The True Latter Day Saints' Herald, vol. 16, no. 9 (Plano, Ill., Nov. 1, 1869), Correspondence section.
Lafayette, Doniphan Co., Kan., September 17, 1869.
Bro. Mark H. Forscutt:
Yours of the 1st inst. is received. Many thanks for Herald and Hope. The tracts you sent me are received all right. Let me here say that the Hope fully meets my expectations. It is indeed a "spicy beet," and well calculated to do much good. May God speed the little truth-bearer till its mission shall be filled to the glory of the Lord.
I feel that I must give you the outlines of a short visit to Ray county, Mo. I started thither Friday, Sept. 10th, and tarried at St. Joseph till 8 o'clock next morning, when I took the train for Camden, a small river town in Ray county, situated on the North Missouri Railroad, where I arrived the same day, at 6 o'clock, P. M., and was kindly received by Bro. E. M. Shepherd and his excellent lady.
On my way down I stopped at Kansas City. The stupenduous iron railroad bridge across the Missouri River, at this point, is a fine display of the artistic and mechanical powers of man. It is a grand piece of work.
In Camden, I preached twice, and it was remarked that such attention and profound interest were never before manifested in the place. The people were astonished. What they heard called "Mormonism," was not what they expected. It savored very strongly of gospel truth.
After meeting Sunday evening, having given liberty for remarks, Bro. Bone, a Methodist circuit preacher, took the stand to show that I was wrong in placing faith before repentance. He quoted a few passages like the following: "Repent and believe the gospel;" "repentance from dead works, and faith toward God," to which I replied, and judging from appearances, to the satisfaction of a majority present. In justice to the man, I will say that he was free from prejudice and malice, monstrous vices which so almost universally characterize the ministers of his denomination, when they come in contact with the Latter Day Work. After meeting, I accepted an invitation to go home with him, where we engaged in a pleasant conversation. He found no fault with the doctrine.
Monday, 13th I visited Richmond, the county seat of Ray, where, to my surprise, I found Bro. David Whitmer, one of the "three witness." He is now 64 years old and somewhat broken. He entertains some ideas of minor importance, which could not be considered orthodox; but so far as his faith in the Latter Day Work is concerned, he remains as firm as the everlasting hills. Our conversation was brought to an abrupt and untimely end by a fit of the ague, to which he had been subject for some days past. With a promise to return, I departed.
I also had the great pleasure of calling on Sister Oliver Cowdery. She also lives in Richmond with her amiable daughter, Mrs. Johnson. They are both unshaken in the faith.
John Whitmer, one of the "eight witnesses," still lives in Far West, in full faith, looking for the glory of Zion.
Wm. E. McLellin is in Independence. There are living in that vicinity many others who hold to the good old way.
Yours in gospel bonds, DAVIS H. BAYS.