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.
On October the 4th I left Geneva with Elder Mayer for our field of
labor. We sailed about thirty miles on the lake and then had a short,
pleasant walk to Lausanne. This place has a population of twenty-eight
thousand; it is the capital of the canton De Vaud, and is a very
attractive place of residence.
At 3 p.m. we took our seats on the _diligence_ and were soon
traveling along towards Berne, the capital city of the Swiss republic,
where we arrived at 5 o'clock on the following morning.
Berne has now a population of about forty thousand. It is the capital
of the canton as well as of the nation. It is built on the River Aar.
Numerous quaint and ornamental fountains decorate its streets; but
the buildings are dull and heavy-looking, the windows being generally
small. It is what might be called an old-fashioned place. The city
derives its name from the word _baren,_ the German for bears. The
figure of that interesting animal is conspicuous everywhere, on town
gates, fences and houses. For centuries living bears have been kept
at the public expense. The Bear Pit is one of the places of interest
about Berne, as there is generally, in fine weather, a number of
people collected there to enjoy the antics of the imprisoned animals.
An Englishman fell into this pit on the night of the 3rd of March,
1861, and was torn to pieces after a desperate struggle. There are
many interesting places about this remarkable old town. It has a fine
old cathedral, built in the sixth century, with an organ, justly
celebrated, said to be about equal to that of Fribourg, another town in
Switzerland. The Fribourg organ has sixty-seven stops and one thousand
eight hundred pipes, some of the latter being thirty-two feet long.
There are also a museum, palace, hospital and other objects of interest.
Our next stage was to the town of Baden where we took train to
Schlieren, and then walked to the village of Weiningen, about six miles
from Zurich, the principal city of the German portion of Switzerland.
There was a small branch of the Church at this place, and it was
designed that I should reside here for a time to commence my study
of German. On reaching Bro. Hug's house we were received in the most
friendly manner, and soon had some refreshment of which we stood in
need. At night a prayer meeting was held in the house. I much enjoyed
the spirit which prevailed, but understood not a word. The sound of
speaking seemed to be continuous, and it was impossible for me to catch
the beginning or end of a word or sentence. The Saints here numbered,
in all, fifteen or sixteen, the fruits of the labors of Elder George
Mayer who lives now, I believe, in Utah County.
On the 6th, Bro. Mayer went to Zurich and I was left with my Swiss
friends and my books.
The family with whom I lived showed me every kindness. How strange it
is when a person cannot make known his thoughts, nor understand people
when they talk! The very sound of German was harsh to me; but I soon
got accustomed to it.
I soon learned that the authorities of Switzerland were very suspicious
of anything like a gathering of the people and, therefore, all we did
had to be kept very quiet. I did not attract much notice, however,
because I was kept very busy in my endeavors to acquire the language.
In my journal I find the following:
"November the 25th. For some considerable time past the inhabitants
of Weiningen have been lying against the Saints, and the spirit
of persecution has been increasing. The village minister has been
lecturing against the 'Mormons' and made the people worse. For the
last two or three days they have been threatening to put a stop to
'Mormonism,' and they commenced in the following manner:
"About eight o'clock this evening, while Bro. Henry Hug was gone
to baptize two persons, a crowd gathered around the house, railing
and swearing against us. They forced open the window shutters and,
at length, entered the outer entrance of the house where several of
the brethren had gone to speak to them. The mob would not listen,
but forced their way into the room, beating back the brethren; we
were trying, in the meantime, to prevent them. The mob being more
particularly in search of Elder Mayer or myself, gave a howl of
satisfaction when they perceived me. Bro. Mayer was not in the place
and several men instantly laid hold of me and soon dragged me to the
door. The brethren, seeing this, made another effort and succeeded
in rescuing me, when a general fight began as well as it could be
maintained by seven or eight persons against forty or fifty, that
being the number that could come into the apartment. At this stage
of the proceedings the small light that stood upon a table was
extinguished and we were in sudden darkness, which at once put an end
to hostilities. The thought had just passed through my mind that if
I could make my escape it would save the property in the house from
destruction, and the people from this riotous mob. As soon as we were
in darkness Sister Ragela Hug whispered to me to follow her; I did
so and, by some crowding and caution, we reached the hall doorway,
when a man got hold of me by the hair. I quickly gave him a dig in
the stomach with my elbow which as quickly caused him to let go his
hold; but he gave the alarm. It was, however, too late: we had gained
the back room, which we entered and bolted the door inside. I had but
time to unfasten a window and leap from it to the ground before the
crowd issued from the doors, both in the front and back of the house.
I ran a short distance, then stood and listened, but, hearing no one
pursuing, I went into the orchard and drew near the house again, as
I wished to know whether the mob had left the house, for if they had
I expected the Saints would be safe from further trouble. When near
enough I heard the men searching for me in the out houses; so I turned
and walked into Zurich, which place I reached about 2 o'clock in the
morning, my body bruised, my head uncovered and my clothes very much
torn. I went to Elder Baer's house and was soon admitted, had some
refreshments and went to bed and slept soundly.
