Show za 1 LISTENING TO OUR FUNERAL SERMON me warren co tenn may 1896 06 march elder E S larson 61 cache county utah and iv the writer left nashville for the purpose 1 1 of 0 revis revisiting king saints and friends in the middle tennessee conference all of those we have so far visited have re us with the kindest of treatment most of the opposition we have so far encountered has come from rom those who profess to be teaching the gospel of christ yet they seem to have either for gotten or r else never knew that great lesson which he gave to men love thy neighbor as thyself one a preacher of thirty nine years experience undertook to show us the error of our ways and made such a success of it that we felt justified in calling him to repentance during the past two weeks we have held seventeen well attended meetings ten of which were held last week near altamont the seat of grundy county this so aroused our enemies that when we were about to leave we were informed that a preacher had been sent to meet us in debate we told the people that debates and discussions were against our teachings that while we were ever anxious and willing to defend our principles we were opposed to contention or strite strife of any kind As we did not wish the people to think that we were cowards by running away we de aided to remain over sunday on saturday evening last before a good bided bize d audience we delivered an address upon the book of mormon 11 from both a bible and a historical standpoint explaining to them what that book was also telling them that if they had not already heard some of the many stories about the so called mormon or goden bible they no doubt would do at some time in the future our remarks upon this point were verified on the day following folio wing i sunday morning we attended the christian Chris nan sunday school it was announced that there would be a debate there in the afternoon between mr stubblefield and the mormon elders providing the former could get thera there we were asked if we had anything to say elder larson again told them that we were not out in the world for foil we the purpose of contending with men but for the purpose of preaching the true and everlasting gospel yet if we were challenged we would afen defend d our teachings but only after a written agreement had been entered into by both sides setting forth that we would use king jamess translation of the bible as our text book he announced that if mr stubblefield did not come we would hold meeting at 3 P m As the hour approached the people began to gather in goodly numbers A few minutes before the hour set two light buggies drove up one containing dr doyie and wife the other professor denton of ef viola college and wife at this time we were talking with twelve or fourteen men near the school house neither of the gentlemen gent lemin came to us but entered the house A young man present who had apparently taken upon himself the honors of high chief master 1 ceremony informed us that mr stubblefield field had an appointment and could not come but bad sent these gem ehnen to debate with us we told him that under no consideration would we debate unless challenged and then only upon the teachings of king jamess translation of the bible this was conveyed to those inside they sent word back to know if we would answer a few questions publicly finally we sue suc ceedee in impressing upon the mind of 0 the young man that we had stated our t position and from that we did not intend aj to deviate in the least if they wished to preach they could do so which they did we attending to listen to our own funeral sermon so called professor y denton demon preaching it for an hour taking as his text second tim third verse which he read and then in his en and 1 zeal to bury us good and deep he for x got to mention again like the elders many times before we sat listening to that story old the mustiest mistiest must iest story ever told he gave them all that we had told them the night before they could expect about the book of mormon he told them that those in their mi might be good men but it ii so like old dog tray 2 they were in bad company this so impressed his hearers bearers that thai after meeting we had more invitations to go home with wih people than we could have filled in a week As a result of this great exposure Q of mormonism we have more true friends in that part of the world than ever before in the evening we held a well at tended meeting we were also challenged for a debate by one erastus hibbart Hib Hibb baro arv a preacher at altamont Al iamont who was very anxious to meet us in public discussion in order that the people might have a chance to judge between truth and error 1 I he was informed that we could oblige him but both sides must muse use the baule as a text book and that too without an any y private interpretations upon hearing this he remarked if it is the lord lords Is will that we should meet we will do so 21 there is nothing that seems to scare some preachers so soon as that book from which they claim to be teaching the plan of life and salvation space forbids mentioning all who have been kind to us in this neighborhood prominent among them is W L tanner and family whose latchstring always hangs on the outside ot of the door and whose table is ever spread tor for the elder also A A knott a few miles west of here with whom we stayed a few nights ago he is making an addition to his house and told us that he was building it it so that he could treat us in a more hostile manner weather also health and spirits of eli der larson and myself loo in the shade W J SLOAN |