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.