LABORS
IN THE
VINEYARD.
TWELFTH BOOK OF THE
FAITH-PROMOTING SERIES.
Designed for the Instruction and Encouragement of
Young Latter-day Saints.
PUBLISHED AT THE JUVENILE INSTRUCTOR OFFICE,
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.
1884.
PREFACE.
The constantly increasing demand for the books of the FAITH-PROMOTING
SERIES has induced us to prepare this little work, with the hope
that it will prove no less interesting nor instructive than its
predecessors. The fact that these publications are used in many Sunday
schools with most excellent results and are read with avidity and
interest by the young people in all parts of the territory, is an
evidence to us that our labors are not in vain.
Some of the incidents narrated in this book are so miraculous that one
is naturally led to exclaim, "truth is really stranger than fiction;"
and occurring, as they have done, in the experience of our faithful
Elders, they have a double interest for young Latter-day Saints, and
will surely be the means of strengthening the faith of all those who
expect to participate in the glorious labors that devolve upon this
people. Such examples, too, as are herein presented will, undoubtedly,
have the effect to instil a proper amount of righteous ambition into
the minds of the young, thus causing them to exercise talents which are
designed, if properly used, to make of them noble men and women.
If this book should be a means of instructing or encouraging any
person, and thereby prompting him to do good, the object for which it
was prepared will have been attained, and a reward will have been given
to.
THE PUBLISHER.
CONTENTS:
MY EXPERIENCE IN ENGLAND.
CHAPTER I.
Called on a Mission--Start for my Field of Labor--Difficulties
on the Way--Travelling in Deep Snow--Reach the Platte
River--Procure a New Outfit--Exposed to the Cholera--Attacked
by the Plague--My Recovery--Arrival at Albany,
N.Y.--Take Passage on a Steamer for New York
City--Incidents on the Way.
CHAPTER II.
Set Sail from New York--Arrive in Liverpool--Sent to Labor
as a Travelling Elder--Prayers Answered--Called to Preside
Over a Conference--Blessed Abundantly with the Holy
Spirit--Procure a Hall to Preach in--Mobbed--Effects of
my Preaching--Treated with Courtesy--Organize a Branch
of the Church in the Town where I was Mobbed--Make
Another Appointment to Preach in a Different Town--Send
for Help--Speakers Interrupted--Audience Quieted
by me Singing a Comic Song--Prejudice Allayed--a
Lesson Learned.
CHAPTER III.
An Amusing Episode--Obtain the Keys of a Church--Notify
the People That a Meeting Will be Held in it--A Good
Turn Out--My Companion Preaches while I, Disguised
as a Police, Guard the Door--Excitement Aroused--Controversy
With a Minister--An Anti-"Mormon" Meeting
Held--I Attend--Reply to the Ministers' Attempts
to Expose "Mormonism"--My Escape from the Building--Saved
by an Infidel--Prosperity of the Work--Remarkable
Healings--A Prediction Uttered and Fulfilled--My
Return Home--Contrast Between the Condition of the
Saints now and that of Thirty Years Ago.
MY SWISS MISSION.
CHAPTER I.
Manner in which the Gospel is Preached--My Labors in
England--Called to Switzerland--Join my Companion and
Take Passage to France--Proceed to Switzerland--Meet
Elders in Geneva--Our Fields of Labor Assigned us.
CHAPTER II.
Arrival in Berne--Its Principal Objects of Interest--Go to
Weiningen, Where I Remain to Study German--Sketch
From my Journal--Hunted by Mobs--Interviewed by
the Mayor.
CHAPTER III.
Letter from Elder Secrist--Ordered to Zurich--Arrested
and Imprisoned in a Filthy Dungeon--Taken to Better
Quarters--Released.
CHAPTER IV.
Progress in Learning to Speak German--Communication
From the British Ambassador--Notified to Leave Zurich--Go
to Schaffhausen--The Falls of the Rhine--Unable
to Obtain Permission to Remain in the Canton--Seek
Another Place of Retreat--Lodge with a Family of Saints--Difficulty
in Keeping Secluded--Called to Geneva--Return
to England.
THE FAITH OF THE ZUNIS.
Traditions of the Zunis--Three Children Healed--Administer
to 406 Indians who were Attacked with the Small-Pox,
Most of Whom Recover--Opposed by a Presbyterian
Minister and Others--Fate of my Opposer's.
SKETCH OF A WELL-SPENT LIFE.
CHAPTER I.
My Birth and Childhood--Embrace the Gospel--a Vision--Gather
with the Saints at Kirtland--Zion's Camp--Manifestations
in the Temple--The Saints Driven from
Missouri--The Prophet and Patriarch Martyred--Our
Journey Westward--Sent on a Mission.
CHAPTER II.
Arrival in England--Appointed to the Glasgow Conference--My
Experience There--Released--Start Home--a Storm
at Sea--Case of Miraculous Healing--Arrival in the Valley.
THE LORD'S BLESSINGS.
CHAPTER I.
Called to Australia--My Ignorance--Pres. H. C. Kimball's
Prophecy Concerning me--Arrive in Sidney--Adventure
with a Dog--Go to Camden with a Fellow-Missionary--Sought
for by a Drunken Mob--God Blinds their Eyes
and we Escape--At Picton we Preach in the Court-House--The
Writing on the Wall--Our Success.
CHAPTER II.
Maligned by Sectarian Priests--Invitation to Preach at a
Distant Town--Means Provided by a Mysterious Personage--Branch
of the Church Organized--Apply to the
Authorities of the Colony for, and Receive, License and
Protection as Ministers of the Gospel--Arrested--My
Companion's Defense--Honorably Released--Go to Windsor--Unable
to Obtain Lodgings--Directed by a Stranger--Kindly
Treated--An Attempt to Poison me--My Companion
Shot at by a Ruffian.
CHAPTER III.
A Chat With a Catholic--Chased by Dogs--An Irishman's
Design to Murder me--Remarkable Escape--Adventure
with a Wild Bull--"Has he got You?"--My Release
from my Mission--Incidents of the Home Journey--A
Prophecy and its Fulfillment--A Visit to a Sick Lady--Conclusion.
RESULTS OF DISOBEDIENCE.
How our Missionaries are Suspected--Children Lost--Supposed
Case of Kidnapping--Myself and Companion are
accused--The Dead Bodies are Found--Disobedience
Brings its own Reward.
