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

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June 25 '96 - 8 miles North of Covington - We are feeling well this morning, the sun is shining bright, had breakfast, shaved and biding Eleson's good by went and spent the day with Ben Rogers, had a long talk of the gospel, also dinner with him, biding him good by, went to J F Fussell for the night, gospel conversation, supper, and retired for night. A very hot dry day.

June 26 '96 - North of Covington 8 miles - A very warm morning, feel kind of drowsy, had breakfast a short talk with Mr. Fussell, biding them good by and asked to call again, started out, we can not do much the people don't seem to be interested, and we have to lay around till Sunday to hold meeting, so we went in the woods and spent off the day reading form Church History, went to Mr. H. Roberts, had dinner, the thermometer is 98 above zero, very hot indeed. I went to his shop fixed my knife as on blade was broke out, a gospel conversation between elder Moore and Mr. Roberts mother, supper, a pleasant conversation on religions and other Sub., retired for the night.

June 27 '96 - Got up well, had breakfast and biding Robert's good by with a warm invitation to call again, went to Jones & Pickets Still, got our clothes cost 15 cents. A Darky Baptist Preacher asked up to hold meeting for them, said some white people would be there, we gave appointment for 7:30 at night. Started for Mr. Nathan Whitney's, elder Moore thought we could go a shorter rout. I did not think so but we started out and traveled 5 miles to get 3. Took a bath, had dinner and supper together, went to fill our appointment. We learned that Mr. Davis a professed Haleness (Holiness) had been doing all he could to prevent us from holding meeting, and through him there was but few there, while we was waiting for the crowd to gather, the darkies, held a prayer meeting, our meeting began, there was not a white person there, singing and prayers, I spoke on the first principals of the gospel. Enjoyed the spirit of the Lord, we had a pleasant time. The darkies appreciated very much, went and stayed with Mr. Whitney all night.   W11Re1M1

June 28 '96 - Semitucy Creek - Sunday morning, a fine day, feeling well, had breakfast. At 11 oclock went to meeting, a quite a crowd. Elder Moore spoke on the Gospel, a nice meeting, went and had dinner and went to Sunday School. They went through there exercises before prayer, they read and some had a verse committed to memory. After Sunday School, went to fill an appointment. The people did not get there so we could begin till 8 oclock, usual exercises, I spoke on Apostasy and restoration. I well, never felt better in my life, spoke on hour, the night was very warm, prepared very bad went to Whitney's for the night, went to bed at 12 oclock with out supper.

June 29 '96 - Got up well, cleaned up, wrote my dira (diary) for the past three days, had breakfast, biding Mr. Whitney good by with invitation to call again, Went East to the Talisheek P.O. got letters from Prest. S.L. Swenson, also from Prest. Kimball instructing us in regard to our labors, said it was absolute of a necessity to travel with out purse and script, had dinner with Mathice, a gospel conversation with his daughter, wrote letter to my wife and Prest. S.L. Swenson. Went to Mr. Rouck for the night, had supper and a pleasant talk on politics, went to bed at 10 p.m.

June 30 '96 - Talesheep PO - Arose this morning feeling well, had breakfast, biding Rouck's good by, they asked us to call again, made our way East along the Columba road, came to Mr. Smith's after walking 8 miles in the hot sun, had dinner, we learned that our appointment was not give our as we expected, so Mr. Smith sent his little boy around on a horse to notify the people, we remained there had a long talk on the gospel with Mrs. Smith had supper, it rained very hard for a short time, we went to the church, distance of 1 ½ mile, a nice crowd, opening exercises, Elder Moore spoke on the Kingdom of God, gave appointments for a meeting July the 1 at 7:30 p.m., had a pleasant time went home with Mrs. Smith, the road was very mudy (muddy), walked 9 miles, We retired to rest at 11 oclock.

July 1 '96 - At Jones and Pickets Still - 13 Miles North East of Covington - It is a fine morning, we are feeling well, after a good nights rest, took breakfast, biding Smiths good by with an worm invitation call again, and leavig a VofW went and had a chat with Mr. Ladinghouse, he said he liked the VofW well, also asked about which was the best news paper of the west as he wished to sub scribe for one. We told him the Desseret News was, left a sample with him and went to the little Church House, and wrote my dira (diary) for the few days, went to Mr. Benton took dinner, a short talk, Mr. Benton went to work, told us to stay as long as we whished, so we stayed all afternoon. I read the sub. Book of Mormon, in VofW, had supper, then we went to meeting. The house was close by, a nice crowd, usual exercises, I spoke on Apostasy and restoration, spoke of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. As soon as I sat down when Elder Moore said a few words and was going to close, a professed Holeness (Holiness) Preacher by name of Booth stepped up with a bible in his hand wished to say a few words we gave him permission. He tried to prove we was preaching a fake doctrine, said that the Book of Mormon was not true, said the Apostles were not needed in our day, quoted from 16 Chapter of Luke, he spoak (spoke) about 30 minutes. On his stetting down I arose, spoke on the points he referred to, and bare testimony to them, all with the exceptions of one was on our side, instead of gaining anything he lost. A Mr. Benton, was very much taken up with our Doctrine, preached of VofW, said if he could hear the gospel like that he would know what Church to belong to, gave us a very warm invitation to call and see him, said as long as he had a home we had one. We never got away from meeting till 10:30 p.m., went home with Mr. Benton and retired for the night.

July 2 '96 - 13 miles North East of Covington - Got up well as it is fast day, did not eat any breakfast, biding them good by went east along the Cloumbo Road, had a bath in the Bogue Chitto River, crossed the Bridge, left our washing with a Darkie, went to Mr. Henry Mizell's, then to P.O. got a letter form my wife all well, also from mother, and a letter form Mr. Elic Rogers a Haleness on the Bogue Falaya River, wanting us to be at the Welcome Church on Thursday before the third Sunday, to discuss the Book of Mormon and other sub. Took dinner, spent the afternoon chatting with Mr Mizell, supper and retired for the night 9:30 p.m.

July 3 '96 - Sun PO - Arose very well, had breakfast, looked rainy this morning, biding Mizell good by, started out to revisit some, set in the woods, and read some, then to Mickel's, form there to Mr. Perce, had dinner and a pleasant gospel conversation and other Sub. Went to Mr. Henry Simkins and spent the night, had a pleasant time.

July 4 '96 - Sun PO - Got up well had breakfast, a short talk, thanking them for their kindness, with a warm invitation to call at any time, we started our for Hebren Church, went by way of Henry Mizell, a short talk, on biding them good by, they wished us success and asked us or any of our elders to call and see them at any time, and they would do the best they can. Got our washing cost 20¢ each. Crossed the river had a bath, there is picnickers in several places to day, went down the river, thought of staying with Grantham, he has company, then to Mrs. Hyten, the gentleman was not home, then to J.D. Carpenter, his folks was not home, so we had to go on to Mr. Slades, spent the night with him, treated well, a short gospel talk, retired for the night, after walking 8 miles, the people in the settlement seems very cool.

July 5 '96 - Thomasville PO - Sunday morning, a fine day, got up well, had breakfast, talked awhile, went to the meeting house, claim to be a union house, on our arrival we found a notice on the door, No Admittance for the Mormons to preach here. So we had to stay out side, there was but very few came out, not one that had any interest in the house so we held meeting under some Oak Tree. Thought there was but a few of us we had a pleasant time. Invitee home with Mr. Wilkins, had dinner a conversation of the gospel and other Sub., had a fill of figs, went to bed at 9 p.m.

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