Friday, December 31, 1875

Dec. 31st.  I spent the morning purchasing furniture and fitting up my room for a conference room so the Elders may be together.

We went to see the Catholic midnight mass for the dying year.  We passed out into the street just in time to hear the midnight gun to close the old year and open the new.  The streets were full of people.  It looked as if everybody were in the street waiting and as the gun boomed, the bands struck up, shop men rang their bells, cooks beat their tin pans and everybody whooped and yelled.  Never before did I hear such a medley and din.

Wednesday, December 29, 1875

Dec. 29th. Visiting.  Brother Swan is a photographer.  I spent the next day visiting with the Brethren and others and took a walk out in the Bush, and saw some very nice rural scenery.

Tuesday, December 28, 1875

Dec. 28th.  I was shown around in several stores with the Brethren by Mr. Curley, a merchant, with whom the Brethren became acquainted on the "Colimo".  Then I went to President Nichols' and back to Peg's.

Monday, December 27, 1875

Dec. 27th.  With the English, the 26th of December is Boxing day, but that being Sunday, today is the holiday instead.  I went with the Brethren to the Botanic Gardens.  They are inferior in size, variety and beauty or arrangement to those in Melbourne, yet it is a good place to spend a few hours.  It is my first visit.

Sunday, December 26, 1875

MORE MISSIONARIES ARRIVE

Dec. 26th.  The "Colimo" arrived at midnight.  I received word at 8:30 A.M. and started at once for the harbor, three miles, to find the vessel had discharged its passengers.   I went to Brother Nichols.  As the Brethren had not arrived, I went to Brother Peg's.  As they had not arrived there, I went back to Brother Nichols and from there to the hotel, then to meeting and there met them.  All but two reached Brother Peg's soon after I left the second time.   Isaac Groo, who supersedes Job Welling as President, Mark Croxall, and David Cluff, his Counselors, Edward Hoagland, John M. Young, Douglas Swan and Charles Burton were the new arrivals.

We had a very good Sacrament and testimony meeting.  Each of the new arrivals except Brother Burton spoke.  Brothers Platt and Speight and Sister Peg also spoke.  At the evening meeting there were about nine strangers present.  Branch President Nichols spoke a short time.  He was followed by Brother Groo, who spoke well.  The gist of his discourse was to allay prejudice and to represent Utah as it is.  He said we are a peculiar people.  Our peculiarities are such that we are not understood, but are sadly misrepresented.  He believes in short prayers and short sermons.

I followed and said we cannot get a person's true character from his enemies.  They will misrepresent him.   To understand our doctrine, people must lay prejudice to one side and investigate.  One of our peculiarities is, we believe the Bible as it reads and, consequently, believe the Gospel as taught by the Savior and his Apostles, with its laws, ordinances, organizations, signs and gifts.

The new Brethren went back to their hotels as they will have to pay for their rooms.

Saturday, December 25, 1875

Dec. 25th, 1875.  Christmas!  At midnight I had some preserved ginger - a new article to me - followed at 12:10 A.M. with cherries for Christmas morn.  It is, of course, quite new to me to have Christmas at a time of year equivalent to the 25th of June in Utah and the sun nearly vertical.  Christmas here is more like the Sabbath, church bells ringing, people going to their morning and evening services and the day is very quiet.

Friday, December 24, 1875

Dec. 24th. I received a reply to my letter to Ellis; four pages of fools cap, containing the usual venom of the Josephites and asking a time for debate. I shall reply very plainly but decline debating with those who wish not to investigate but to oppose and vilify. (As Josephites advertise as Latter-day Saints, it would appear as if Latter-day Saints were disagreeing about their own religion.)

Thursday, December 23, 1875

Dec. 23rd. I am writing up my journal and preparing tracts. There is a report of the arrival of the "Colimo". I find the report is not true, and take a walk the shipping area.

Wednesday, December 22, 1875

Dec. 22nd. I am still sore through the lungs, stomach, and bowels with griping and headache. I think the heat and bad water are causes. My lungs do not get strong here.