MY EXPERIENCE IN ENGLAND.
BY C. V. SPENCER.
CHAPTER I.
CALLED ON A MISSION--START FOR MY FIELD OF LABOR--DIFFICULTIES
ON THE WAY--TRAVELING IN DEEP SNOW--REACH
THE PLATTE RIVER--PROCURE A NEW OUTFIT--EXPOSED
TO THE CHOLERA--ATTACKED BY THE PLAGUE--MY
RECOVERY--ARRIVAL AT ALBANY, N. Y.--TAKE PASSAGE
ON A STEAMER FOR NEW YORK CITY--INCIDENTS
ON THE WAY.
At the April conference, 1850, I felt a presentiment that I might be
called on a mission, and kept away from conference until near the close
of the last afternoon's meeting, thinking that if I were not seen, I
should, perhaps, not be remembered, and then went to the door, and
standing on the outside pressed it open about two inches. Just as I
did this a man arose on the stand and said, "It is moved and seconded
that Claudius V. Spencer go on a mission to Europe." I turned as though
shot, walked down Main Street saying to myself, "Can it be possible
those men have any inspiration to call such a stick for a missionary?"
I think if my body and spirit had then been weighed together, I should
have pulled the beam at two thousand pounds.
Previous to this time no person had heard me pray or speak in any
public meeting.
Most of the men who were called and who accompanied this mission
were large and powerful men, physically. Among them were the father
of Horace S. Eldredge, Appleton Harmon, James Works, Thomas Grover,
Captain Davis and Father Malin. Heber C. Kimball had charge when we
were set apart and was mouth in my case, giving me a blessing greater
than my faith. Among other things he said that, I should be like Paul
of old, in the land to which I was going.
The most of the company left Salt Lake City on the 19th of April, and
those who did not go then overtook us the next morning. We carried the
mail by express with ox teams, and delivered it at Council Bluffs on
the 4th of July following.
At the time we were set apart Brother Heber forbid us taking either
money, watches, rings or chains of gold or silver, but told us to go
literally without purse or scrip. For the benefit of the missionaries
who now go by rail and frequently in first-class style, I record that
the first day out we reached the mouth of Emigration Canyon, and that
night had a severe snow storm. The next morning our cattle were all
lost. We divided into parties to find them. The party with which I went
trailed some of the cattle towards the city. They wished me to go in,
see the folks and help get the cattle back. I said, "No, I will never
enter Salt Lake again till I have fulfilled my mission, unless I am
carried in dead."
After some little trouble we again got our cattle together. The snow
in crossing the "Big and Little Mountain" was very deep; we cut a pole
twenty-seven and a half feet long, pushed it into the snow, but failed
to reach the ground. We cut poles made holes in them for the wheels of
the wagon, bent one end of the poles in the shape of a sleigh-runner,
and pulled and pushed our wagons in places by hand. We would frequently
sink into the snow almost to our necks, and after crawling out the sun
would melt the snow on our clothes so that at night we were as wet as
though we had been immersed in the water. In the mornings we stood on
the snow crusts, beat our boots and pantaloons over the wagon wheels to
get the ice out of them before we could dress. We took our stockings to
bed with us and dried them among our clothes. It was in the endurance
of these exposures that I think Elder Wm. Burton (who was very noble
and free in his labors) so weakened his constitution as to make him
unable to successfully stand the climate and disease that preyed upon
him in the old country.
One night, in East Canyon, we dug a hole in the snow seven feet deep,
put some brush on the bottom and had a good night's rest. We were
favored before morning with quite a fall of snow, which helped to keep
us warm. When we arose in the morning we were quite merry, and several
commenced singing the songs of Zion. Captain Davis and Thomas Grover
were camped a little ahead of us, and as we over to the latter's wagon
he remarked, "Missionaries who can sing in such a condition I want to
give my purse to," and he handed us one containing $23.45.
For days on this journey, from a sun-rise start to a sun-set stop, we
only made from one-half to one mile's distance, frequently putting five
and six yoke of oxen to a wagon at a time. The food our cattle had was
brouse and dry grass on the ridges where the snow had blown off.
We reached the Platte River about three o'clock, p.m., on Saturday,
May 25th, with our cattle so weak and poor that we drove several of
them loose and pulled two wagons into camp by hand. After lunch we had
a fellowship meeting. I made a motion that when we left that camping
place we should have good, light wagons, with four horses to each
one, plenty of food, and "a white man's outfit." After considerable
discussion the motion was unanimously carried, and with considerable
sarcasm I was appointed trader-in-chief to make the desired exchanges.
Several California emigrants were present at the meeting and before
night, they had donated a nice wagon, a new set of double harness, a
horse, some rice, sugar, dried apples, etc. In a few days I succeeded
in exchanging our old out-fits for fine, fat horses, and everything
needful for a comfortable journey. We put a sign on one of our wagons
"U. S. Mail," and received considerable money for drop letters.
In crossing the plains we met the cholera among the gold diggers,
who were on their way to California. We frequently had to leave the
road to avoid the stench of those who had died by its ravages, and
were but slightly covered over by their comrades. At one time I saw
a man beating his cattle with the butt of his whip, cursing loudly
at the same time; he dropped on the ground in the act and in about
fifteen minutes was dead and buried. One evening Captain Davis was
attacked with the terrible disease and in a short time was dead. The
day following I was taken with it about noon, just as we were about
to turn down to the Platte River to lunch. My brethren gave me all
encouragement, saying they would hurry to the river, and nurse me
and do all they could for me. For a few minutes I did the most rapid
thinking of my lifetime. I then told them not to take me from the main
road, for God's servants had promised me I should not die on the road
to England. They asked what they should do. I told them to let me get
out of the wagon on the sand with my face towards Europe, and then they
should go to their lunch. If they should return and find me dead, they
had better return home and conclude that "Mormonism" was a hoax. They
seemed to think my head was affected and I had to charge them in a most
solemn manner before they would let me have my way. When they came to
me from lunch I selected two brethren to hold me up by the wrists at
the hind end of the wagon, and drive the team as slowly as possible,
and when the paroxysms of the cramp came on to lift me in. This was
continued till about three o'clock, p.m., when the cholera left me. For
the width of three fingers where my stomach and bowels were cramped
over each other, my body was as black and blue for some three weeks
as any bruise I have ever seen, and as much flesh went from me in six
hours, as a fever usually takes from a man in a month. I know this,
that the faith taught me by my father, Daniel Spencer, together with
the natural grit inherited from my father and mother, saved my life.
