others that quite a number have been baptized in that neighborhood. So there is another case where the wrath of man is made to praise the Lord. If Bro. Charley Snow ever reads this, he will remember how I grumbled at him for his bad driving; and also he will call to mind an occasion when we were to hold meetings in a little log schoolhouse, and Bro. Snow said, "We can't hold a meeting here. The mob is all around the house." I said to him, "You go on and preach, and I'll stand in the door." The door was so narrow that I would fill it completely up, and as there were no windows in it I thought Charley would be safe. My labors with Bro. Snow in the South were quite pleasant; for I found him a great companion, and an industrious helper, who always knew his duty and was not afraid to do it. He had compassion on me because of my infirmities, and the most of the work fell on him; he did it cheerfully. May the Lord bless Bro. Charley! I was so much injured on account of my tip-over that I soon left the mission for Lamoni, where my family was living, where I arrived just one year to a day from the time I left home. I soon set to work as best I could to fix up and put myself in a shape that I could leave home again; for I knew it was my duty to preach the gospel, and I could not do it so effectually about home as I could away from home, though there was much to do both when I was at home and when I was abroad. For many years I had been a continual sufferer with stomach trouble, and I was getting so bad that I despaired of living; in fact, my suffering at times were so great that I have asked people to pray for me that I might die and get out of misery, and at times I felt that my end was very near, but I would rally a little and then I would want to preach, for I felt that was all I could do. I could not bear to be idle, and I have often preached when so weak that I could scarcely stand up without holding on to the stand. I got an opening at Pawnee, Missouri, about fifteen miles from Lamoni, and I preached many times, and quite a number were brought into the church there. I have heard that the work is prospering there yet. I had taken treatment for my stomach, but all to no avail; but finally Sr. Weeks, of Lamoni, gave me some medicine that seemed to relieve me at once. At the time of her treatment I had been living on Mellin's food for nine weeks, and had only used a bottle a week, and I was but a mere skeleton of my former self. I had been administered to several times, and I do not know to whom the glory belongs, whether to Sr. Weeks or to Cod, but we sing, "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow," and he often blesses the means that his children make use of, and Sr. Weeks will not be jealous if I give all the glory to him for so wisely and beneficially using his handmaiden. I soon became much stronger. I labored in the rigorous wind about Lamoni as best I could, always aiming to be loyal to advice of the missionary in charge, till one of my sons got married to Miss Martha Jones, of Lamoni, a most lovable girl, and I felt greatly rejoiced over this, for I had never been blessed with a girl in my family, and I was to have such an addition to my family. My son and daughter-in-law stayed in the house with us for a time in Lamoni, but he finally moved out on a farm that belonged to his father-in-law. I took my furniture and went out on the farm and went to work with him, trying to teach him to farm, and worked with him as much as I could, in the meantime preaching in the different schoolhouses in the vicinity. We had not been on the farm long before my son became dissatisfied and left the farm and his wife and went to Kansas City. His mother soon followed. I remained on the farm to dispose of my furniture and books. I took what little I could and moved to Independence and rented a house and began housekeeping again. I spent the winter in Independence and preached in Kansas City and other points in Missouri according to the direction of the missionary in charge. I stayed in Independence till the spring conference, but before the spring conference my family moved to California. The conference appointed me to a mission in Arizona. Now I wish before going any further to say a word in regard to moving about. It will be seen that I have done a good deal of it, but I confess that much of it has been against my will. I believe that an elder should stay in a place as long as there is a prospect of doing good, and that an elder and his family should conduct themselves in such a way that the longer they stay in a place the greater influence they will have for good. When that desire to move is gratified, it breaks up all the good that has been done and leaves the ground all to be broken over again, and lots of new work has to be done before one gets as far ahead as they were before. In fact, it is a great backset to all parties. I have been guilty of doing lots of that kind of work, although much of it has been against my will, but still it has been done, and it is a very bad policy. I hope my experience will be profitable to others. I may as well confess still further that I have had much more zeal than wisdom in my work; for instance, I have boasted of my punctuality, having been more than forty years in the mission field and never missing an appointment. This, I consider, even now, something to be proud of, but I can see now that it would have been just as good for the work, and much better for me if I had missed a number of them, perhaps much better if I had not made some of the appointments. When I was alone, which was for many years the case, I would start in for a week or ten days or a two-week meeting, and many times I would succeed in getting a great interest awakened, but for fear some time would be lost I would have an appointment sent on ahead somewhere, and just as the people had gotten to the very highest point of interest possible, I would pull out and go on to fill the other appointments. Before I would get around to that point again the influence would be dead; and I have found it much harder to work up an interest there again than it was at first, consequently much work was thrown away and a precious opportunity lost. The birds are always on the alert to pick up the good seed and not give it a chance to sprout. So I can say that I know that many of the elders travel too much altogether, and often leave the field just when their presence is needed the most. It may be true, as