Saturday, March 25, 1876

Mar. 25th.  We go five miles to Little River where we called on D. Langster, a poor miner.  We have religious and other talk, take dinner, and leave three tracts.  We pass on and call on Mr. John Rambo from Texas.  He is not at home.  His wife is sorry because she thinks he would like to talk with us.  We talk with her and a storekeeper and pass on for Charleyang.

After ten miles walk, we are told Charleyang is still three miles.  We are directed on a bridle path.  We lose our trail in the dark and zigzag for some time.  We find and follow a trail about three miles.  We hear a dog, follow the sound, see a light and find a house.  Charleyang is still three miles.  We are lost and tired.  Brother Cluff has walked enough.  With a cup of tea and a blanket, he would stop.  They have very poor accommodations but we can stop.  It is Bentley, a local preacher.  There was some talk on their fortunes and misfortunes, on America and Australia, and, telling them we are representatives from America, we retire.

Friday, March 24, 1876

Mar. 24th.  We had a conversation with Mr. Bruce and Mr. Keneday, whom we saw at Reedsdale.  I wrote letters to Groo and Chittenden.  This afternoon we go on five miles to James Mayberry's, where we are kindly received.  He does not wish to investigate religion or change his.  He has 800 acres of land; 25 cows: a wife and three children.  Women here often boast of the number of their children, who are more robust and healthy than at Sydney.

Thursday, March 23, 1876

Mar. 23rd.  We spent the day at the Exposition.  Mr. Richardson introduced us to the local editor and we have some conversation with him and with many others of the leading men of the exhibition and others of wealth that the exhibition has brought together.  There are some very good exhibits.  Braidwood is a nice little town of a few hundred people.  The district has a radius of 20 to 30 miles.

Wednesday, March 22, 1876

Mar. 22nd.  Mrs. Stenhouse and polygamy are introduced.  I defend the latter from the Bible, from reason, and the necessity for a change to break down the social evil.  In parting, Mrs. McDonald said: "You are not strangers now and are welcome."

One mile walk and Mr. D. Richardson invited us in, saying: "You are Americans.  I wish to talk with you.  I would respect a dog from your country; a great country and people; much enterprise.  May I ask your business?"  I reply: "We are Latter-day Saint Missionaries."  He said: "Indeed, I was not aware I was talking to Ministers, but you are welcome as the Pope of Rome.  I am Catholic, but do not believe all their dogmas.  But, gentlemen, how will you manage those points of difference between and the U.S.A.?"  He brought up polygamy as usual, and the Mountain Meadow Massacre.  I gave the usual defense.  He asked about our marriage law, the rights of plural wives, etc. and I explained.  We closed with Phrenology, "When peoples facilities only lead to certain things, why should God hold them responsible?"  I explained that the practices of parents, surrounding influences and cultivation had much to do with this and we should not charge to our Heavenly Father the faults of man, either in practice or neglect.

After dinner we went on to Braidwood.  While being shaved, Mr. Flannigan seeks occasion again to bring up our marriages, burlesquing, etc.  Many are present and I make the usual defense.  Then the barber takes up the refrain, which leads to a gospel sermon.

Tuesday, March 21, 1876

Mar. 21st.  Started for Reedsdale, fourteen miles.  We pass S. Mayberry's residence.  He is a bachelor away from home.  Five and a half miles and we converse with a Mr. Golightly, an old resident, who has seen much of the country for thirty years.  Then six miles to McDonald and enquire for Steven Brown, a son-in-law of Chittendens.  We are suspected of being detectives.  A robbery and murder have occurred in the vicinity.  We call at Brown's house.  He is not home.  We visit and report to his wife and mother and go back to McDonald's.  We ask entertainment as Latter-day Saint Elders.  The wife expressed doubt and I show my certificate and say that we travel as did Christ's Apostles, without salary and we are accepted.  We had a good evening visit.  A Mr. Flannigan made some thrusts, would like a wife each year.  I told him he reminded me of the Romans.  I esteemed the England law against divorce and wished they were as protective against the seducer.  Mrs. McDonald joins my side of the argument and is supported by Mr. McDonald.  We pass the travels, to American customs, railroads, mining and other developments.

Monday, March 20, 1876

Mar. 20th.  Breakfast and fare, 5 shillings.  After five miles, we come to a nice clean mountain stream flowing over a rocky bed.  We drink, bathe our feet and sing, "O, Ye Mountains High."  Seven miles and we have dinner, 1 shilling, at McRoy.  Then we pass Shoal River on a bridge 175 paces long to Braidwood, thirteen miles and stop at Kingland Hotal.

Sunday, March 19, 1876

Mar. 19th.  After breakfast and considerable Gospel talk, we pass Bungedore, a small village near the south end of Lake George.  Three miles more and we take, from a lofty mountain, a last look at the lake and have good mountain scenery in different directions; toward Sydney, 100 miles; toward Victory, the Australian Alps in the blue distance.  Two miles to Deep Creek, where we obtain lodging with Chas. Ross.  We converse with A. Hutchinson, his half brother, who walked three miles to see and visit with us.  He has read our works; has a Book of Mormon which he has read some; knew several who joined us and went to the Valley.