"The next day Elder Baer went to Weiningen and I spent the day with
Elder Mayer and the Saints at the meetings. In the evening Elder
Baer returned and told us that Bro. Henry Hug, while baptizing on
the previous evening, was interrupted by a portion of the mob that
had annoyed us. He was smitten on the face and taken before the
authorities, first at Weiningen and then at Zurich; and was kept in
prison all night. Also that, after I had left Weiningen, the brethren
and some of the crowd did some fighting, but there was no one hurt
much. Thus the Lord once more delivered us out of the hands of our
enemies."
Only a few days elapsed after these events before I was summoned
to appear before the _Stadthalter_ (mayor) who, by the aid of an
interpreter, examined me at considerable length, the substance of which
I insert here as complete as possible:
QUESTION.--How old are you?
ANSWER.--Twenty-six years old.
Q.--Where were you born?
A.--In Lanark, Scotland.
Q.--Did you ever follow any business, if so, what was it?
A.--I was engaged at an inn, and afterwards in the boot and shoe
business.
Q.--Where did you come from to this country?
A.--From Cambridge, England.
Q.--Were you long in England?
A.--About three years and a half.
Q.--In what part?
A.--In many parts.
Q.--Had you property left you?
A.--No.
Q.--Then you made some money by your business?
A.--Yes, while engaged in it.
Q.--Did you follow any business while traveling in England?
A.--Yes.
Q.--What?
A.--Lecturing.
Q.--On politics or religion?
A.--Religion.
Q.--What did you come to this country for, and what have you been doing
since you came here?
A.--I came here partly to learn the German language, and to give
lessons in English, and I have been doing so since I came.
Q.--How long is it since you came into Switzerland?
A.--I came into Switzerland on the last day of September.
Q.--Into what part?
A.--Geneva.
Q.--Are you a believer in the doctrine of the people called Mormons?
A.--Yes, sir.
Q.--As it is taught in this country?
A.--I do not yet understand the language of this country.
Q.--But you believe the doctrines?
A.--Yes, those that I understand.
Q.--Have you taken any active part in Mormonism in this country?
A.--Of course not; I have just said I was ignorant of the language.
Q.--Do you believe in the plurality of wives as being true?
A.--Yes, sir.
Q.--Have you taught it to the people here?
A.--I cannot convey my thoughts or belief to the people, as I have not
mastered the language sufficiently.
Q.--Have you any desire that the people here should believe the
doctrine of plurality of wives?
A.--I would rejoice in knowing that all people believed in the Bible.
Q.--Do you believe that the Bible teaches that doctrine?
A.--Yes, most certainly; any one who believes the Bible must believe
that doctrine. (I here offered to explain it from scripture, but was
informed that they did not interfere with the faith of any man, and
that everyone had a right to draw their own conclusions from the Bible;
but he, the _Stadthalter,_ wished to know if I desired to see that
doctrine put in operation in Switzerland, to which I replied in the
negative.)
Q.--Why not?
A.--Because the people are not prepared for such a state of things, and
it would be unlawful.
Q.--Yes, but if you had the power, would you not introduce the practice
of that system?
A.--No.
Q.--Why?
A.--I have no desire to do anything against the spirit of the laws as
at present established. Again, I have no right to introduce such a
state of things: I never received authority from God, who is the Author
of the Bible religion, to do such a thing; so that, if I had the power,
I have not the disposition to do so in this country or any other.
Q.--Do you know Mr. Mayer?
A.--Yes, sir.
Q.--How long have you know him?
A.--Since I came to this country.
Q.--Did you not know him before?
A.--No, sir.
Q.--How did you become acquainted with him?
A.--I met him at the house of a friend.
Q.--In what place?
A.--In Geneva.
Q.--Will you give us the address of that friend?
A.--Certainly, you can have it; but I may mention that my friend [A]
left Geneva for America nearly two months ago. (The authorities here
showed some dissatisfaction at the nature of my last communication.)
Q.--Is Mr. Mayer an American?
A.--I never asked him, but I believe he is.
[Footnote A: Elder T. B. H. Stenhouse, who had been released.]
Q.--Do you know what business he followed before he came to Switzerland?
A.--No, I knew nothing of him.
Q.--Did you ever tell the people here that by paying a certain sum of
money, or as much as they could, they might obtain a passage to America?
A.--I know nothing of such an arrangement; besides, I have repeatedly
stated to you that I cannot speak German well enough to explain
anything.
Q.--Do you know anything of such a matter among the Mormons here?
A.--No, I do not. [B]
The _Stadthalter_ now advised me to continue to abstain from
taking any active part with the "Mormons" as, perhaps, I was not aware (not
being able to read the public newspapers) to what extent the people
were excited against "Mormonism," and told me I would be sent for in
about a week to obtain the necessary papers to stay in Zurich, as it
was dangerous for me to remain longer in Weiningen. Thus ended my
first examination, and for the next two weeks I heard nothing from the
authorities; but rumors were prevalent that the "Mormons" were about to
be expelled.
[Footnote B: In being questioned about emigration, the object was to
convict us of receiving the people's money by making promises which
we could not fulfill. Any one, of course, could secure a passage to
America by paying the necessary amount. The laws of Switzerland did not
prevent emigration.]