350 "Do you know Reverend Thorn, here in Manchester?"
"The Presbyterian preacher?"
"Yes, that is the one."
"I know him."
"What kind of a fellow is he?"
"Well, originally he was nothing. He got some money, and went off to college a while, and came back a Presbyterian preacher. He knows just what he got there, and feels stuck up, and is now preaching for his bread and butter; and if they should take away his salary, he wouldn't last twenty-four hours."
"We are much obliged, Mr. Taylor, for your kindness."
"You are welcome, and if you will drive back, I will go with you and show you persons who can tell you all about those people."
We thus left Mr. Taylor, but for want of time, could not then return and accept his kind offer to show us around; hope to be able to do so some time in the future.
These facts and interviews are presented to the readers of the Herald impartially-just as they occurred-the good and bad, side by side; and allowing for a possible mistake, or error, arising from a misapprehension, or mistake in taking notes, it can be relied upon as the opinion and gossip had about the Smith family and others, among their old neighbors. It will be remembered that all the parties interviewed are unbelievers in, and some bitter enemies to, the faith of the Saints; and it is not unreasonable to suppose that they all told the worst they knew. So we submit it to the readers without comment, with the expectation of sending each one of the parties interviewed a copy when published.
COLDWATER, Michigan, March, 1881. Wm. H. Kelley
March 12, 1881, the Texas Central District was organized at Hearne, Texas; Heman C. Smith, chairman of meeting; (Sister) R. S. McMains, secretary. H. L. Thompson was chosen president; W. W. Belcher, vice-president; and (Sister) R. S. McMains, secretary.
In Herald for March 15 an account was published of a debate held in Virginia between a Reverend Mr. Taylor, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Elder D. L. Shinn.
On March 19, 1881, Elder David Whitmer, one of the three witnesses, made the proclamation declaring his attitude towards the Book of Mormon, and the faith of the church, published in footnote 6, pages 55 and 56 of volume 1 of this work, which was accompanied by the testimonial found in same note, page 56.
(page 350) |