We sold our outfits at Council Bluffs for considerable more than those
we traded for them would have brought us. As we journeyed through
the States the Elders separated to visit relatives, and on the day I
reached Albany, N. Y., I had no companion.
I had acted as cook considerable of the time on the plains; had laid
on the ground, on the brush and in the snow, assisted to wash dishes
and had done my full share of camp duty generally; but in doing this my
clothes had got into a condition that would have been a curiosity at a
dress ball. I wore a cap that many years before (I cannot recollect how
many) had been of fur; it had now got to be what might be called a skin
cap. I had two or three holes cracked through it, out of which my hair
would often be seen.
I went aboard a New York steamer and applied for a ticket for passage
and state room to that city. The agent looked at me from head to foot
and then said that I could not have one, as the boat was chartered by
the State, county, and city authorities for a pleasure trip. On looking
round I saw "U.S. Mail" as a sign on the boat; I laid down the money
before the ticket seller and demanded my ticket. After some squirming
on his part I got it. On this same day I had the "blues" as I hope
never to have them again. I had nearly concluded that there could not
be either sense or inspiration in the authorities of the Church sending
me to England on a mission, and that when I got to New York City I
would go over to my native town where I had some property and quietly
settle among my old friends and relatives. So great was the power that
the devil had over me that when I first stepped on the boat I drew a
chair into the niche by the "figure head" to avoid having conversation
with anyone. I had sat there but a few moments when a person came up
behind me and remarked that it was a pleasant evening. I made no reply.
"Boat making fine time," said he.
Still I did not answer. Soon he spoke again: "Are you traveling far,
young man?"
I jerked my chair around and answered very spitefully, "I
have _come_ a long way and I am _going_ a long way; all the way
from Salt Lake to England. Is there anything else you want?" My abruptness
had sent him back several feet, and he was looking at me with about as much
curiosity as if he were viewing a wild animal.
Very soon he smiled and said, "Yes if you come from Salt Lake there is
a good deal more I want."
He commenced asking questions, and soon several more persons gathered
around; but just then the dinner bell rang, and they invited me to go
to dine, which I did not do, as it seemed to me that I could not have
eaten at that time even if it were to save my life. After finishing
their repast I was waited upon by three gentlemen, who stated they had
engaged the cabin from the captain and wished me to preach. I told them
I had never preached in my life. They wanted to know for what I was
going to England. I told them to preach. They then wanted to know why
I would not preach in the cabin, my answer being that it was because I
was not sent here to preach. We finally compromised the matter by my
consenting to go to the cabin and answer questions. The room was so
crowded that they could not sit down, but stood around in circles, and
took turns in asking me questions.
When I first sat down I noticed a large, black-eyed, black-haired man,
and said to myself, "When he comes I will have the devil." After some
time he pushed forward and literally covered me with compliments. He
then remarked, "You must excuse me, young friend, after your testimony
of the goodness of your people, for asking why _such_ men as George J.
Adams, John C. Bennett, Dr. Foster, Charles Foster and others could not
live peaceably in your community?"
My answer followed like lightning: "It was because they were such
gamblers, whore-masters, black-legs and rascals as you are."
He made a bound for me; six men caught him, pulled him to the outside
of the circle, and slapping him on the back told him with an oath, that
if God Almighty had come down out of heaven He could not have told his
character any better than the little "Mormon" had.
I answered questions until about eleven o'clock at night, when I sprang
from my chair and said, "Gentlemen, you have had 'Mormonism' enough for
one night," and I started for my room. I was stopped and led back to
my chair, when I received a unanimous vote of thanks and the proffer
to raise me three hundred dollars if I would accept the amount. I told
the gentlemen that we preached the gospel without purse or scrip, and
that I had already received enough to take me to England. I selected,
however, three reliable men, who promised me to see that the three
hundred dollars were given to the poor in their neighborhoods during
the next Winter.
I went into my room and prostrated myself with my face on the floor,
and thanked God for the gift of the Holy Ghost, for I had most surely
talked by inspiration. I asked forgiveness for my unbelief, and from
that time I was wholly contented to go to England.
CHAPTER II.
SET SAIL FROM NEW YORK--ARRIVE IN LIVERPOOL--SENT
TO LABOR AS A TRAVELING ELDER--PRAYERS ANSWERED--CALLED
TO PRESIDE OVER A CONFERENCE--BLESSED
ABUNDANTLY WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT--PROCURE A HALL
TO PREACH IN--MOBBED--EFFECTS OF MY PREACHING--TREATED
WITH COURTESY--ORGANIZE A BRANCH OF THE
CHURCH IN THE TOWN WHERE I WAS MOBBED--MAKE
ANOTHER APPOINTMENT TO PREACH IN A DIFFERENT
TOWN--SEND FOR HELP--SPEAKERS INTERRUPTED--AUDIENCE
QUIETED BY ME SINGING A COMIC SONG--PREJUDICE
ALLAYED--A LESSON LEARNED.
Having rejoined my fellow-missionaries in New York, we sailed from
that port August 15th, on the ship _Lady Franklin,_ passage, $10 per
head, we having to board and cook for ourselves. After a fair voyage we
arrived in Liverpool on the 14th of September, 1850. I spent a few days
in that city, and was most kindly treated by Apostle Orson Pratt, then
President of the British Mission.
I was sent from there to London, and Brother Pratt intended me to have
a few weeks to rest, and learn the "ropes" among the branches, and
Saints of that city. But the president of that conference sent me to
Colchester, fifty miles from London. It was a hard place and in order
to have raised any life there in relation to "Mormonism," one would
have required the power to resurrect the dead.
I suffered very much in spirit as well as in body. I finally said to
myself, "you were sent to this land by God's highest authority to
preach the gospel, and it is your duty to do it." The next morning,
after thus commenting to myself, I started for a town twenty miles
distant. The roads were wet and heavy and, with my carpet-bag, the walk
was a hard one.
I came in sight of the place, on the top of a long hill, and noticed a
woman crossing the road with two pails. She filled them with water and
started back, but as she saw me walking towards her, she dropped both
pails and came to me, saying, "I knew you would come: I saw you in a
dream. Come into my house; I have a room all fixed nice and clean for
you."
