Show LETTER FROM SWITZERLAND The DESERET SEMI WEEKLY NEWS of Nov 1st reached us in due time and contains an article wh which ieh appears under the heading of Re Experience regarding the conversion and labors of Brother J W Dietrich late of Bohemia Several inaccurate statements are arc made therein One Oue of them m is of such Buch a nature as to as-to to cast a shadow upon the character and Judgment of our esteemed President J I U and alid we therefore ask you to ki kindly I permit us to correct it The state state- statement ment reads thus r j He Brother Dietrich was waa sent t to Bohemia as a missionary and there preached d tb the Gospel most earn earn- earnestly earnestly earn estly As a result of bis his labors fir fir- fifteen fifteen teen persons were baptized I into nto the Church within the tho space of two rp On April Brother J Dietrich wa was waa visited by Elder Beck Beckby by whom he was ordained an Elder s At this time in Stuttgart KI Elder KIer er Beck fully organized a branch of the I k I IJ J ht r Ii j 7 J Church which at present numbers upwards of thirty persons By the secession of Brother Dietrich from the Catholic Church which k place twenty years before andis and subsequent work in behalf of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Latter- Latter day day Saints Sl quite a stir was created among the people and a system of o persecution began In this the Bo- Bo Bohemian Bohemian Bo Bohemian government played an ac- ac active active ac active tive part There exists a law in Bohemia prohibiting baptism ex- ex except except ex except by hy authorized persons belong belong- belonging belonging ing to the Roman Catholic faith or any other recognized by the govern govern- government government government I ment and it is likewise provided I that no other religious doctrine shall be publicly taught besides that appertaining to t-o the Catholic Church Hence no fewer than two two sixty charges were brought Brother Dietrich He wasL was against L J arres G our w appear on a subsequent date and an- an answer answer an answer the alJe allegations laid a against him At this time he took flight to 8 Switzerland and there remained for about a month at the expiration of which period he was sent back to Bohemia b by President Stu eki where he rejoined his fa family While ab- ab absent ab absent sent from his wife and children they had all been afflicted with small small- smallpox smallpox pox and one of the ch children died from the disease After his return to Bohemia Brother Dietrich h eluded the vigilance of the authorities for upwards of the four weeks he con con- con j there He sought shelter in inthe inthe inthe the woods where he was almost visited daily visited by h his s wife Now it must certainly appear I from the above that to- to send a man manI I w who bo had come become an exile for the Gospels Gospel's sake and ami against whom 62 charges were preferred after a lapse of four weeks back a again ai n to the place plaue from whence he fled was an unwise or cruel act on the part of President Stuck But here are the facts in the case After Brother Dietrich was baptized into the Church he ex expressed a d desire ire to reo re return turn home to his his family and in or- or order order or order der to do some BOme good he wished to re- re receive receive re receive a portion of the Holy Priest Priest- Priesthood Priesthood i hood At the request of Elder P at AVA ner- ner r to ordain Broth Brother r Dietrich the office a of a Priest This was done and Brother Dietrich returned to Bohemia baptized the members of his family several others Then Elder Beck was asked to go to Reichenberg where Brother Dietrich resided and confirm the baptized believers believes look the labors of Brother Detrich D etrich if deemed wise ordain him xu an Elder This was also allro done one but no branch was organized Another man was ordained a Teacher Mat Mat- Matters Matters Matters seem seemed d to go on all right President President dent Stuck paid them a visit and called Elder Lewis M Cannon to labor there and supervise the work In i n Bohemia A few days after the theman th theman e I man who had been ordained a aT T Teacher acher became a traitor He re- re revealed revealed re revealed the work which had been dare by Elder Dietrich to the pas pas- pastor pastor pastor tor the church at a Reichenberg and from these two tw o I originated so so we were told by b y Bro Brother her the Dietrich Dietrich the D Don on the part of the government V r Hearing of what was going on Wb at once nce nee telegraphed Brother Dietrich to come to Berne Bern for safety which he did lid as stated While Brother Dietrich was at this office President Stuck kl the Elders and aud Saints did all in their power to alle Alle- Alleviate alleviate alleviate the wants and suffering of the distressed family and knowing that they woul would have to suffer greatly If allowed to remain in Bohemia Bohemia- w where here every a avenue venue of maki making ng a livelihood had been bean closed against them to some extent even before they joined the Church President Church and ang an myself issued a call for help upon the German speaking Saints at home and in this mission for the deli deliverance verance of Brother Die Die- Dietrich and family from their distress distress- distressing distressing distressing ing circumstances s in Babylon I the mea meantime uti me Brother Dietrich had been here for about a mouth and not having any papers it be- be became be became came carne necessary for him to change his location I In n a conversation which he and Pr President had upon the matter of his going to work and the choice of his field of labor Brother Dietrich stated that he had many friends friend in South Bo- Bo Bohemia Bohemia Bo Bohemia hemia whom he would like to visit and bear testimony as he considered himself safe for a few weeks There There- Thereupon Thereupon Thereupon upon President Preside nt concluded to let Jet him go and see what he could do doHe He was set apart and told to be care care- care to ft 1 A safe return was promised him and the means for the journey furnished by this office About three weeks after Brother Dietrich w wrote rote to lent tucki that he was wason wason wason on his way to North Bohemia where n yO I W President s sent nt to t him i in ad- ad advising him to return to s Ife fe q quarters and also necessary funds to do doso doso doso so but during the time Brother Dietrich had gone into the neigh neigh- neighborhood of Reichenberg an and made arrangements for one meeting with his family in an adjoining forest forestAy As soon BOOn as aR that was over he started on his return trip and safely arrived arrived In Berne The Saints had by this time responded cheerfully and lib Jib liberally lib liberally to our call on one sister Anna who is in service in inthe inthe inthe the city of Gf Pass Pars France giving permission for the use of all aU her earned hard earned savings Ravings forthe for the family of Brother Dietrich They were supplied with ev everything need need- needed needed needed ed to make the journey to Zion h where according to all accounts they arrived safely though we have not heard from them personally two sixty We were not at a aare a A are that sixty sixty- two charges had been heen preferred against Brother Brothel Dietrich but were told by him that quite a few could be preferred under the law Pre Pre- Previous Previous Previous to Brother Dietrich and family family ly and five other souls leaving the themi mi mission in Bohemia numbered four twenty four adult members and eight ight children A few have turned awa away and two have been added by baptism We submit this to your judgment but feel that this statement of facts as we know them is necessary ry in order to do justice to our President We do not believe the inaccurate statements to which v bich we have re- re re referred were made with the IDe inters inters- intention intention tion f of injuring anyone but they f J g i might have done injustice to the kindly disposition and character of 1 President Stuck We also embrace this opportunity of thanking the Swiss and German Saints for their liberal response to our call caB With kind regards t THEO TREO BRANDLEY 36 Bern Sern Switzerland Nov 19 1889 |