Journal from the 1st Mission of John Francis Astle Louisiana - May to July of 1896 Transcribed by Charlotte Astle

More Options   Print/Save More Documents View Pedigree View Photographs

PREVIOUS   1  2   3   4   5   6

July 6 '96 - Thomasville PO - Monday morning after breakfast, biding Mr. Wilkins good by with invitation to call again, went down the river, called at Wm. Cook's, then to John Parkers took dinner, a pleasant conversation, on biding them good by they asked us to call and see them again, continued down the river, called at Press Crodic's , they seemed pleased to see us, had supper, a gospel conversation and went to bed at 9:30. Walked 14 miles, rained a great deal on the road, we was just behind it.

July 7 '96 - Florenville - After a good nights rest and breakfast, we bade Crodics good by and thanking them, they asked us to call again, we made our way to Pearl River, was disappointed in not getting any mail. We went to store, got a box of shoe blacking & laces 10¢, then to the woods, wrote letter to my wife, also to Mr. Alex Rogers, about the debate, crossed West Pearl on the R.R. bridge, went to E.J. Blackwell, found them feeling well, he had received the VofW and liked it the best kind. He also testified to the truthfulness of the word, we had supper, a long talk on the gospel, he loaned the VofW to his bros., said they liked it well. The people in this Blackwell settlement seems to be very friendly, went to bed at 9 p.m.

July 8 '96 - Honey Island - Got up well this morning and it is a fine day, after breakfast we and E J. Blackwell went a fishing. I caught 7, 5 blue cat and 2 perch. Went to the house, had the fish for dinner, after din, went and visited on old man by the name of Mr. Beets, he said he had heard a great deal about the Mormons, but we was the first he ever saw, had a long talk on the gospel, loaned him a VofW, biding him good by, went and talked with Mr. Blackwell's wife, from there to Calvin Smiths, the was an old lady by the name of ____ a member of the church there, she was pleased to see us, she had not seen the elders for about two years, we had supper and a pleasant conversation. As Mrs. Smiths was not feeling well, was expecting to be confined, we went to Mr. Wm. Hindley's for the night, a short talk and went to bed.

July 9 '96 - Honey Island - The night was cool, arose in the morning feeling well, had breakfast with Mr. Hindley, thanking them, went to Smiths, got our grips, went to Rev. Burks, left our clothes to have them washed, set in the woods and read some, took dinner with Wm. Hall, thanking them and told them of going to hold meeting in Mr. Whites Spoak (spoke) factory, had a shave in the woods, read some went to Wm. Hindley. Had supper, then held meeting in the Spoak (spoke) Factory. Had a pleasant time, I spoke 40 minutes on general and individual salvation, then to Hindleys and went to bed.

July 10 '96 - Honey Island - After a good nights rest, arose well took breakfast, Mr. White said if we wished to hold any more meetings in Factory we was welcome to do so. Biding Hindleys good by, made our way down the Island, took dinner with Budy Hindley a talk on the gospel, left a VofW with him, gave appointment for meeting Sunday at 11 a.m., biding them good by, went to Lot Smiths, found them well, there was a man by name of Johnson there from Miss. he asked us to call and see him if we got in his neighborhood, had a pleasant time. Had supper, after a short talk went to bed.   W6Rev3

July 11 Saturday - Honey Island - Rose this morning feeling well, after breakfast with Mr. Lot Smith, thanking him for his kindness with an invitation to call again, call by Mr. Burks, got our washing cost 15¢ each, from there to J.T. Blackwell, had dinner, a pleasant conversation of the gospel . Loaned a VofW to J F Blackwell. The Blackwell's are very interested held meeting. After supper a nice meeting, Elder Moore spoak (spoke) on the Gospel. Retired to rest a t 10 p.m. Got a letter from my wife. The little on is not well.   W8 Re2

Sunday July 12 '96 - Honey Island - Got up this morning well, it is a fine day, after breakfast walked 3 miles to a little school house, where we held meeting at 11 a.m., There was a large crowd, the house would not hold them all, the people seemed to have a desire to learn, after the usual exercises I spoke on the apostasy and restoration for an hour, the people was very quiet, and I was blessed greatly with the spirit of God. The tears came to the eyes of some of the people, at the close of the meeting, expressed a strong desire for us to come back and hold some more meetings, from there went to J.F. Blackwell's, had dinner, after had some singing and talking, supper, at 8 oclock held another meeting, Elder Moore spoke on faith. I spoke on repentance. Mr. E.J. Blackwell said when we came back he desired to be baptized and there is a good prospect of 6 or 7 being put under water. Retired to rest at 10:30.

