| 393 Book of Mormon answered the description and came in the time and manner foretold.
"Owen resorted to his usual 'clap trap' for argument and endeavored to make the book ridiculous from its account of the twelve barges, and he plainly misrepresented some things in connection with the book, but he was loudly applauded. We had not gone there for applause and were not disappointed. The chairman, Mr. Bray, said our conduct throughout the debate had been irreproachable. We were thankful for this crumb of comfort. At the close I told Mr. Owen he had kept his word. He inquired how. I replied, 'You said you would have to talk against your conscience, and you did.' He denied it, and wanted me to take that back. I told him I never took back a truth.
"On the 25th of August I discussed with Owen, this question: 'Are the abominations of Utah the legitimate fruits of Mormonism proper?' He affirmed; I denied. I am not aware that I had a single friend but little John Cheetham. Bro. Jason was confined to his bed, but the Lord was with me, and, although I had the hisses and groans of the audience while Owen had their loud applause, the Lord gave me courage and patience, and he did not allow his truth to suffer or his servant to be confounded. Rev. Whitehead, at the close of the debate, gave me eight shillings as our share of the proceeds of the admittance fee, and he assured me that he had lost fourteen pounds sterling by Owen's lectures."
Elder Briggs was quite sick for some time, but slowly recovered.
On September 18,1863, Elder Derry visited Thomas Taylor, of Birmingham, who had emigrated to Utah some years before but returned disappointed.
On the l9th Elder Derry bade adieu to Elder Briggs and took a tour through Dudley, Stourbridge, Kidderminster, Worcester, Gloucester, Newman, and Lidney, or Forest of Dean. At the last-named place he continued until October 5, 1863, where he found a branch raised up by Elder J. W. Briggs.
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