Here I baptized my first fruits of the gospel, and accomplished a good
work. In a few weeks Bro. Pratt sent me to travel with Bro. Jacob
Gates, who was really like a father to me. When with him, we would
take tracts with us and go from house to house, and shop to shop in
Leicester and, in distributing them, try to get a chance to talk with
the people.
One day we had been working very hard in the rain and mud, but with
little success. As we were on our way home, at dusk, we passed the
shop of an herbalist, and I told Bro. Gates I would like to go into
this one place before going home. I bought something for a penny and,
at the same time, commenced talking "Mormonism" to a stranger. This
man's name is now very familiar to the Latter-day Saints, it being none
other than George Goddard. Previous to my visit, he had never heard of
our religion, but, as he was an honest and brave man, it was not long
before he and his family were baptized and, in a little time, gathered
to Zion.
During that day I had asked the Lord many times to give me one soul as
a comfort and testimony. I went into Bro. Goddard's shop by as direct
inspiration as any man ever did anything by its dictation.
I traveled a few weeks with Elder Gates, when I received an appointment
to take the presidency of the Norwich Conference.
I wrote to Apostle F. D. Richards, who then presided over the mission,
asking him to give me a little more time to get accustomed to preaching
and to read up my Bible. I soon received the following answer:
"The presidency of the British Mission wishes to know if Elder C. V.
Spencer intends to stand up to the rack in this country."
When I read it I immediately wrote in reply:
"I shall start to Norwich by the next train, and don't care a groat
whether there is any hay in the rack or not."
A sister was then washing my clothes, and I had quite a time to induce
her to let me have them then; but, at last, she wrung them out as dry
as she could and stuffed them into my carpet-bag. Only a few minutes
elapsed before I was on the way to Norwich.
I do not think any man ever entered upon the discharge of his duties
as president with more distrust than I did; and I wish to record here
that the great good afterwards accomplished was God's work, for He
worked through me. I only knew enough to speak and act as directed by
the Holy Spirit. The conference was represented to me as having refused
to sustain, for its president, the man suggested by the presidency at
Liverpool, and was otherwise in a somewhat peculiar condition. Under
these circumstances I was set to work; how weak I felt, I cannot
express in words. For months afterwards people would say to me, when
meeting was over, "I heard your knees knock together when you first
began to speak."
At the second meeting I held, a man jumped up and said, "We know you be
of the devil!" I understood in a moment that the battle for my victory
in that region had to be fought right then. I turned and silenced
him immediately. When I ceased speaking, the people were as meek as
children. I never had any more trouble in that branch, and the work
revived in the whole conference. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit and
the power and manifestations of God were, I think, as noticeable to the
presidency at Liverpool as they were to me.
During the entire mission I was greatly blessed with dreams and
manifestations from the Lord. On the day the revelation on plural,
or celestial, marriage was first made public in "Freemason's Hall,"
London, one of our most noted and eloquent preachers was called upon
to speak. His effort was a dry and barren failure, patent to everybody
present. There were over two hundred prominent Elders sitting on the
stand.
Jacob Gates, the president of the meeting, arose and, looking around
at the Elders, beckoned to me in a quick way, and said, "Come here and
talk." I think every one, now living, who was present at that meeting,
if asked the question, would say I was literally clothed upon with the
Holy Ghost. I prophesied freely and without fear, and have lived to see
those prophecies fulfilled to the very letter.
At one time it was manifested to me to go to a town thirty-six miles
distant, and open up the gospel. I sent word to a branch president that
I would stop at his house on a certain day when on my way to that town.
I notified several Elders to meet me at his house. We met and held a
council. I had nothing but opposition, the president saying, "Bro.
Spencer, if you go to that place, I clear myself of the consequences;
your blood be upon your own head."
I replied, "If my blood be shed, it will be upon the heads of those
who shed it, and those who ought to have, but have not got, faith to
sustain me." I then asked if any one of the Elders would volunteer to
go with me. After considerable hesitating, the youngest Elder in the
conference promised to meet me there.
That day I walked twenty-five miles and stopped at a roadside inn at
dark, with but one shilling in my pocket. I asked for some supper. The
lady of the house said she could give me some "Welsh rabbit." Being
fond of rabbit I thought I would now have a treat; but, instead of
what I expected, she brought in some toasted cheese and bread. I was
so disappointed at this that I crept into bed without supper. She,
however, took my last shilling.
The next morning I walked to the next town, twelve miles distant, and,
on nearing it, saw a lone building on the common. I hunted up the owner
and got permission to speak in it. I then went from house to house,
notifying the people of the meeting. About this time the young Elder
came, according to promise. As we went through the streets a crowd
of rude boys and girls followed us, jeering and throwing dry manure,
pieces of coal, etc., at us.
About noon we came to four cross roads in the town, one of which led to
the Elder's home. Stopping here, he said, "Brother Spencer, I cannot
stand this," and tried to persuade me to give up the labor; but failing
to move me he walked away. About dusk I found myself near a cottage on
the outskirts of the town. I went in and notified a woman (the only
occupant) that in a few minutes I would lecture--and also invited her
to attend. I started towards the place of meeting but had got only a
few steps when I felt a hand on my shoulder; turning my head, I saw the
woman I had just left; she asked me if I had eaten supper, and when I
told her I had not eaten or drank that day, she invited me back and
placed before me, I think, every good thing she had in the house. I
then started to fill my appointment.
The building was full and many were on the outside. My first reception
was a peat sod on the side of the head, which knocked me down. I soon
rallied, picked the dirt out of my ear, prayed, stretched both hands
out before my face as if to make a dive, and made a rush for the
crowd, exclaiming, as I came up, "Gentlemen, make room, I'm the man
who lectures here to-night." I succeeded in getting into the building
after promising the Lord I would say just what He gave me. I knew it
was no use to try to sing or pray. The first thought that came to me
on arising was the scripture which says, "God hath made of one blood
all nations of men that dwell on the earth," etc. I quoted it and was
barren of thought for some two minutes, when my spirit in an instant
read the people.
I claimed brotherhood by the authority of God's word, alluded to the
persecutions of the Methodists in their early days, and asked who would
think that the Methodists in so short a time would be found persecuting
other religious bodies. I called their attention to my condition,
thousands of miles away from home, etc. In a few moments several
handkerchiefs were out, wiping tearful eyes. I had a glorious meeting,
and at the close was assailed by a minister, but the crowd hoisted him
out of the building and hooted him home.
