Letter from George Teasdale, 19 September 1887 [LE-41865]

42 Islington, Liverpool. Sep^tr 19.1887.

Pres W. Woodruff and Apostles.

Dear Brethren:

On Saturday I forwarded you some items in connection with this mission for which Elder N. G. Schofield was released to return home. It has been deemed necessary to retain him until next spring, for the benefit of the mission and it is quite refreshing to be able to report that he honestly is very willing to do so. His release occurs in the corrected copy of the "Star" I sent you but it will not in the regular number which you will receive in a day or two. Bro Hintze from Constantinople writes that he requires more help. Elder James Clone of the Scandinavian mission from Utah and a german brother of the name of C. J. Berger a local [E]lder will proceed at once to Constantinople. When I was in Denmark Elder E. Mortensen complained that he could not learn the language and requested a mission to England. On consulting with President Flygare and finding he was not likely to be of much use there, he was appointed to Newcastle Conference to labor under the President of that Conference in conversation with Prest Flygare and suggesting the sending out of young capable local elders, he informed me

he had done so with very good effect for t can go where our valley Elders cannot, Pres^t Flygare writes from Copenhagen Sep 13, as follows – Bro [illegible] Folkman who was working as missionary on the Island of Bornholm has been banished by the Danish Authority but they only sent him over to Sweden. I have appointed him to serve in Norway. "He also says –" I forgot often writing about missionaries that I needed [out] for Finland. I have some married – for instance Berg and Hendrickson Santaquin and Hamilton Salt Lake City. One of the best of them should be selected. Please attend to this or see our communication to you August 29 I refered to a young man in Stockholm that was a good preacher I intended to send to Germany. It is this man who is going to Turkey. So you will please send 4 missionaries to germany to Pres^t Schonfelt who are natives that can speak the language and citizens that cannot be banished – I copy the following from a letter from Pres^t Schoenfeldt "Elder Cannon will probably arrive tomorrow I understand he will come without passport which will make it very difficult for him to stay for the Swiss government is now contemplating to court the American Government and deny all Elders who are not of Swiss Nationality, any stay

even if they had papers, which should they carry that out would also expel me and Bro. Monch. Yet we feel to trust in the Lord he will not allow them to go any further than suits His purposes. Pleasing to us it is that in their Newspapers they acknowledge that they cannot find anything objectionable with our conduct only that our own government agitates against us."

This will give you some idea what kind of Elders to send when you select for the Swiss and German Missions and refering you to my letter of the 29^th ult you will find a similar suggestion concerning the Scandinavian mission. I was undecided concerning Bro Lewis Cannon he was doing very well in London and promises to make quite an effective missionary and I was tempted to keep him here But considering that he was appointed to the Swiss and German mission concluded to send him and if he was banished we would put him in the british Mission. I strive to have the Elders where the Lord wants them realizing this is His work and strive to the best of my poor ability to seek His Spirit so I may know His mind and will for the best interest of His work. This distribution

of elders is naturally one of anxiety I cannot say that I think it is well to send our elders in large companies. It would be just as well to have them come in small companies. You will perceive there is not much done and for Elders in the fall as in the spring here there is not the opportunities for preaching out of doors. We want missionaries that at least can tell the people what they do believe and what God requires of the human family. It does not mattter so much how they tell it so long as they tell it But we have some who cannot tell what they do believe and yet may be useful men at home. I think at this stage of the work we should have missionaries who can give some answer for the hope that is within them and defend the principles they advocate. I am asked all the time Bro. Teasdale can you send us a good preacher, send us some help. We can always find a place for altruest worker! Bro Chas Kingston went alone to Peterboro[ugh] where he was some what acquainted. he went there alone

but commenced working and has raised a spirit of inquiry. I am satisfied that there is work to be done where there are faithful laborers. But it is like going into new fields where there are no members of the Church. It seems to me that it would be much better to get an exact state of this mission and to accomplish the same have instructed the Elders to furnish an exact account of the state of the members in their fields of labor. Then I think a little prudent trimming up will not hurt the cause but mostly improve it. Jarman has gone to London where he purposes to labor all winter against the Saints. I shall not be surprised to hear of quite a gathering into the Church there this winter and quite a sale of books. In the winter season there is quite a chance of getting out a course of lectures at the branches if we only had the men to give them capable of interesting the people and instructing them in the science of Theology and who possess the principles of faith, hope and charity. We could do with one of two brethren for Wales who can speak the Welsh language and preach in it. Bro. Daniel T. Thomas has been doing quite a work in Wales amongst the outside and warmed up some of the old members who are returning with him to Zion the result of his faithful labors.