Tuesday, December 21, 1875

Dec. 21st. I suffered griping, which turned to dysentery and I was suffering all day. I wrote to President Welling. News came from home. My son Franklin is going to the University. The United Order and steward-ship are advocated again with investment of property and the net proceeds for the public good.

Monday, December 20, 1875

Dec. 20th. I added to my writing and mailed my letters. There is no news of the "Colimo" yet.

Sunday, December 19, 1875

Sunday, Dec. 19th. I went to see if the boat, the "Colimo" had arrived with missionaries. It had not. At the usual 3:00 P.M. meeting few were present. The sun was hot. President Nichols went to the race track and hearing Joseph Smith spoken of as an extreme spiritualist, he took up his defense and had a warm time for about an hour. At 7:00 P.M. Brother Pratt talked half an hour and I, 35 minutes. I compared the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob with our idea of Deity and showed the fallacy of a God without body, parts and passions. I explained that the concept of a God without body, parts or passions is like the tip end of nothing whittled to a sharp point.

Saturday, December 18, 1875

Dec. 18th. A letter came from President Welling, at last. He says he answered one that I have not yet received, says the weather is cool, not like summer, asks about eight missionaries who started for here on November 8th. I am distributing tracts. Four want no more. They have no fault, but their ministers supply them with what they are to read. A Roman Catholic family were sure they had the Gospel as taught by the Savior, that all dissenters were in error, but the Lord was full of mercy toward the dissenters.

Friday, December 17, 1875

Dec. 17th. I wrote a letter of 12 pages, home. The mail should go today, but as the "Colimo" from San Francisco has not arrived, it will go Monday on the "City of Melbourne."

Thursday, December 16, 1875

Dec. 16th. I prepared a package of Pratts tracts and sent to Brother Steed with an enclosed letter. I also sent letters to Jos. F. Smith, O. L. Robinson and the Farmington Sunday School.

Wednesday, December 15, 1875

Dec. 15th. I am reading "Zion's Watchman," published here 19 years ago. I administered to Brother Speight, who has the erysipelas again. This evening I went to hear Mrs. Stenhouse. She was half and hour late, with only 12 present. She said: "Ladies and Gentlemen, I do not feel that I can do justice to my subject with so few present and I really do not feel the spirit of lecturing. You can get your money at the door." I had been wishing her some discomfort, but did not expect it by an empty house and no lecture.

Tuesday, December 14, 1875

Dec. 14th. I addressed a correction to the "Morning Herald" about the imprisonment of President Brigham Young.

Monday, December 13, 1875

Dec. 13th. I wrote a six column reply to Ellis's challenge to Speight. I visited President Nichols and others. President Nichols is night watchman in the gas factory.

Sunday, December 12, 1875

Sunday, Dec. 12th. I had Gospel conversations in the morning. In the afternoon we held Sacrament meeting and then held the evening meeting. President Nichols preached a good earnest Gospel sermon. I followed and read the third chapter of John. I contrasted the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the other Christian teachings of today and told them that as God is unchangeable, so is his Gospel. It is the plan that was arranged before the world we inhabit, was created. At the close of the meeting I was handed a challenge, addressed to Brother Speight, to prove that the Josephites are not the servants of Jesus Christ, also offering to prove that some of our doctrines are not consistent with the doctrines of Jesus Christ.

A sea captain believes much of what I said and asked for an early interview. He thought we were exclusive, claiming that we alone were right. The Savior said; "Come unto me all ye ends of the earth." I told him we agreed in sentiment, that we were pointing out the way by which all the earth may come to Him and, as God's servants, we had Authority to start people in that way. I gave him my address and he is to call after he returns from his voyage. The California mail has arrived, but mine still has to go to Melbourne.

Saturday, December 11, 1875

Dec. 11th. I spent the day tracting and visiting the Saints and others. It is very sultry, God help me! I wrote a letter to Thomas Ship, Brisbane. As fast as I can get addresses of an Saints on the Island, I write them to report.