July 13 '96 - Honey Island - Monday morning, after breakfast, biding Blackwell's good by asked us to call again soon as possible, went to Pearl River, got a ticked which cost 60¢, went to Abita Springs, then to Thomas Cook's, found them all well, and pleased to see us, had dinner, a pleasant talk with Mrs. Cook. We Moore and I cut each other hair, had a bath, then supper, a long talk with Mr. Cook on the gospel. He said if we went to the Blackwell settlement to send him word, as he wanted to come over. Retired to bed 10p.m.

July 14 96 - Abita Springs - A fine day, the sun is shining bright and we are well. After breakfast, biding Cooks good by went to Covington, we sent two O Pratt's works to the Blackwell's one to Enoch & 1 to J.F. Blackwell. Got a letter from my wife and Swenson,all well also one from Prest. Kimball stating that two Elders in the Texas Conference was sick and asked the elders to fast and pray for them, which we will on the 19 of this month, as that is the day set apart for that purpose, wrote and posted letter to my wife, went to store and got a tye (tie) and a few other little things cost 60¢, then North on the Hornesville Road. It is very hot and dusty. When we got out of town 4 miles a man by name of R.J. Green caught up with us, asked as to go and stay with all night, he lived 7 miles form there and it was 5:30 p.m., he took our grips in his buggy, and followed him, arriving at his place at 15 minutes to 8, had supper, was quite tired, as we walked 17 miles in the hot sun, talked a while on the gospel and retired a 10 p.m.

July 15 '96 - Verger - We are well this morning, after breakfast had a shave and long talk with Mr. Green, left a VofW with him, biding him good by, with invitation to call again, said we was perfectly welcome, made our way to Alex Rogers, a distance of 4 miles, had dinner, spent the afternoon talking with Mr. Rogers. About sun down Mr. Creel came, we had supper and had a long talk on the gospel, but we differed widely on some points, he said the Church was not built on revelation, he did not think the gospel was taked entirely for the earth, referred to 12 Chapter of Rev. said that it was fulfilled, claimed the those two prophets laid dead in the streets which is called spiritually Sodom & Egypt, he referred to the woman question. We tried to make arrangements what Sub. we was going to discuss on the 16. He said he was going to prove what the Latter Day Saints was only people that the Lord hated. He seemed to be quite rathey, on that we retire. Well he said he knew that we could not defend our selves, I thot we made competent of defending our selves and was going to do it.

July 16 1896 - Verger PO - About 11 miles North of Covington, at the welcome church the professed Haleness (Holiness). After a good nights rest, we arose well, we cleaned up as we concluded to fast we, did not eat any breakfast, but we felt the serenity of a richly portion of the Spirit of God. & assist us in our labors, in defending the precepts of the gospel, as the lad came for us to debate with Mr, Creel a professed Holeness (Holiness) Preacher. We went to the woods offered prayers. On our return to the house a conversation was entered into between Mr. Creel Rogers and Elder Moore and my self. It was pretty warm for a little while. At 10 oclock meeting began. Mr. Booths spoak (spoke) ¾ of an hour trying the spirits, he infured (inferred) that we were fake. Elder Moore then arose, spoak (spoke) 20 minutes explained what we had come here for, what the gospel once was, and that it was taken from the earth, and was restored again. Mr. Creel then took the stand, his remarks bearing on Polygamy declaring that the New Testament condemned it quoting Tim. III:2 and going on about Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. I then took the stand spoke 1 hour and 10 minutes on Apostasy, the restoration and the coming forth if the Book of Mormon, also a few words on polygamy, as Mr. Creel forced the Sub on. We enjoyed the spirit of the Lord, I never felt better in my life. Bore a faithful testimony to the truthfulness of the work the we are engaged in, spoke like I never had done before, meeting closed for dinner, which was eaten on the ground, we had a bite with J. Z. Bernard, after which meeting continued. Elder Moore took the stand, spoke on general and individual salvation for ¾ of an hour. Mr. Creel took the stand quoted Rev. XI:8 to prove that a spiritual interpretation should be placed on all parts of the Bible, carried the idea that every thing was spiritual and nothing literal Also Rev XVI:13-14 said that one spirit came for the devil one from the Catholic, the other from Joseph Smith, he also said he had read a book about Brigham Young's 19 wife. The meeting closed by Jno. Booth, reading a clipping from some paper stating that three men went to Ariz. Got stripped of means and wrote to the Gov. of Miss for help to get back. I gave…

PREVIOUS   1  2   3   4   5   6