Friday, March 17, 1876

Mar. 17th.  At morning prayer, I was again called to officiate.  I read Matthew 11.  In parting, after much Gospel talk, he said: "You are in a noble work, winning souls to Christ.  When you pass this way again, say, "This is home'."  He owns 4,500 acres, 900 sheep and other stock.  With God's blessing, we pass on.

A few passing conversations, and we come to the copper mines, where we spent two hours.  Then four miles and we are at Lake George in the mountain tops.  It is 10 by 35 miles with no outlet - nice mountain scenery in different directions.  We are entertained by Mr. J. R. Kenney and had a pleasant conversation on history, including Utah and the Mormons.  Slept on a feather bed.

At breakfast, he engaged in further inquiry about Brigham's people.  We defend polygamy from the Bible and then explain the first principles.  By invitation, we dine, then pass on by some nice scenery.  We ask accommodations and are refused by Osburn, worth 130,000 acres well pastured.  Some miles farther we are favored by a poor herder, but Oh! the fleas!  I scarcely slept and there are hundreds of perforations in my back.  We accept such from the poor and give thanks for their kindness.

Thursday, March 16, 1876

Mar. 16th, 1876.  Nine months from home.  I was married twenty years ago today.  I wrote to President Groo.  We packed our valises with underclothes, books and tracts; had prayer with the Chittenden family and administered to Brother Chittenden for his illness.

AUSTRALIAN BUSH ON FOOT

Then we started on a trip of several days in the Australian Bush on foot.  After a walk of ten miles and a drink of the best spring water I have tasted in this country, at 2:00 P.M. we called at the house of Mr. Robert A. Nielson and were invited in.  Water and milk were offered and I took freely of the latter.  He asked us our business. I replied, "We are Latter-day Saint Missionaries."  He said he thought we were ministers, had lunch served and engaged us in conversation.  He is Wesleyan and had read his Bible by rote eight times.  He had his wife and daughter come in and listen and, at 4:00 P.M., when we proposed to move on, we were invited to stay over night, which we gladly accepted.  At prayers, I was called to the big chair with the big Bible before me.  I read John 3 and prayed for the dissemination of truth, for all that labor in his cause and for the building up of God's Kingdom, etc.  He responded with groans and amens.  I must be serious but it was as good as theatre.  He asked me to discuss with his Catholic shepherd, which I did, to his satisfaction, using Daniel 2 and Nahum 2, etc.

Tuesday, March 14, 1876

Mar. 14th.  More Gospel conversations.  We consecrated oil.  We prayed for and administered to Sister Griffith.  I had a letter from J.T. Smith giving the effort of the United Order and another effort in Arizona under the command of Lot Smith.

Sunday, March 12, 1876

Mar. 12th.  I joined with the Chittenden family, going to the Church of England chapel.  The Minister read  Genesis 32, which is favorable to our polygamy, especially verses 22 to 30.  Jacob took his two wives and two women servants and eleven sons and passed over the ford Jabbok.  He told of his wrestling with the Lord and the Lord blessing him there.  Then he took Luke 18:2 for a text and gave a talk that Latter-day Saints could find no fault with.

Friday, March 10, 1876

Mar. 10th.  Had a Gospel talk one and a half hours with Mr. Harrison and three apprentices listening.  After defending polygamy as scriptural and moral, I took up the principles as taught by the Savior and his disciples and predicted by Daniel, second chapter.

Thursday, March 9, 1876

Mar. 9th.  I wrote letters to my family and others and mailed them. 

Wednesday, March 8, 1876

Mar. 8th.  I received letters and papers from Job Welling.   He is now in Geelong.  He has faced Mrs. Stenhouse in her lecture and told her to her face that what she said was false.  He wrote twelve pages.

Tuesday, March 7, 1876

Mar. 7th.  I wrote to Bishop J.W. Hess and have been reading, studying and conversing.

Monday, March 6, 1876

Mar. 6th.  This morning, went tracting, some three miles.  I had one and a half hour talk on our religion with Mr. Johnson.  He was glad to hear me.  He felt all I said was reasonable.  He took two tracts.

Sunday, March 5, 1876

Sunday, Mar. 5th.  Meeting of the family and a few others.  Some speaking and reading on the principles an on the restoration of all things.

Saturday, March 4, 1876

Mar. 4th.  I wrote a letter to Mr. B. Robinson, a fellow passenger on the S.S. Great Britain.  In the afternoon we attended the rebaptism of Brother and Sister Chittenden, with Cluff officiating.

Friday, March 3, 1876

Mar. 3rd.  We had two Gospel talks: one with a Mr. Turner, a builder, who had heard of our people and we compared our Church with the Church of England; the other, Joseph D. Wier had heard of us and read our works in England.  He preferred to stand by the church he was educated in.   We all hope to reach heaven and he hoped we all would gain it.  None can say, "We know we are right."  I quoted the Savior: "If any man will do His will, he will know of the doctrine, etc."

Friday, March 3, 1876

Mar. 3rd.  We had two Gospel talks:  one with a Mr. Turner, a builder, who had heard of our people and we compared our Church with the Church of England;  the other, Joseph D. Wier had heard of us and read our works in England.  He preferred to stand by the church he was educated in.  We all hope to reach heaven and he hoped we all would gain it. None can say, "We know we are right."  I quoted the Savior: "If any man will do His will, he will know of the doctrine, etc."