Three gentlemen took me to the best inn of the town and told the
landlord to treat me with the greatest courtesy and charge the bill
to them. In four weeks from that time I organized a branch of sixteen
members at that place.
At one time I was desirous to create an interest in a district, and
hired a town hall at a populous sea-port place; I placarded largely,
and soon found that possibly I had created more interest than would
be pleasant. As the importance of the meeting grew, so also grew a
sense of my own littleness and I sent word to Elder G. B. Wallace, at
Liverpool, and Elder Harmon, in Scotland, to come and help me. I paid
$17.50 expenses for Bro. Harmon and I think to Bro. Wallace $25.00. On
the day of the meeting I learned there would be a large mob present.
I went to the hall before the brethren and soon perceived there was
trouble ahead, but realizing how much the meeting would cost me and the
pains that had been taken I could not bear the thought of a defeat. I
had persistently plead with the Lord for victory.
The idea had become prevalent that Brother Harmon was one of the
Twelve. I called on him to speak first. The assembly listened to
him for about two minutes. Then Brother Wallace tried it, when a
blacksmith by the name of Anguish interrupted him, and Brother Wallace
spitefully told him to "shut your head." That remark brought matters
to a climax. He spoke no more than ninety seconds, and then we had a
good representation of what imagination pictures as the pandemonium
of hell. I knelt with my back to the congregation and said, "Father!
I have done all I know. If there is anything else you wish me to do,
manifest it to me when I get up and I will do it." As soon as I arose
to my feet, a comic song that I used to sing in those days came to my
mind, and I felt as though it wanted to get out of me in all my parts.
I paused a moment, stepped to the front, threw my arms out towards the
congregation, and said, "Boys, it will be a new thing for you to hear
a minister sing a comic song in a meeting; but if you will be quiet,
I will sing you one." I sang it better than ever before or since, and
at the close they gave me a good, hearty cheer. I then appealed to
them as Englishmen, telling them how Americans treated Englishmen when
they came to our country. I continued speaking for one hour, and from
the first five minutes the dropping of a pin on the floor could have
been heard. At the close many came and shook hands, and in sixpences,
shillings, etc., gave me something over $17.00.
When my hands went out towards, and over a part of that congregation I
felt power and control go with them as tangibly as I ever felt cold or
heat, and I learned this lesson, not to shirk my own responsibilities
and run for others to fill my place, let me be ever so weak.
CHAPTER III.
AN AMUSING EPISODE--OBTAIN THE KEYS OF A CHURCH--NOTIFY
THE PEOPLE THAT A MEETING WILL BE HELD
IN IT--A GOOD TURN-OUT--MY COMPANION PREACHES
WHILE I, DISGUISED AS A POLICE, GUARD THE DOOR--EXCITEMENT
AROUSED--CONTROVERSY WITH A MINISTER--AN
ANTI-"MORMON" MEETING HELD--I ATTEND--REPLY
TO THE MINISTERS' ATTEMPTS TO EXPOSE "MORMONISM"--MY
ESCAPE FROM THE BUILDING--SAVED BY
AN INFIDEL--PROSPERITY OF THE WORK--REMARKABLE
HEALINGS--A PREDICTION UTTERED AND FULFILLED--MY
RETURN HOME--CONTRAST BETWEEN THE CONDITION
OF THE SAINTS NOW AND THAT OF THIRTY YEARS AGO.
I will mention an amusing episode, that occurred during a visit that
Brother Wallace made the conference. It started in fun but resulted in
great good: I took him to a country branch where the work was pretty
dead and we stopped with a man who had a standing in the Church, but
as a reward for his _little_ faith had been made trustee of one of
the prominent sectarian churches and held the keys of their place of
worship.
We rather crowded ourselves on to him. It was a damp, cold day, and the
man of the house was very stingy with his coal. We finally found his
coal-house and helped ourselves to fuel. It was amusing to see the old
gentleman come in and out and eye our bountiful fire, and we thought
the more coal we burned the more anxious the old man would be to get us
out of the house. So the next time he came into the room he found us
with a fire that entirely filled the fire place. I took no notice of
his sour looks and gravely told him that Brother Wallace was a builder
by trade and took great pleasure in visiting the churches and public
buildings, and asked him if he would allow us the keys of his church,
that we might examine the architectural designs. He gave us the keys
and we told him we would not return that afternoon until late.
This town was divided into what was called Upper and Lower Shipdom,
and was separated by quite a little distance. The church was in Upper
Shipdom. One of us went to the lower town and notified the people
quietly that an American gentleman would lecture in the Upper Church
that evening, while the other examined the church, arranged the seats
and lights. At the hour appointed the church was pretty well filled. We
did not light up until all was ready for commencing.
Brother Wallace took the stand, and preached a very good sermon, while
I took my stand against the inside of the door dressed as a policeman
and with a club in my hand. By occasionally tapping a few on the
shoulder I succeeded in keeping pretty good order until "amen" was
said, when Brother Wallace made his exit through the back and I through
the front door. By some means the door got locked after we had passed
out, and the mob, which had by this time collected, imagining we had
locked ourselves in, made pretty violent demonstrations at the front of
the building trying to get at us while we were laughingly wending our
way to some other section.
For the next two weeks the papers of the neighborhood teemed with
accounts of "Mormon impudence," etc., and in a little time we could
not call a meeting anywhere in the conference, but what it would be
crowded. Curiosity was above par.
In another part of the district, at a noted watering place, I secured
a town hall. As soon as meeting was opened, I was interrupted by an
orthodox minister. He gave me credit for my sincerity but regretted
that I had not turned my attention to the heathen, instead of coming
there where he had preached so many years. He appealed to the
congregation to testify that they all knew he was acquainted with
every word in the Bible. I could see that trouble was imminent and my
hypocritical opponent knew it, but was desirous of bringing it along
in as respectable a manner as possible. I conversed with him for some
time on Bible doctrine, and when we had finished the whole congregation
had turned away from him and were listening to me with rapt attention.
I here learned what simple things and persons the Lord could use to
remove grave obstacles.
On two different occasions, when I was in imminent peril, my wife, who
was dead, and her father, who died in 1846, appeared to me together and
talked to me, and were as natural to me as in life.