an elder told me once, that some do not go out of a place quite soon enough. While this may be the case with some, it might be better if they never had entered the field at all, the church would be better without their help. I used to think when I organized a branch that I must rush out and build up another branch. I did not think then of the saying, "It was quality and not quantity that God wanted." It is now late to learn God's plan. "Every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it that it bear more fruit." Oh, is it not deplorable that life is so short that by the time we learn just a little how best to do the duty of the ministry, the evening shades begin to indicate the setting of life's sun? But the Lord knoweth why it is so. I can truthfully say that my love for the work was never so great as now, but I am capable of doing so little of it or for it. Now that much of my burden has been taken away, and I feel free to labor when and where I will, I sigh for the activity of a quarter of a century ago that I might redeem much of the misspent time and atone for many of my mistakes. Before I had bodily strength, but no wisdom; now I have gained a little wisdom, but I have but little bodily strength. It seems I would delight now in carrying the flag into the enemy's camp! But oh, this allows the mind too much speculation! God will do his work just as well without my help. There is another thing I would write of while the thought is in my mind, and that is, I am sure that as a people we are too fond of debate; that we carry a chip on our shoulders too much of the time. I confess that for a number of years I was very fond of victory, and did quite too much of that kind of work. Not that it is wrong to debate as the Lord has advised us, but one gets too fond of victory, and loves to see the enemy fall before the truth. Oh, yes, it is the victory for the truth that we delight in; but is it not a victory for self that gives us the greatest satisfaction? I judge that I am, in many things, very much like other men, and I found growing within me a desire to be a hero. I was not as humble as I ought to have been, considering the greatness of the work. I know if we could go into a debate with no other thought but victory for God and his truth, that it would be much better; the desire to debate would be much less among us, and more good would result from our efforts. I have seen some debates where we have gotten the worst of it, decidedly so, and that because of our man not being a debater. There are many who can preach a fine sermon, but in a debate they are failures, and yet as a rule, they do not know it. One hardly ever hears of a man acknowledging defeat in a debate, but men get defeated occasionally just the same. Now while we, as a people, are always ready to meet our opponents on the rostrum, or any other place, is it not bad policy to be continually throwing out challenges? Does it not show a love of controversy rather than the meekness of Christ? There is a proper time and place for these things, and that should be passed upon by the missionary in charge. My own experience is, that of the very many public discussions that I engaged in, but very few ever amounted to any good for the church, and they were the ones where I went into them as a positive duty to the cause I loved, and not to show anybody what a fighter I was. What first got me to thinking on this matter was reading from the testimony of Mrs. Ellen G. White, where she admonishes her people that too much debate caused the elders to grow in a desire to dispute, and made them look too much for controversy, and destroyed in them much of that social and genial spirit that should characterize the ministry. I thought I could see that disposition growing in me, and so I tried to correct the habit. I have noticed also that most all who are brought into the church through debate are always hunting for controversy. A man to be a successful debater must not only be well posted on the subject that he is debating, but to be quite ready with what he has, and then add to that humility and prayer, and God will do the rest. (To be continued.) Editor's Corner 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 8. (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. Elder Pratt meets with the "conclave" to discuss religious topics.) BAPTISM: PRAYER-SERVICE. HALF MILE north of Mentone ran a little gravel-bottomed creek; in summer-time, merely a series of opalescent pools strung on a silver thread. One of these pools, overhung with maples and alders, Minnie had called the Pool of Siloam. In the Pool of Siloam, Sidney Luther, his wife, Arthur, and several others who had attended Elder Pratt's meetings, were baptized, Tuesday afternoon. Prayer and confirmation services were held at the Luther home in the evening. The little house was crowded with a happy, subdued company. Donald, abstracted and thoughtful, formed one of the number. After the opening exercises, Elder Pratt proceeded to confirm those who had been baptized. Coming to Sidney Luther, last of all, he placed his hands upon his head, and, with a voice trembling with emotion, and with tears running down his cheeks, he said, "Sidney, I place my hands upon your head and confirm you a member of the Church of Jesus Christ, known among men as the Rcorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In the Master's name, I say unto you, Receive ye the gift of the Holy Ghost. Now, O God, our heavenly Father, I commit our brother into thy care. May he be watched over and blessed. May there be a little circle of light around about him, through which no evil power can break to do him any permanent harm. May his home be a home of peace and light, typifying, as nearly as possible, his idea of heaven. May his life be one of service, and all the glory shall be thine. Amen." The congregation kneeled, and several prayers were offered. These were followed by testimonies. Sidney Luther, seated in the congregation, became aware of a feeling that he had not before experienced. It was as though some great unseen presence were brooding over the audience. The presiding elder glanced up quickly, as though aware of the spiritual atmosphere, and quietly opened his Bible and read, "For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." With face aglow, one sister struck up a hymn, one recently learned, "The Spirit of God like a fire is burning; The latter-day glory begins to come forth; |