ment and the brother started in with a great deal of pomposity and showed great confidence in his ability; but the first thing he knew he was in such a tangle that he could not extricate himself, and the third day at noon he completely failed and refused to debate the question any further, although everybody wanted to hear the thing through.

After the debate I went down into the Red Hills, near Salem, where I had previously built up a work, and we made our home mostly with a family by the name of Barzee. While there I preached at night and during the day visited around some and worked a little. Bro. Barzee's son-in-law was a harness-maker, and I worked a little in the shop. One job that I did was to make my beautiful team a nice pair of halters. I got the very best of web and took great pains in making them. They were beauties.

There came again a pressing demand for me to cross the Cascade Mountains, and this time I thought best to go by the way of Portland and put our horses and carriage on the packet and go as far as The Dalles and then take the road, for it would save us driving over the mountains. It was only two hundred miles from The Dalles to the John Day where we wanted to go. When we landed at The Dalles and took, our rig off and began to fix again for camping we had several things to buy and everything was very high. The first thing we knew, or at least the second day, we found ourselves again confronted with the wolf of hunger. We had nothing for our team and only a very little flour for ourselves, and not a bite of anything else. Just at night we came to a little field or garden, and I saw a patch of barley where they had been cutting some to feed with. Of course we were again despondent and had already forgotten all that the Lord had done for us. Wife was crying and I felt a heavy weight about my heart, but did not complain, at least vocally. I said to my wife, "I am going in there and try to sell my new halters and get some feed for the horses and some vegetables." She did not think I could do it. She was so despondent that she could see no bright side to life at that time; but I went in and found an old man whom I soon discovered to be the only denizen of the place, and I asked him if he would like to buy the halters.

He took them, looked at them and asked, "What are they worth?" I told him they were worth ten dollars, but I would take half that for them. I told him I made them myself and every stitch was sound.

The old man said, "What do you want to sell them for?"

I said, "Because we are broke and want to get something to eat and something for our horses."

“O,

," said the old man, "I don't want your halters. Just help yourself to anything you see here in the garden."

He went and cut barley and threw over the fence for my team as much again as they could eat, gave us potatoes, onions, meat, and I don't know what all. We were again happy, and we were within two days of our destination.

In the morning the old man came out to our camp and said,

"Look here, stranger, you can't travel through this country without a little money. You will not find any more Price Stephens on this road." And he gave me two dollars. Yes, here again were all of our doubts and fears dissipated, but O, the frailty of man! How easy to forget the blessings of God when we meet with a little adversity! We took the two dollars and left with grateful remembrance of the old infidel bachelor, Price Stephens. In two days we were at Sr. Shelly's on the John Day River, and were again among Saints and were well cared for. I immediately unfurled the banner and went to work and met with good success and built up a work near Mount Vernon. After which I went thirty miles up the river to where the Buckingham family lived, of whom I have spoken, and located with them for the winter, preaching in Lexeg, Canon City, John Day Town, and other places as the way opened.

(To be continued.)

THE MINISTER'S HIGH CALLING.

He held the lamp of truth that day

So low that none could miss the way;

And yet so high, to bring in sight

That picture fair-"The World's Great Light"
That, gazing up-the lamp between--

The hand that held it scarce was seen.

He held the pitcher, stooping low,

To lips of little ones below;

Then raised it to the weary saint,

And bade him drink, when sick and faint,
They drank the pitcher thus between-
The hand that held it scarce was seen.

He blew the trumpet soft and clear,
That trembling sinners need not fear;
And then with louder note and bold,
To raze the walls of Satan's hold!
The trumpet coming thus between-
The hand that held it scarce was seen.

But when the Captain says, "Well done,
Thou good and faithful servant-come!

Lay down the pitcher and the lamp,

Lay down the trumpet-leave the camp❞—
The weary hands will then be seen,

Clasped in those pierced ones-naught between.
-Selected.

AUTUMN LEAVES is published monthly for the youth of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Herald Publishing House, Lamoni. Iowa.

ELBERT A. SMITH, Editor, Lamoni, Iowa.

THE MINISTER WHO WAS DIFFERENT.

CHAPTER 4.

(Synopsis of preceding chapters: Sidney Luther is an eloquent and able minister, in charge of the Walnut Street Church in the city of P. His study of the Bible leads him to teach some things that are not in harmony with his church creed. Two "pillars" of the church call upon him to remonstrate. He is out and they are met by the minister's wife. They claim that they have the right to say what he shall preach because they pay his salary. The wife tells them that they can not hire her husband to preach anything, that he can not be bought and sold. At the Sunday night service Luther decides to resign his pastorate. He is comforted by Mr. McBernie, an aged Scotchman, who assures him that the Lord will take care of him. McBernie visits the Walnut Street Church some months later and finds a new man in the pulpit. He hears a sermon on "dry bones" and decides that the sermon is quite like the subject. He meets a man in blue overalls and learns that it is Sidney Luther, now engaged in manual labor as a tanner. Luther continues his search for truth and light. He becomes nominally connected with a more liberal church. He is surprised to receive a letter from McBernie who urges him to come to Mentone and engage in church work. He accepts the proposition and moves to Mentone where he becomes very successful as a minister. McBernie's son, Donald, returns from college. He meets the minister's sister and acquires a taste for religion. Luther encounters the elders of the Reorganization.)

D

"THE WAVES CIRCLE ROUND WITH THE SHOCK."