The priests were for some time banded together in a secret
organization. The first knowledge of which came to me at the place
where I was knocked down, as already mentioned. They soon became,
however, more bold, and during a visiting tour among the branches of
my district I was warned while walking in the road, that something
was wrong in Norwich. I went immediately to that place, and before I
reached my rooms I was met by two brethren, who said, "There's a big
anti-'Mormon' meeting at St. Andrew's hall."
I replied, "Very well, I will brush up and go to it." They and others
whom I met plead with me not to go.
When I entered the hall I found it too densely packed for me to get
a seat in the body of the house. On looking to the stand I counted
seventeen of the prominent ministers of Norfolk and Suffolk comfortably
seated. I said to myself, "I also am a minister and that is my place."
I walked up and took a seat. There were two thousand people present at
that meeting. At that time St. Andrew's hall ranked as the third finest
hall in England.
The meeting commenced about half-past two, p.m., and it was about five
o'clock when I entered. At half-past eight the chairman announced that
if any member of the unfortunate "Mormon" Church was present, who had
the hardihood and moral courage to attempt a defense after such an
overwhelming exposure of their system as had been made that day to
the citizens of Norwich, he would be allowed to speak. Of course all
eyes had been on me and the invitation was a trap on the part of the
ministers. They offered me no way of getting to the pulpit as I was
behind five rows of seats each of which was packed with my opponents
and not one offered to allow me to pass. I prayed, put my hands on the
sides of the heads of the two ministers in front of me, made an opening
and stepped over into their seat; this I did with the others until I
reached the pulpit.
A great part of what I said I did not know at the time, nor have I
known since, but near the close of my remarks I found myself with my
back to the congregation and my face to the preachers. My last words to
the latter were, "You are infidels, and it is you who make infidels,
and by your precepts smother the hope of any realization of the
gifts and blessings promised by Christ and His Apostles. I prophesy,
moreover, to you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that your labors
of this day and night, shall be the cause of hundreds embracing the
gospel I preach."
After I ceased to speak the chairman undertook to read from the Book of
Mormon, but he shook so that it was impossible for him to read. Another
man tried to speak, but he was affected in the same way and had to
desist.
There was a stairway leading from where I stood down to the vestibule,
and I hoped to reach it soon enough after the dismissal to make my
escape; but when I got there it was full of human beings, who were,
however, more like devils than men. They shouted, "Where is he? Tear
him limb from limb; throw him over into the river," etc.
A tall man wearing a cloak could see me while the rest seemed blinded.
He came up, covered me entirely with his cloak, slipped his arms under
mine, drew me up to his bosom and whispered, "Be still and I will save
you." He carried me out of the vestibule, the court yard, and nearly
a block up the street, the mob crowding up against and around us the
whole distance. My deliverer worked his way to the side of the street
until he got to his own home when he struck the spring of a door in a
stone wall, it flew open, he cast me in like a log of wood, and passed
on with the crowd. In about three-quarters of an hour he came back with
some of our people and I was liberated and guarded home. This man was
what is generally called an infidel. The next day I presented him with
the best bound set of our publications I could procure. I asked him why
he saved my life, to which he replied that it was only because of a
love of justice.
From the time of this occurrence the work prospered as it had never
done before. Our chapel was literally packed, and some citizens even
took out every window on one side, brought their own trussel and planks
and built a platform the entire length of the building. On one occasion
we went out after the evening meeting and baptized seventeen persons,
and the conversions during the whole time were quite numerous.
One evening some rowdies came intending to mob us. I sat on the stand
carefully watching every movement of the assembly. Finally I leaned
over and whispered to Brother William Foster (who now sings in the
Tabernacle choir) to sing us something. He started the hymn "Praise
to the man." The Holy Spirit rested upon the choir and the peace of
God was upon the congregation, and the quietness of the meeting was
recalled to my memory by a brother on the side-walk a few days since.
During the time the cholera raged in England, in 1852, I never entered
a house where it was, or administered to a person who had it but what
it instantly left. One rainy night I was called to go and visit a lady
who had been taken with this terrible disease. It was mid-night when
I reached the house and was met at the door with the statement that
two doctors had just left who said that the afflicted one must die. I
entered the room, walked to the bedside and commanded the person in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by virtue of the Priesthood to rise
up sound and whole. In fifteen minutes she was eating supper and she
sang several songs before I left.
I wish here to bear testimony of the kindness, obedience and love of
the Saints at the Norwich conference. They were like my children and I
was their father. In their poverty they gave to me liberally, and what
I received I spent freely in helping the poor and the sick, and for the
work of God. Up to the time they presented me with means to return home
I had not saved five shillings. After my return home, the first two
hundred and seventy-five dollars I obtained I took to President Young
with the request that he send it to the poorest of the poor of Norwich
conference. He remarked as he took it, "Brother Spencer, you are the
first returned missionary that ever did the like."
Brother Neslen, who is now usually called "Father Neslen," was
president of the Lowestoft branch during my presidency of the Norwich
conference. He was in good circumstances and had a nice house, but
during my first visits to the branch he never invited me to his house,
and after late meetings used to take me away quite a distance to sleep.
On one of my visits, as we were walking on the "Esplanade," I turned to
him and said, "Brother Neslen, you may think it rather strange manners,
but I feel impressed to ask you the reason why you never invite me to
your house?" He replied that none of his family belonged to the Church
and he was afraid if he did my feelings would be hurt. (His family
consisted of a wife and nine children.)
I turned to him and said, "Brother Neslen, you are president of this
branch, and as foreign as it may be to Gentile manners I must do my
duty. I want you to invite me to your house; if you do so I promise you
in the name of the Lord that every one of your family shall embrace the
gospel, and everyone shall live to go to Zion; if you do not, and have
not faith to stand up in your place as the head of your own family you
are not fit to stand as president of the branch; and more than that,
you will apostatize and none of you be saved in the kingdom of God."
The next time I visited Lowestoft he took me to his home: his wife was
kind as a mother in her treatment and in a few months the ten souls
where baptized and all lived to reach Zion in safety.
I left the Norwich conference in the beginning of 1853. It then
numbered one thousand and fifty-nine people--one hundred and fifty
having been baptized during the last six months. I brought home with
me to Zion ninety-five souls, thus fulfilling the words of my blessing
that I should return to Zion bringing many sheaves with me. The great
majority that came have abode in the faith and they have increased and
multiplied in Israel, until they now number more than those who were
left back in the conference.