Friday, December 10, 1875

Dec. 10th. I am exchanging and giving out tracts and having door-to-door talks, in some of which I explain the Gospel in detail, showing how concisely it harmonizes with that taught by the Savior and His Apostles and it is the only one that does agree therewith, hence, the only true Gospel. This illustrates my labors in tracting and preaching the Gospel from door to door and I need not repeat it.

Sydney papers, in giving parliamentary discussion on prevention of venereal disease, quoted a member as saying,"Legislation cannot prevent prostitution." I referred to the remark and said, if they raised their sons to protect the virtue of their own person, they need not be so exercised about guarding the virtue of their daughters.

As I had been told I had best go home, as the United States was taking care of our religion, I told them, if all the opposition of the world destroyed us, they might set me down as a religious fanatic, but if we continued to progress against the opposition of the whole world, they might give credence to the testimonies I had been giving them.

Thursday, December 9, 1875

BIRTHDAY IN AUSTRALIA

December 9th, 1875. I am forty years old today. May I have many returns of the day. I have been exchanging tracts. A few decline to take the next. One had seen enough trouble from our doctrine before she left England. Some think they must only receive tracts from their own ministers. But I exchanged 25 tracts, where I found people at home. I had some amusing and some interesting talks. I urged some to investigate before they reject, to take Paul's advice, "Prove all things and hold fast to that which is good." One said I was the first one who had brought a tract to his door and thanked me for taking the trouble. I spent the evening with the Bennet family. I may revive their interest.

I am told that Mrs. Stenhouse has returned and wishes to see me. I replied that I had no objections to an interview. She had gone north up the coast before my arrival.

Wednesday, December 8, 1875

Dec. 8th. I wrote a letter to President Welling, reporting progress. I am preparing more tracts for distribution, with a notice of meetings and a note that the tracts will be called for and exchanged.

Sunday, December 5, 1875

Sunday, Dec. 5th. It is very hot with a strong north wind. At the afternoon meeting, after the Sacrament and testimonies, I spoke for half an hour. At the evening meeting, with 24 present, Brother Speight spoke forty minutes. He related his three months experience as a Josephite. I followed and compared the Gospel with so-called Christianity. As true Christianity is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, none are true Christians except those who believe what He taught. Hence there are few true Christians in the world today.

Saturday, December 4, 1875

Dec. 4th. This morning I went with Brother Peg to purchase wood, sold at the railroad. This afternoon I prepared more tracts and delivered 25.

I spent the evening with Mr. Ellis. After a pleasant visit on local and other matters, he brought up the Lee Trial, as misrepresented in certain pamphlets. I told him, from my certain knowledge, it was unsafe to believe "The Salt Lake Tribune" or anything published by it.

Mr. Ellis and I also discussed the Latter-day Saints work and the Reorganized group. I referred him to Daniel 2:44; Doctrine and Covenants and other references. I warned him not to be led to consent to the death of the leaders of the Church in Zion, for if he did, he would be consenting to the shedding of innocent blood. I was prompted to give him this warning in parting, more wordy than planned, and in such earnest delivery that the sweat ran down my face.

Friday, December 3, 1875

Dec. 3rd. As we have gained 17 2/3 hours on the time at home, they lack 6 1/3 hours of being a day behind us, so this would be Thursday Fast Day there. I am fasting and praying earnestly for the Saints, our authorities and for the dear ones at home; that the fear of man will leave me, that my way may open and that I may be diligent.

Thursday, December 2, 1875

Dec. 2nd. Each day spend some time in reading and studying. This afternoon I distributed twenty-three tracts and got conversation in most instances. How earnestly I pray God to open the way for me to do good in this land and bless me with ability and with the Holy Ghost, that I may be filled therewith and guided thereby.

Wednesday, December 1, 1875

SUMMER IN DECEMBER

Dec. 1st, 1875. It is Winter at home but Summer here, same as June there. This is the warmest I have been in all my life, except in 1873 in Arizona, when it was 100 degrees in the shade and in the sun the mercury soon ran up to 124, the extreme of my thermometer.