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Show . .. , . - , - . . rHE ----- . - , DESERET NEWS, SATURDAY, DECEMBER Church Department 24, 1938. . 1 By7 E. Cecil McGovin 1 :J - ,' 4 "' S (Continued From Last Week) 'It, was getting dusk and we bad no chancefor me to my fire and I saw that it 'W32light telling " on my companions, that they were bitterly disappointed and we were compelled to walk out. I told them come on, in to that we were 'late and would I haste, miss our boat that we were gqing away on. so he came steng I we stopped behind I- house where I told them what I had done. Which made them two of the happiest fellows I ever saw. We had to watch but a few minutes until we-sathe steward start fwaY on the runs and we knew that be was going for a key or some,, one and that this was our chance. So leaving the Judge and Squire on guard. I run back to the temple. for the top which I soon I started 'gained and found a good place to start my fire where It would get a good start before it would shed any light to be seen from the outside. After seeing it start of a success. I began to retrace my steps with joy and a light heart for I was sure that the temple was as good as burned,- but I now saw that there Was a good chance for me to burn With it, for I had lost my way and did not know which way to turn to get out, although I had been through the temple a number of times before. if I would succeed "'I In at last thought out that I would getting be sure to be caught by the stewIfor soon be baek would he ard, and in all probability would have with him, for I was certain help' that be would lay the missing key to us. You can imagine my' feel- ings being lost In a burning tern- in case that I did escape ril: and fire I was sure of an arrest, if and arrested some Mormon Would be sure to kill me. so I became desperate. I ran first one then another In hopes of Way' some passage that I Would gaining know.' so as to find my way Out but all to no Jrras-- I Was ger' time and I ting worse lost couldn't tell one direction from ate , miller and It was tut dark as an . 1 . i ' :', , r : : '. t ; , , , i .:. . . , ; '! , , t ; - 11I - i ' :; 1 '' - I ' .. ''':- , t: , , ., , - I i 1 . ':.".: 1 ' ' , I' l .:, ' '. : 1 ' ' 0 1' t l' r; ,:. - :I.': - .. . '.... 11 1 ElprptlanlastnightI came to a stairway "At I took it with the and up going that It would lead me back whence I started the fire and I take a new start. After thee :oIid UP two pairs of Metre and ,, : - 2 ' t ,..',: 1 : : ' P,1 .,. .....! ......: ..... '. .. .. 1 ' TITO - .3 - , , , , . ' ' t , , ' , . .. . 1 , ,i ' , ,, i , . , . ' , 't ' , , .. ; 1 , , - ' ' - - : k, ; , The Christmas Bells are ringing Their message from the past, Thrre eh City. Town and Hamlet The echoes burry fast. ' Triumphantly the sounds arise. They Pierce the gloom, they mount the skies- -They cease. Is their rineing done? No. cop,pins. (lungl ng. still they ring Rut now it is of Hope t hey sing Ring on in Rake. ring on! its fairly well acquainted with doctrines. His work now accomplished. Elder Fischer left again for Derlin and the work of the Church in Selbongen and the surrounding section was under the direction of missionaries. Special meetings were held of the members to consider a place of meeting and it was decided to erects chapel. One family donated a vacant lot, and the mission confunds sented to give necessary providing the work would be undertaken by the members of the branch and such materials could at by them as they locality. In 'April. 3929 the ground was , , . - ,, i - . ..'' - t- - 4 , , ., '. . - ; ' ', ' . ' ... - ,,,, , , . t , ,1 ,,, t - - ,, :, , k ! dr. ! c , i - ' t ; i , ti, ' 1 , &., - ... ; , , : : ,',',- ; ' , '' - ,,.. , i - ' ., , ' prendent In Selbongen Elder Fischer at-- and tempted to show his parents relatives the beauties of the Gospel and convert them to his faith.. Ile found they had no Interest in, religion and he was met' everywhere with indifference. As a true missionary be searched for a new method to reach his relatives and friends. One Sunday afternoon be Lathered a le children of the vil- loge together and taught them a ', Sunday School song. This was the beginning and from then on things moved ran! Idly. The next Sunday he taught Noon all the another song and ' ,,,,-"- st , 4 ' - - , '. . , ' - E ; , , -- ,,,, ' , , t broken and because of the industry and interest of members and alike, the building was completed in the short space of one month and dedicated in April of that year by President Valentine. By that time the branch had 75 members. The chapel has a seating capacity of about 80 and also has two large spacious classrooms. Se lbongen. with its Mormon Chapel, is talked of by the members and missionaries all over Germany. It Is the wish of all other branches to eventually have the same meeting facilities as that town which is referred to in East Prussia as "Dar Mormonen Dorf". the Mormon village. fain-inth- , ". f , , . But, ever to all, this message Is thundered near and far: Across the heavns from Southern It IS borne to the Northern Star-- And lovingly a million hearts Reapond to the old refrain As "Peace and Goodwill! Peace and Goodwill!" The bells ring out again! Oh Christmas. Father Clitistmas. To those who love In vain, To those whose Faith lies wrecked in Doubt, In mercy turn again! Chi istmas. RemChildhood's One careless. happy din. And fill their hearts with the "larger hope" Which shalt not pass aNt av And Cbristmaa. Father Christmas. Live in our hearts al ways Inspire our doings all the year. Not only Cliristmai Day. Kind thoughts. brave deeds for others, Than Self some higher aim; That we, who are thy children. May thus enhance thy name! . toe, of were Ing the song practices. He appoint ed a regular time and rented a room in the school building for their meeting. A Sunday School was soOn organised as an Outgrowth of thee meetings and then the curious parents were attracted to the meetings. Progress then was rapid. The ir ischet4 family was the first to be