| 708 Under date of September 11, Elder J. S. Patterson wrote from Painston, Scotland. After relating the voyage and the departure of Elder Forscutt from Glasgow, he spoke of his labors, especially among the "Brighamites," which confirmed him in the conclusion that they were "joined to their idols." A letter from Elder J. Avondet, written from Geneva, Switzerland, September 12, related; that he sailed from New York City on July 6, upon the vessel City of Limerick, for Liverpool. Continuing, he states:-
"I landed in Switzerland the 24th July, and my first business was to see the old Mormons; but those who left the Brigham church are very cold, and said that they had been so much deceived by his elders that I felt immediately I could this time only sow the seed. I tried to collect them together, but none of them came,-only some strangers came.
"I was well received by my parents and brother-in-law, nephew and nieces, who are honest of this world, but it is no use to speak religion with them now. Those who claim to be Christians never pray at their meals, neither in family, and the Sunday is for business a great deal.
"I wrote to Bro. Ursenbach, to Lausanne. He came here and staid [stayed] two days. It was real happiness that I enjoyed to see the good brother in the faith. He gave me one hundred francs [about twenty dollars] for the cause of Christ. It came in a good season, because I had to face my expenses. The people here are building and marrying so much, that it is madness. Religion it is disputed. If God's mercy is not manifest very few will be saved. No church open to ministers
support of the ministry rests therefore upon a few; but they cheerfully bear it. The majority of the saints are poor; a few, very few, are in comfortable circumstances; but none of them rich. There are but three branches in England, the London, Birmingham, and Hanley branches; widely separated from each other. There are calls for elders to visit in several parts; but without money to rent halls there is no chance to preach, unless we preach in the open air. Open air preaching is seldom however of much use, as with a few exceptions, and in country places, the lower classes only stop to listen, and there is far more of insult and abuse to meet than there is of reason. Notwithstanding these hindrances, the work moves on slowly, and is gaining ground. The saints feel well, are faithful, and in earnest."-The Saints' Herald, vol. 19, p. 638.
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