| Show THE WORK NEAR NEAK manchester SALT CITY july add 1895 yesterday i received a letter from froin joon joba W macduff traveling elder in tie cho manchester conference and who is ta tinned at the conference house in patri croft craft near manchester among different items hems of information inform atton he states that on the ah of last moth there berti were five baptisms in that pen porta aj the vineyard two of which lam am it aft in interested te rested in as it ft is part off odthe the restate of our labors there last winter 1 As previously stated in my lettea letter in england is up hill work as it very often happens that chit 1 towns and villages are traded with bat t little apparent results alter after trac traction tio tift several towns and villages within a fd t miles from patricroft Patri Patric croft rolt our attention wa turned in october last to the foott jw miles south of in tr trading acting and conversation convers aion we aft with more encouragement there than te any other place in that part of the conference we first became acquainted acquaint qU with a family named francis theft members of whom attended one of our meetings at Patric rolt in the neighbor hood where this family resides therell no meeting house of any denomination and at the time referred to the people k that hat vicinity had been holding weekly cottage meetings credit was due mrs grover as being prime mover in the matter having learned that the francis family had loaned one of our tracts to said mrs grover who faai U a member of the wesleyans wesleyann Wesle we proceeded to her residence and had a pleasant conversation with her for an hour and a half A lew few days after I 1 left word with the francis family who were regular attendants at the cottage meetings referred to that we would be pleased to assist at these meetings if our aid was desired december irth I 1 received an invitation to attend one of the cottage meetings which would take place on the folio following i day the irth elder W J lee wll of ogden and I 1 were present at the time I 1 appointed it was at the house of mr taomas hiie a middle aged couple the meetings siz had a ben previously conducted by a mr mcketman McK etian a baptist and a mr williamson of the wesleyan Wesle yao persuasion both young youn g men it appeared that the attendants at these meetings had occasion occasionally aby been disappointed by the non op ir ante ance of odule ae two young preach preachers errs the e week previous to our visit an occurrence of this kind had transpired A few minutes before the meeting commenced mr blair began to be doubtful doubt lul as to there being anyone to lead in the meet ine when mr francis turning round to inglieri elder lee and myself said these gentit gentlemen men can conduct it yes I 1 replied we are used to it having geld held cottage meetings in patricroft Patri croft neither of the two young divines referred to making an appearance we commenced the meeting by selecting a hymn irum the sankey hymn book eider el lee and myself then occupied the time in explaining the principles of the gospel as taught by the savior and his apostles and bearing testimony to the truth of the sanae same after which we con 1 eluded the services with another sankey hymn in the sweet by and by th there s were thirteen present we thanked the ane audience tor the courtesy couite sy extended us in lisi enins so attentively to glur our remarks and volunteered to be arant next week if they beah ed our series mr blair in beloof be of the company made expressions expression recia ia tion alor abe be part dart we had ihma iH and md it was ded that we meet wi with th them em the tuesday following december tei irth was the date for the next meeting it was a dark rough wet eight but I 1 never like to fail in an appointment eider lee having another I 1 was there alone the n aw ditale irate of the weather decreased our bombers neither of the t diio A was p besent the spirit of 0 the lord was with us I 1 felt its beligh influence lutric in rich abundance agan aga n I 1 explained the first principles of the gospel and again did the audience listen attentively to the remarks made su some me little time was then spent pleasantly in conversing ag abou matters pertaining to the aplan pt of salvation on account of the long journey I 1 had to perform at such IL a late ate hour our the charitable mrs grover glad and mrs blair arranged to have a sice nice supper prepared lor me which was very accept acceptable abie there mere were several me meetings eings held during the winter at mr beairs blairs Bl airs ls in the beginning of this year january mr mckellan Mr Kellan the young baptist having a desire to resume their cottage meetings made application to the blair fiti famay tor for the use of their house but permission assion to do so was refused him they told him however that he could have the privilege of attending our meetings lis it he choose but he never availed of of the opportunity he also asked the francis family to open their house bouse but they declined mr and mrs blair became very much interested in ia our church works they read the book of 01 mormon voice ol of warning and orson pratts works also other oiher church literature in fact they read until their eyes ached they absented tb themselves selves from attending sectarian meetings where they had been regular r attendants stating it was hypocrisy to do so after becoming acquainted with our doctrines and soon they became bonvin convinced ced of the truth of I 1 otten often visited them and led them iti in 4 afe first principles X and just previous to my ua departure ep arture for home they bey said they aou wo d be baptized as soon as the weather became warmer wanner it is gratifying to the missionaries to learn leam that some of the seed sown has taken root etwas very pleasing to me to learn that mr bair and wife ard united themselves with the saints mr blair is in very poor health at present and word comes by letter that he is anxious lor for the prayers and faith of the saints we fully realize that paul may plant appollos water but it is god that the increase yours in the gospel ROBERT |