In writing this short sketch I have omitted to praise individuals whose
works in those days will make me love them while life lasts. But I wish
here to gratefully acknowledge the kindness of Elder George B. Wallace.
My health in that land was very poor. I suffered from a grievous and
dispiriting affliction all the time I was in England. After I had been
there some months I met Bro. Orson Pratt; his first exclamation was,
"What is the matter with you?" He told me I could go home. I said I had
no money, to which he replied, "I have, and you can go comfortably."
I told him I had not accomplished what I was promised. "But," said he,
"if you die here you will not accomplish it; and had you not better go
than be buried in this land?"
I answered, "I was commanded to come here and perform a certain work by
the highest authority in Zion. I will not go home unless you command
me."
He saw my faith, blessed and comforted me and I went back to my labors.
When a boy I received, at the Nauvoo Temple, my endowments and the
birthright, with promises, under the hands of my father, which I relied
upon.
I returned to Salt Lake City September 19th 1853, making three years
and five months, to a day, that I was absent.
In going through Salt Lake City I find prominent merchants who were
poor lads in my field of labor. I find an owner of real estate on Main
Street who used all the means his entire family could gather together
to bring himself out here, so that he could raise means to emigrate
them afterwards. I pass by costly shops of merchandise and find the
owners are people who, in our Norwich Conference, were very poor. I see
a cottage and beautiful grounds, and find them owned by one with whom I
shared, in that land, the portion given to me by the poor.
I go through the country and find scarcely a family of those who
emigrated in 1853 but what is surrounded by all the necessaries and
many of the comforts of life. I now realize that whether my first
mission, in its ending, was much or little, its results no man can tell.
I am satisfied and paid for the very little and feeble labors that I
performed. I returned bright and zealous in the love of the truth. God
has never yet forsaken me by His Spirit, and I do not believe that any
man will ever be trusted to walk in the footsteps of his Elder Brother,
Jesus, as a Savior of a world, or ever be seated with honor on the
right hand of His Father, until he has learned to wade through deep
and troubled waters, up stream and against the current without earthly
props or stays.
I am closing this history near my sixtieth birthday, and have been
moved to write it, that my gratitude and acknowledgement of the honor
done me by the Lord, that His testimonies given to one of His servants
in the latter-day work, might be preserved and live on the earth. I
gratefully dedicate it to President Franklin D. Richards, with the hope
and prayer that he will use it, at the time and under the circumstances
which his wisdom shall dictate, for the strengthening of the faith of
the young, and the comforting of the hearts of some old veterans whose
touching experiences have, perhaps, never been known away from their
own firesides.
MY SWISS MISSION.
BY WILLIAM BUDGE.
CHAPTER I.
MANNER IN WHICH THE GOSPEL IS PREACHED--MY LABORS
IN ENGLAND--CALLED TO SWITZERLAND--JOIN MY COMPANION
AND TAKE PASSAGE TO FRANCE--PROCEED TO
SWITZERLAND--MEET ELDERS IN GENEVA--OUR FIELDS
OF LABOR ASSIGNED US.
In presenting a sketch of missionary experience as reading matter
for the young people of modern Israel, I am aware that they may have
read many such before; but there is so much variety and interest
connected with the means and methods which have been, and are, used in
the extension of the latter-day work, that I need not apologise. So
singular and diversified have been the circumstances surrounding the
Elders, that there is a peculiar interest in all their narratives.
Some of the peculiarities of God's work are very prominently manifested
in the missionary department. The Elders are sent without purse and
without scrip, and the closer they live to this requirement, the more
successful they are likely to be. It requires, however, much faith to
do this, and it brings us face to face with many trials, temptations
and inconveniences; but it also brings us nearer to God, as our
condition requires the help which He alone can give, in blessing us
with His Spirit, raising up friends and opening up the way before us.
The Elders in modern times, like those of ancient days, have generally
been unlearned, which, according to human wisdom, would be a very
serious drawback in teaching a new faith. In addition to this, the
faith the Elders have been sent to teach is not only strange, but
unpopular in the world. The sending of men, without money or learning,
to establish a new religion, almost wholly in its nature opposed to the
views of the people among whom they are sent, seems a strange thing. We
confess it does; but God's ways are not like our ways, yet they are the
best. His way of having the gospel preached serves other purposes as
well as accomplishing the main object. It proves the integrity of the
preacher, as there are no worldly benefits attached to the work; and it
proves the sincerity of the believer, as there is no prospect of gain
held out, but the truth itself. There must be earnestness and faith on
both sides.
The gospel has been carried to many nations, and will be preached to
all nations before the end comes. It will be readily understood that
the difficulties of missionary work are much increased when the gospel
is sent to nations where a foreign language to that of the preacher is
spoken, even if the laws are liberal enough to permit the Elder freely
to do his duty.
I labored in the Southampton (England) conference, as a traveling
Elder, in the years 1852 and 1853. I had labored in the north of
England and in the west of Scotland previously, and had seen hard
times, endured much and been the means of bringing a number to the
knowledge of the truth. The Southampton district, to which I had
been appointed when this brief history begins, consisted of the town
of Southampton and several smaller places convenient to visit, and
containing a number of faithful Saints.
In those days Elders sent to, or connected with, what was termed
"foreign missions," especially those of France, Switzerland and Italy,
were in the habit of sailing from and arriving at Southampton. I had
the pleasure there of making the acquaintance of such men as Andrew
Lamareaux, James H. Hart, Edward Stevenson, Nathan T. Porter, T. B. H.
Stenhouse, Jabez Woodward, S. L. Balliff and others. Elders Lamareaux
and Woodward died in the faith of the gospel. Bro Stenhouse, although
a capable man, was proud and fell from the ranks of the righteous. The
remaining four named have continued their usefulness unwaveringly,
and are brighter and better with the passing years. They often rested
at Southampton and enjoyed the hospitality of the ever-kind Saints of
that place. Their conversation was interesting as, like the old warrior
who, in his stories, fought his battles o'er again, they related their
experience and told of the habits and customs of strange peoples, and
of the difficulties they encountered in establishing the gospel in
distant lands, and of the kindness of those whom they were instrumental
in bringing into the light and influence of the Spirit of God.