baptised and others loon followed. The Gospel spread through the village and became the talk of the WWI). Selbongen Is a comparatively small town with a population of approximately SOO and it was not long before i'veryoni in the town had beard of Mormonism , and were T - 1 , For some the bills are tsadii,q1ed By their message from the Past: For them the lights of Christmas day shadows east. Unwonted The merry bells seem out of tune. Be mellow as they may, And some of us know that the saddest chords Are struck upon Chr istmas MN! , . - Oells ahe Oristinas - , . l c - The Christmas Bells are ringing. As they rang for Christmas past. In city, toWn and hamlet The echoes gather fast. They ring through cloud and sunshinc They ring through frost and rain And, from the gilded mists of years. Bring memories again! . , , ; one-hal- open no-- teed of closed as I had ex- pecteds The Squire had come and thrown it Open in hopes I might be able to see a star from without. siltisfied that something ' pey. pened on account of my de- lay. You can imagine cam feelings 'a hen I stepped through the door. I pulled the door to and locked it and ran away in an easterly three- non, the Judge and Squire followbig. I was sore, lame, and burned and almost choked, not being able to speak, and when I came to a well about one hundred yards away I drank and threw the key in the Well. I then told the bents to scatter and go to the horses ' which they did. They got there tong be- fore I dice. for I wait almost beyond going at all. After: reaching ' the horses I told them that the job was done and for them to go In die a ' erent directions and get home as SOOn as possible and avoid meet- to ling any one. They objected leaving me as they were afraid that I was hurt Internally. which I was fearful Was the case. I had : , - Story Of Only Church Owned Chapel In Germany it a the nearly "children attend wee dedicated tett year ago the story or the 1 ontr,' Church owned and built chapel In Germany and Its effect ' Upon the members In that country, Is here told for the tint Urn.. ; The following Information by Elder Grant R. Lamb. was: forAlfred C. Reese warded Pres. .1 by ' to the Presiding Bishopric. recently Located In East Prussia, Gers many la a small town, Selbongem where Is located the only Mormon ,, owned Meeting house in Germany. i When competed with the newer . It chapels of the Church In isUtah suffb Is somewhat small. but " to meet all needs and ciently large ' v.. Is a modern attractive strueture, About 1920 a young man, Fred,' ., rick Fischer, left Selbongen to see .1. i , More of the world and find a life's .. . occupatkm., Berlin attracted him 2' and he found work there. He also , became ', ; .. acquainted with the Church ' ' encl.-aftecareful investigation he : ..!and wall bap- .... gained a- testimony : ,. , i. tired: , Sometime later he wail asked to ! , fill a mission. and for two years ... .. be served in 'various parts of Oen, many as a' Mormon Elder. At the I - conclusion of these' two , year ' Elder Fischer returned to Berlin td i The his work. take up daily' again, mission president advised against ; ,' r ' ' ,t ' this and explained- that Elder. Fischer had another mission to fill, that of preaching the Gospel to his family and friends in Set- 4 bongen. Ile had been avv,i,ti from t felt he his work for two years .. .. could not respond to this request. set about looking for work but. ... lie 1. 2 could' find none- and soon decided to accept the advice of his 4 - , .. Mississippi to Appanoose ten milee. The Judge going in a eoutherly di- was reetion to Carthage, which about s ixteen milea, and I going to of direction the in route prairie distance. rentoosue, twelve miles f mile I After going about looked toward Nauvoo and I oew a - ' - .! ' t i . : , 1 l '. :.' '. l 1 to a through many hallsa I came turn and light shone a slay down a passage in the 9P- posite direction from what I ware- ad to go. but I thought best In go and see what it was. and ; soon discovered that it vt as which was burning fire. my at a fearful rate, sending its fiery tongues clear acroes the hail. I drew as near as I could and I haPpened to see Squire McCauley's bandana handkerchief lying on the floor a short distance from the fire on the opposite aide of me, so I knew that my way led through the fire. Now what was I to do? Not knowing as It 'Were what I did, I threw my coat over my head and made a dive through the hell of fire, striking my fun length on the floor and I rolled over and over Un- Ill I got Out of reach of the file When I got to my feet, I took off my coat and extinguished the fire that had caught In the lining. Aft- er which I put it on again with difficulty as I tried to run for I had seriously hurt my arm and one of my legs from my fall on the floor. But I was Ito excited at the time I did not realize the pain un- tit afterwards. With the assistance of a few matches I had, that I now thought of. I kept striking them along my way and at teat I reached the dcor that I had gone In and found it , : . 1 ..j inhaled the tire and thought my time bad come. I told them to go: that I would pull through. So tile Squire took the river route up the . . flickering light end the next minute the flames burst through the root and lit up all the country around for miles as light as day. I Pthuel my dihorse Into a dead run in rection of the Mississippi timber which I gained in time without beon the road ing seen. as the people were all in beil, but T had no sooner jumped My horse over a fence into a field and secreted myself behind some bushes when along came several horsemen on their way In the fire, which had by this time been discovered for twenty miles around. After they bad passmy ed I again tried to mount (Continued On Page Eight) Nauvoa The Beautiful .11 - , . . . Arid,. a. . , The--onl- Churchnowned chapel in Germany is this small building in Selbongen, East Prus- the story of which is told herewith. The above' picture was taken in October. , . . . . . . .. , , - . ss:.,ssrs,smSsas - Cs |