of peculiar interest lies in the fact that
June IS, 1898, exactly four years age,
Elder Ben Il. Rich entered upon MS
duties as president OF the southern
States mission and our conference
marked the fourth anniversary OF that
event. For four years this mission mas
felt the influence OF his guiding ana
masterful hand and both Elders ana
Saints have been helped heayenward,
by his wise counsel and have rejolced
In his fatherly interest In all The
sinner has felt the sting OF his stern
though kind rebukes, and hypocrites
have been made TO quail before MS
denunciatlon OF masked deyiltry In
pious garb. And now at the end OF
these four years he holds with us his
last conference In what Is now the
Southern States mission, over which he
has presided so ably. What is now the
southern states mission will soon be
divided. The northern part hereafter
To be known as the Middle States mis-
blOh VIII NC N thai bt Va iiNH'NNhN
Ben II. Rich.
Our conference was held In Snaps
Opera House and consisted Of two pub
lie and two council meetings Although
the attendance was light those who
were present were well entertained by
the splendid talks made by President
Rich in explanation of the Mormon"
faith. One OF our Saints had travelled
nearly 800 miles to attend this confer
ence, and Il was remarked by one Of
the Elders, Surely these men win
stand In Judgment at the last day
against those who, residing in this city,
would not climb a flight Of stairs to
hear the Gospel message OF peace on
earth. goodwill toward man from
those who had been sent unto them by
direct call from the Almighty"
At $3.50 p. m. the fret session OF the
conference was held. President Rich
being the speaker His theme was the
purity OF the Gospel OF Jesus Christ
as II really u.s. and the hdeousness OF Il
as pictured by our enemies. He dweN
upon the persecution of the Saints, its
causes, and the inclination Of mankind
actuated by the power of evil of erect
Ing churches to the dead
prophets and killing the living
ones. Said he, IF Paul were to come
to one Of these churches erected to
him and preach the doctrine taught by
him anclently, he would be rejected
and branded as falsifier and 2
hereto. II Peter should come to one
OF the churches bearing his name and
preach the same discourse delivered by
him on the day Of Pentecost the multi
tude would cry, A false prophet, away
with him, his doctrine sounds too much
like Mormonism.'
At i30 .. m. council meeting was
held In one OF the rooms OF the Grand
Central hotel, and those moments OF
inexpressible Joy, known as the Elders
pay day." were had as we listened 20
the wise counsel, so lovingly given by
our beloved president, Ben u. Rich,
Only those who have partaken OF Il can
know the Joy OF such meetings.
At p. IN. we again repaired to the
opera house and listened to President
Rich as he pointed out the inconsis%
ency Of sectarian bigotry. 1.-THE Gospel
broadens the mind and no one has
right TO judge II by the narrow mind
odness OF professed religlonists. Bigo-
try is not Of God. and has no part
nor lot In the Gospel OF Christ" The
speaker paid his respects TO professed
Christianity's God and dwelt on the In
consistency Of sending "Mormons' TO
hell for believing In the God of the BIZ
bic. In reply TO this statement, Sin
ners will go 20 a hell consisting OF
lake of fire and birthstone, and stay
there forever and ever and never come
out and anybody who teachers dlffer-
ent, Hes" made by Christian" min
lister, the speaker intlmated that per-
haps this same individual would some
day rejoice that a like privilege was
extended him that was given the dis
obedient in the days Of Noah, / Peter,
8: 1920.
Thursday morning another council
meeting was held and after each Elder
had borne a strong testimony 10 thS
divinity OF this latter-day work, they
were assigned 10 labor as follows: Ell
ders Rawlns and Murdoch, who had
been selected and sustained as counse-
Tors TO President Hale, to remain at the
office. Elders Randall and Norton to
labor In Scott county. Elders Gibbons
and Russon In Morgan county; Elders
Taylor and Bardsley IN Rhea county;
Elders Hawkes. and Laurence In Meigs
county; Elders Hand and Rasmussen
IN mcmlnn county ElutfS IoTAeT anu
Miller In Monroe county; Elders
Hamblin and Hamblin IN Polk county,
and Elders Wnodard and Thorne In
Claiborne county all in Tennessee. FL
ders Scott and Roundy have been
transferred TO the North Carolina con-
ference and go with the love and well
wishes OF the East Tennessee Elders.
The News comes as an ever well
come visitor and II seems we could
hardly do without H. It's defense Of
all that IL good, pure and ennobling
and denunciation OF things grOvelling
or debasing makes II a wonderful help
TO the missionary In the spread OF truth
and right.
HOWARD II. HALE,
A. y. MURDOCH,
o. w. RAWLINS,
Presidency East Tennessee Confer