Thursday, October 28, 1875

Oct. 28th. We all went to Melbourne. Brother Steed and I ordered suits of clothes and were measured. We met Brother Bechamp and heard his report of the reports and accusations against him. He pleaded innocent of the worst of them. He had taken girls on his lap and kissed them. He thought his fatherly age should justify or excuse. He knows the Gospel is true. Bro. Welling advised him to remain quiet, save up his means, and first chance to go to the Valley, meet the President and get forgiveness as far as possible.

Wedesday, October 27, 1875

Oct. 27th. Visited a jute factory, manufacturing gunny sack cloth. In the afternoon, we had a consultation on our future. Brother Job thinks we should separate, one remain here, one go to Sydney and one go to New Zealand; suggests that Brother Steed go to New Zealand.

Tuesday, October 26, 1875

Oct. 26th. Looking over tracts, I find about seventy each of Orson Pratt's Eight Chapters. In the afternoon I went to Melbourne and walked about fifteen miles, so I am improving.

Monday, October 25, 1875

Oct. 25th. Brother Kant gave a short history of the preaching of the Gospel for the last five years. It has been preached in Australia for twenty-four years, but with little progress. Our first impression of Australia being a hard field of labor, I fear, will be realized. But we pray God to overrule for the best.

Sunday, October 24, 1875

Sunday, Oct. 24th. Brother Kent arrived last night. He reminds me of James Toomers, a good singer, jovial, and plays the bass viol. He reported the Mission to Job Welling and turned over his certificate of appointment. He is also President of the Melbourne Branch, which position he retains. Meeting at 3:00 P.M. Those present were: President Kant and family, a counselor, Brother Bechamp, who was President until Brother Geddis arrived and suspended him sometime over a year ago for misconduct, a Mr. Fairhurst, a free-thinker and strong advocate of social reform, who believes that polygamy may reform, the social evil and that co-operation or concentration may reform the political evil, a Mr. Barrat and wife, and neighbors who, like Mr. Fairhurst, look upon our views as better than any other.

After the partaking of the Sacrament, Brother Welling spoke of affairs in Utah and the establishment of God's Kingdom and its saving influence for all who faithfully support it. Brother Steed bore testimony to the divine calling of the Prophet Joseph Smith and the saving grace of the Gospel. I passed hastily over the Gospel as taught by the Savior; the falling away from the same; the persecutions and remodeling by the Romans; the protestants breaking off from the Roman Catholics whom they considered impure and going back to the Bible which is merely a history of the Gospel, not the real Gospel, as it gave them no authority or priesthood to act and, as the Roman Catholics had not the Power of the Gospel, they could not transmit it. Hence all Christendom, for over 1,400 years, has been acting without authority and there has been no pure Christianity upon the earth. If Christianity means those principles taught by our beloved Savior, then the L.D.S. are the true Christians, for they believe, preach, and practice the same Gospel as taught by the Savior and his Disciples. After the meeting, talk on the Gospel and reform continued, Brother Bechamp joining in. He argues well and has a good understanding of the Gospel. What a pity such a will live beneath their knowledge and privileges and bring themselves and the Gospel into disrepute.

Saturday, October 23, 1875

Oct. 23rd. News from home dated Sept. 6th, gives the death of George A. Smith, who was buried on the 5th. There are five numbers of the "Deseret News" to Sept. 1st. They give much of the Lee Trial, with comments of adverse papers full of spleen, etc. God will overrule. The Saints are being baptized in to the United Order and the Devil is mad and marshalling his forces. We must marshal ours and endure faithful to the end, and gain the reward of the faithful.

Friday, October 22, 1875

Oct. 22nd. I went five miles to Melbourne and bought a hat for 10 shillings. Melbourne is a city of about 200,000, built mostly after the English Style. There are some good paved streets, some good buildings and, like English towns, wealth and poverty side by side. I think there is here considerable of what is called shoddy aristocracy.