The Elders engaged in the British mission did not covet a foreign
mission, although, probably, not one of them would have hesitated a
moment about going if he had been sent. I never knew of one refusing,
and I was as well acquainted with our missionaries, personally and
otherwise, I believe, as any one man from 1850 to 1860. As I observed,
the Elders did not naturally desire a mission that made necessary
the learning of another language, and the meeting of other serious
hindrances and, oftentimes, suffering and imprisonment on account of
prejudice and illiberal laws. I had such feelings; and, in consequence
of being acquainted with so many that were connected with missions on
the continent, felt sometimes a little uneasy, like Elders at home who
think it probable that they may be "called" at conference time. I was,
however, ready to go if called.
My labors in the Southampton conference were greatly blessed. I
had the pleasure of baptizing quite a number of people, and I am
thankful in knowing that many of them are, to-day, faithful Saints in
Zion. While laboring here, I was instructed by the president of the
mission to prepare to go to the Shetland Islands; but, after further
consideration, and especially in consequence of the favorable season of
the year being so far gone, it was concluded to let the matter rest.
Early in 1854 I was sent to labor in the Norwich conference where I
enjoyed my labors very much. I still thought, sometimes, of foreign
missions, but now all thoughts of the French, German and Italian
languages which there had been, in my mind, some danger of my having
to learn, were forgotten, as there was now no opportunity of my coming
into contact with foreign missionaries traveling to or from their
fields of labor.
In July, 1854 I received instructions to labor in Cambridge, one of the
ancient seats of learning, and now a city of colleges.
My mission here embraced, as a special work, the distribution of our
Church tracts among the professors and students; and my experience
in this labor, if not always pleasant, was exceedingly profitable
to me, arising from the necessity of preparing myself to answer
questions, give explanations and to cultivate the virtues of patience
and long-suffering. I persisted in the labor, however, and, in time,
enjoyed it. Although there was less apparent good done in adding to the
Church than in any former field of labor, I endeavored, with the help
of God, to do my duty while I remained in that hardened city. One day
I was resting at the conference house in Cambridge, when a letter came
for me from Liverpool which contained the following appointment:
"TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:--
"This is to certify that Elder William Budge is hereby appointed to
labor under presidency of Elder Daniel Tyler, president of the Swiss
and Italian missions of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints," etc., etc.
It was signed by President Franklin D. Richards who then presided over
the branches of the Church in the British Isles and adjacent countries.
That foreign mission, at last!
The reception of that appointment brought with it, to me, one of the
strongest evidences of the divinity of this work: it brought the spirit
of my new mission with it. As I finished the reading of the letter
my feelings were entirely changed. I was both ready and willing, and
was not satisfied until I procured a work on German, and had actually
started on my journey to Switzerland.
Elder Samuel Francis, now of Morgan County, Utah, as stated in a letter
accompanying my appointment, was also called at the same time to the
same mission. On my way to join him I spent one night in London. In
the evening I attended a meeting in one of the branches. Years after
I had the honor of presiding over the London Conference, but this was
the first meeting I ever attended in the great city. We had a good
time, the Spirit being poured out bountifully upon us. Several Elders
spoke, and one, referring to my going to Switzerland, prophesied
before the people that I would yet preside over the British Mission.
I was astonished, and thought that perhaps my brother's zeal and good
feelings had controlled his tongue; but, by the direction of our
Heavenly Father through His servants, after the lapse of twenty-four
years, it did surely come to pass.
Brother Francis received me kindly at Brighton, where he labored. He
had, for a companion, a book entitled "French Without a Master," and
I noticed he often consulted it. He told me he had been "reading up"
and had made some progress. I had not had time to "read up" much, and,
consequently, my progress was not worth mentioning; but I felt consoled
somewhat when I thought how convenient it would be to have a companion
who could act as interpreter on our journey through France. We sailed
from New Haven for Dieppe on the 28th of September, 1854. The voyage
was not a long one, but the sea was troubled so much that, during
part of the time, we did not think a great deal about either French
or German, with, or without, a master. As we drew near the shores of
France, we thought it necessary to make some inquiry about the Custom
House and passport regulations. Bro. Francis made some advances in
French to a Frenchman, but the party addressed, evidently, did not know
much about "book French," as spoken by my esteemed companion. Long
after this I found that the provincial natives of a country frequently
speak a corruption of the language and are not familiar with the
language proper when spoken. It was agreeable to us to think that this
Frenchman might be one of that class.
We landed, had our baggage examined in the Custom House and were passed
out into the street, strangers in a strange land. We were anxious to
find the railway station and Bro. Francis at once brought his "French
Without a Master" to light. He stopped and endeavored to get up a
conversation with two different natives whom he met on the street,
but, unfortunately, they were not "up" in their education and we were
obliged to go back to the ancient and barbarous language of signs,
although my companion's perseverance was worthy of greater success.
After stopping several hours in Paris and Macon we arrived at Geneva,
the headquarters of the Swiss and Italian Mission, in good health
and spirits; but before entering the city the police stopped our
_diligence_ (stage) and collected our passports. They were taken into
the police office in the city, where they were kept until the owner
concluded to travel further; but, in the meantime, that is, next day,
we were furnished with a permit, intended to save us from annoyance if
the police should take special notice of us.
Our brethren met and welcomed us. They were Elders T. B. H. Stenhouse,
president of the mission, although about to leave, having been released
to gather with the Church, Daniel Tyler, his successor, George Mayer,
J. F. Secrist, G. D. Keaton, C. R. Savage and John Chislett.
On Sunday, October 1st, we met in general conference, which lasted
three days, where we had a time of rejoicing together. At this
conference Elder Francis was appointed to labor in Italy among the
Waldenses who speak French; and I was appointed to labor under the
direction of Elder Mayer in the Zurich Conference, a portion of
Switzerland where the people speak German. It was with regret that I
parted with my intelligent companion, Brother Francis. I heard from him
at intervals afterwards; and, in the course of time and changes, under
the providences of God, we met again in England to labor together in
the Birmingham district.
Geneva, although not the capital of the Swiss Confederation, is its
principal city. It has now a population of about fifty thousand. Nearly
four thousand of these are employed in the manufacture of watches and
jewelry. The city, situated on the southern end of the lake of the
same name, presents a majestic appearance; the hills beyond and around
forming a beautiful prospect.