The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-10-31

Rev. H. d. Fisher, referred to in the
above Associated Press dispatch, held
the passionate OF the old First MethO-
dist church for two years in the early
SOS, and is we'll remembered by vet
eran members of the church. In a book
published in 1896, entitled THE Gun
and the Gospel" he related many
thrilling incidents in the conflict be-
tween slavery and freedom" and also
recorded his work for Methodism in
the west, as superintendent of the
American Bible society for Utah, Mon
tana and Idaho. One of the few Salt
Lake copies of this book is owned by
p. A. Dix.
Four chapters are devoted TO DR..
Fishers work in this state, and in them
he frequently refers Indirectly 10 his
friendly relations with officers OF the
Mormon church.
DIR. Hugh Dunn Fisher was born in
Steubenville, Jefferson county, o.,
March Il, 1924. He began life as a
cOooer in his native town, and while
working at his trade became converted
in 1888
He at once began studying for the
ministry and was licensed TO preach"
Dec. Is, 1S47. His first work was in
Sycamore, o.
At the outbreak of the war he was
appointed chaplain of the Fifth Kan
sas cavalry. He soon became marked
by the "Quantrell gang" the leader OF
which. William c. QuantreH, he de-
scribes as the chief of border murder
ers and leader OF the most desperate
band of highwaymen ever organized
for pillage and death In all this coun-
try"
OF his escape from death through the
bravery of his wife he gives a vivid
account. His life during the war was
fraught with dangers through all Of
which he passed unscathed
Refused senatorship.
How DR.. Fisher came to refuse the
l. 5. SenatOTship offered by Governor
Crawford after the suicide of Senator
James Ii. Lane Of Kansas, as men
toned in the dispatch. is told more full
ly in the following words:
1 reached The conclusion not 10 ac-
cept the senatorship if thereby l was
compelled 10 lay down my license to
preach the gospel. Twice during the
war had refused TO accept coloneley
at this expense, and now. with a seat
in the L.. S. senate laid before me 1
still felt that my call from God was of
greater Importance than any earthly
eau that might be made upon me, and
decided accordingly, urging upon the
governor TO appoint some one else.
he. finally yielded to my request and
named Major +. q. Ross"
The fighting pastor who refused a
can to the senate accepted a call 10
Omaha in 1879, and for several years
Iought a relentless battle against cor
fuptiVe forces, and for municipal re-
FORM. de was entirely successful IN
this.
In Salt Lake City.
As they needed a man for Salt Lake
City church" wrote Or. Fisher. and
as my time in Omaha was up, he
tBishop MerrilD requested me to try
the grip of my faith on that difficult
field"
He succeeded DR.. McEldownev.
When DR.. Fisher arrived the cOngre-
cation numbered thirty-five regular
members. There were tWenIy-six per-
sons IN the Sunday school. 4 debt of
over $1,000 was i'm court and awaiting
Juusment. Furniture was being sold
10 satisfy creditors
Notwithstanding judgments and credit
ors MS congregation soon increased
II was while in Salt Lake Thai DR.
FISHER became superintendent of lie
American Bible society for This 6istrief
His book tells of visits TO Rev. George n
Jayne at Provo and Rev. NJ. Leonard at
Springville.
On a visit TO Provo he secured PERMITS
sion from Bishop Smoot president of
the Mormon stake, TO preach In the Provo
tabernacle. In telling OF his visit to
President SmOot he wrote:
lie very politely invited me into q
spacious parlor. where three of his wives
were helping him dress. One buttoned' his
collar. another adjusted his suspenderg
while third brought him a necktie and
handed him his neatly polished shoes"
His next meeting was held IN the Lo-
gan tabernacle. where ne told the Lat
ter.day Saints that as they were going
to heaven ID 'as we Gentiles want 10
so there. %" he thought IN would be
well TO get acquainted beforehand"
Soon after~aFd he visited Ogden.
preaching at the tabernacle there. Next
he went TO Springville. where he became
acquainted with Stake President Eras-
tus Snow, and where he formed impress
sions on polygamy which are found IN
Then came his great triumph for he
was permitted to speak In the Salt Lake
tabernacle, after which he attended a
priesthood meeting. Concerning the latter
he wrote
II was. and am still the only Gentle
ever admitted TO purely Mormon priest
hood meeting"
Following this experience he made
trip through southern Utah. and shortly
aftsfward finished his Bible work and
pastorate In this state He retired from
the ministry in 1896.