ONALD M'BERNIE was leaning over the front gate of the Luther home; he was holding converse with Minnie Luther, as Ephraim Wilson sourly observed as he passed by. Ephraim noticed that the gate had acquired an habitual "sag." The little "Do you know?" tract was the ostensible topic of conversation, so advertised by occasional reference to its pages. But we refer the reader to that innocent document; what is there in it, that even a careful rereading can discover, that should cause Minnie's cheeks to rival the June roses at her side?

Presently, in the wake of Ephraim Wilson, came Mr. E. E. Miller. The June roses blanched a little at his coming. To his inquiry for her brother, Minnie informed him that Sidney Luther had gone to the post-office. Was there anything that she could do? No. Mr. Miller understood from Sr. Barker that Luther positively refused to warn his communicants against the Latter Day Saint elders, and so, he, himself, Mr. E. E. Miller, was even then setting forth on that errand, which fact she might convey to Mr. Luther. The little frosty smile, which was used to express either almost pleasure or quite displeasure, flickered across Mr. E. E. Miller's countenance and curled the thin, smooth, upper lip.

In the wake of Mr. E. E. Miller came Luther, and from the opposite direction came a stranger. The stranger bowed to Mr. E. E. Miller, but obtained no recognition. Donald knew him as the elder who had preached in the old store-building. Donald retired hastily, Minnie laughing at his precipitation; he had become quite at ease with one preacher, but would not yet risk being present at a conjunction of two of them.

Ten minutes later, Elder Phineas Pratt and Reverend Sidney Luther were seated in the parlor (study and living-room) of the latter, engaged in earnest debate.

"I understand something of your position," said Luther; "but this book that you offer me, this Book of Mormon, why should I spend time to read it? I know that we are commanded to prove all things and hold fast the good, but there are many things claiming attention these days. They must present some prima facie evidence that they are worth attention, before we are in duty bound to take them up. Now, what have you to offer, on the start, to indicate that this book is what it claims to be? merely the unsupported word of Joseph Smith?"

"I congratulate you that you don't say 'Old Joe Smith,'" laughed the elder.

"Oh, I know that he was a young man when he died. Anyway, I wouldn't speak of him in that way, any more than I would speak of old Jack Wesley or old Alex Campbell. I believe in extending courtesy to all men. As a Christian I can do no less."

"I wish there were other ministers with your manners; but to your question. As you already understand, the Book of Mormon is a history of people who lived in North and South America, prior to modern history. A record of their history was inscribed on plates and buried before their civilization became extinct. By direction of God, Joseph Smith found the plates and translated the record. You are not left with his testimony alone. Others saw the plates and the angel. There were three, especially, who bore a strong testimony. They wrote it out and signed it, and it is found following the title-page and preface of every copy of the Book of Mormon. Let me read it to you. Notice it carefully:

"Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come, that we, through the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which contain this record, which is a record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites, their brethren, and also of the people of Jared, who came from the tower of which hath been spoken; and we also know that they have been translated by the gift and power of God, for his voice hath declared it unto us; wherefore we know of a surety, that the work is true. And we also testify that we have seen the engravings which are upon the plates; and they have been shown unto us by the power of God, and not of man. And we declare with words of soberness, that an angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, and the engravings thereon; and we know that it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord

Jesus Christ, that we beheld and bear record that these things are true; and it is marvelous in our eyes, nevertheless, the voice of the Lord commanded us that we should bear record of it; wherefore, to be obedient unto the commandments of God, we bear testimony of these things. And we know that if we are faithful in Christ, we shall rid our garments of the blood of all men, and be found spotless before the judgment-seat of Christ, and shall dwell with him eternally in the heavens. And the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen. 66 'OLIVER COWDERY. "DAVID WHITMER. ""MARTIN HARRIS.'

"There were eight others who saw the plates and signed the following testimony, found with the other:

"Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come, that Joseph Smith, Jr., the translator of this work, has shown unto us the plates of which hath been spoken, which have the appearance of gold; and as many of the leaves as the said Smith has translated, we did handle with our hands and we also saw the engravings thereon, all of which has the appearance of ancient work, and of curious workmanship. And this we bear record with words of soberness, that the said Smith has shown unto us, for we have seen and hefted, and know of a surety, that the said Smith has got the plates of which we have spoken. And we give our names unto the world to witness unto the world that which we have seen; and we lie not, God bearing witness of it.

66 'CHRISTIAN WHITMER.

66 'JACOB WHITMER.

66

'PETER WHITMER, JUN. "JOHN WHITMER.

""HIRAM PAGE.

"JOSEPH SMITH, SEN.
"HYRUM SMITH.

""SAMUEL H. SMITH.'

"Now notice," continued the elder, "those men and women were well known in their community. They were farmers, teachers, storekeepers-just good, ordinary, American citizens. Joseph Smith was a poor, obscure, rather illiterate lad. What influence had he to bring to bear on those people to induce them to bear such a testimony? Nor had he a dollar to hire them to do so. The three witnesses first named repeated their testimony at intervals, even to the very hour of death, as we have documentary evidence to prove, notwithstanding slanderous stories to the contrary.

"These testimonies are in the nature of legal evidence, and ought to suffice as prima facie evidence sufficient to enlist your attention. Obviously, the plates could not be sent into all the world, to show to every investigator, more than could the cross on which Christ was crucified. But in the mouth of two or more reputable witnesses every word shall be established. So these men were permitted to see the plates and the angel, and we have their testimony.