| Show PRESIDING IN INDIAN TERRITORY BLACKGUM cherokee nation I 1 T april 1897 As we have the privilege ot of rea reading cling your valuable paper once in two or three weeks it gives us great joy and satisfaction to know of the success attending the earnest labors of the elders in their various fields of labor on receiving word from our late worthy president eider andrew kimball to select a suitable place in this part for our coming conference we set out from illinois station april we walked to this place olace holding a meeting on our way at copple settlement we found the saints of blackgum Black gum about thirty in number in good spirits and enjoying thi the blessings of the gospel the aney were making preparations to emigrate to colonia juaner mexico we held three meetings with them and enjoyed the privilege and spirit as none but saints can enjoy it A time being set et for ua u to meet them again and organize for their trip we journeyed on holding a meeting at the die residence of a brother john davis on the evening of the ath I 1 with an attendance of over twenty non members the spirit of our calling was poured out but upon us and at the cloe of our meeting one of our earnest listeners applied for baptism for this our hearts were filled with gratitude to our creator the weather being cold and stormy a time was set to attend the sacred ordinance on our return we traveled down the arkansas river through much mud and water to tama haw where we paid twenty cents just received for a hymn book sold and the ferryman put us over the river during a heavy windstorm we were kindly received and lodged in the town by one mr McGee who invited us to call again not being able to hold a meet meeting ng there we walked fifteen miles to iron bridie bridge where we had an appointment to preach in their meeting house saturday da evening on reaching the sans bois river near the town we found it high and over flowing its banks we explained to the good natural berryman ter ryman our mode of travel without purse or scrip and asked him to put us on the opposite bank but he would not as his boat was not built for preachers at that moment the proprietor drove up and on referring the matter to him lie he replied that he be did not want religion but wanted money it looked as if trouble was in store for us and that we should not be able to fill our appo nt ments we trusted in the lord and not in vain for there appeared on the scene a former friend mr Willii williams alis who paid our fare and we went on our way rejoicing we we were kindey entertained by this mr will ams and at the appointed time found an audience of over eighty waiting to bear us preach we were blessed with the spirit of the lord and at the do clo ie e of our meeting were given the privilege of holding two meetings in the same building insun on sunday our sunday meetings were held with an attendance of one hundred and forty good and anxious listeners and they the said come again 12 they also favored favo us by rendering some ome good singing for our meetings this ais we were in a condition to appreciate although we both sang like birds but could not think of a tune exactly suited to all the hymns we would be pleased to sing monday we walked eighteen miles to the town of sans bois in the choctaw nation there we were welcomed omeA uy y mr J H bristow an earnest searcher for truth the next morning we mado our way to the ahr governor of the nation As he be owned the church we had hopes of securing its use he referred us to the minister in charge who found too many excuses we again went to the governor this time he received us more kindly saying the church is hot in ia my care but there is the court house it is mine and you may use it the people here become so anxious and interested te that we held a course of five meetings with an attendance ot of eighty at some ot them our tongues were loosed and our prayers were answered by an outa outpouring ring ot the spirit of god upon us we lwe were made powerful in testimony to the convincing of several honest in heart two of whom applied tor tar baptism this ordinance we gladly administered with hearts of gratitude to our master for his goodness and blessing blue to us we left on saturday amid the th man many y ils good wishes of crowds ot frier friends witt with 1 a hearty goodbye and grasp of the hand as they cried come back soon as you can that day dav we reached whitefield a distance of twelve miles secured the commodious school house from the trustees while the minister did what he could to prevent it we canvassed the town and at 8 p m w found an audience of eighty ave five anxious to listen we were again blessed with the power given us up from above and treated of the first principles of the gospel the people listened with marked attention attention 11 and friends invited jus home but we w were led to leave the town that night we called on the ferryman who had retired for the night he daday rowed us over the beautiful south canadian river under the light of a Itlo glorious rious moon this trip over the sparkling water belted by b the he beautiful forest trees interspersed int ers persel with the blossoms of the wild fruit trees and many variegated flowers was a sight not soon to be tor forgotten getten by men whose hearts were full oi of joy and thanksgiving to our creator we lodged that night three miles from the river with brother sebron mabry where we had the pleasure of meeting elders turner and hewlett they were in good health and eul enjoying their labors sunday evening was a by members of various sects anxious by bearc searching bing lor for truth to hold a prayer meeting they invited us to join them in gratitude our prayers ascended to our father for this privilege and we four elders united our faith in support ot of the one of us that might be privileged to speak peak the opportunity was granted to elder richardson and he spoke for twenty five minutes with the spirit ot of the lord strongly resting upon him his testimony was made powerful in answer to our earnest prayer and some were convinced ot of the magnitude oi of our calling we walked twenty miles to weber falls paid our ferry bill of twenty cents with money given us for this purpose and lodged that night with a kind friend we then walked eleven miles to fill our appointment for baptism near vian ott 06 reaching there we found another honest soul ready to embrace the truth we baptized thi the two and held a meeting that evening the following day we walked to blackburn blackgum Black gum gurn and found the saints rejoicing in their blessings our conference will be held at sans bois bob chocktaw nation may 14 15 and 16 26 our hearts are truly filled with joy for the blessings given us day alter after day the people as a rule ate aie kind and bAmpi hospitable table placing before us the best they have vur our wa way is continually opened up before us while we are traveling without purse or scrip and prea preaching preacher chir g the gospel JOSEPH J richardson BYRON H ALLRED jr |
