| 437 The agitation of "Mormon" matrimonial affairs simply serves as a cloak to cover other designs, as we shall hereafter see. The assault against the church is made on the line of the marriage question, because it seems to offer at present the greatest prospect for the success of hostile effort. The Saints in general are less firmly united on this principle than on many others belonging to the gospel, and it is hoped by our enemies that this circumstance will conduce largely, if not successfully, to bring about its renunciation by the people in a church capacity. Such an act would be tantamount to an apostasy, and the consequent destruction of the power and authority of the priesthood would be consummated.
January 18 Elder Henry Kemp wrote of a debate recently held at Hamburg, Iowa, between an Elder Johnson of the Christian, or Disciple Church, and Elder E. C. Briggs.
The Herald for January 26 contained an earnest appeal by Elders James Caffall and Peter Anderson in behalf of the publication of a periodical in the Danish language.
January 22 the Bishopric issued an official document setting forth its interpretation of the financial law of the church. This was published in the Herald for March 1, 1884.
Beginning February 12 and closing March 8 there was a discussion held at Kirtland, Ohio, between Elder Clark Braden of the Christian Church, and Elder E. L. Kelley. It will be remembered that these parties held a debate the year before at Wilber, Nebraska. It was contemplated to publish the former debate, but subsequently the parties agreed to repeat the debate at Kirtland. This last debate was published for the parties, by the Christian Publishing House, at St. Louis, and is sold both by the publishers and the Herald Office at Lamoni, Iowa.
A disastrous flood visited Wheeling, West Virginia, and other places about this time, rendering destitute many, including some of the Saints. Elder G. T. Griffiths, writing from Wheeling, West Virginia, February 12, describes the scene as follows:
On the 22d of January, I left home for Monroe County, Ohio, where I stayed until the 8th instant. When I left home everything was calm and peaceful, but alas, when I returned on the 9th instant the raging waters of the Ohio River had wrought a wonderful change. From hill to hill the river flowed swiftly on, bearing onward people, houses, and stock of every
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