They arranged to be married in England the following April, and, after the cargo was discharged, he returned to England, where the ship was thoroughly repaired. The following March, while entering the port of Blyth, to load coal for Hamburg the "Thetis" was, through error of judgment on the part of the captain, run on to the rocks and became a total wreck. Of course, no lives were lost, but this wreck had the effect of deferring Ernest's marriage. Instead of it occurring in April, it was postponed till the following November. It took place in Shields, England, where he established a home and lived for many years, his six children being born there.
In 1888, while sailing on the ship "Breton," commanded by Captain Ole Peterson, who was a Latter-day Saint, he first learned of "Mormonism." He had been investigating Spiritualism, but abandoned it on learning that the Spiritualists repudiated Christ as a Savior. He had heard of the "Mormons" as being a bad people, but was anxious to learn from the captain really what his belief was. He opened up a conversation by asking the captain his opinion of Spiritualism. The captain replied: "You are not a spiritualist. You belong to the Church of England, and have now found what you have been looking for so many years—the true Gospel. And you will soon become a Latter-day Saint." He then explained the Gospel to him, and told how it had been restored to the earth through the ministration of angels.
On hearing this Ernest's heart beat with joy, and he felt certain the captain was telling the truth. He, being steward, one part of his duty was to keep the captain's stateroom tidy, and while doing so a copy of the Millennial Star came into his hands, which he read with avidity, and learned still more of "Mormon" doctrine.
Adverse winds were encountered on that voyage, and they were twenty-one days in making the round trip, whereas it should only have taken six days. Ernest heard the captain make a remark that there must be some reason for the weather being so against him, and said he wondered if his wife had neglected to pay the money for tithing he had left with her for that purpose. Ernest inquired what he meant by that, and had the law of tithing explained to him, and he felt in his heart then that it was a correct doctrine. On the captain's arrival in England he found out that his wife had not paid the tithing.
One year from the time he first had the Gospel explained to him, Ernest was baptized by Captain Peterson (September 18, 1889) in the North Sea. Immediately after his confirmation he inquired of the captain where he should send his tithing to, as he wanted to pay it. He commenced paying it then, and has been faithful in doing so ever since.
On embracing the Gospel he remarked to Captain Peterson that he supposed now his troubles were ended, but was told that he was wrong in that supposition, for his troubles were only commencing; that he should have the finger of scorn pointed at him, and find opposition even in his own household; but to be comforted, for the day would come when his wife would accept "Mormonism" and become a faithful Saint.
He found the captain's prediction to be verily true. While his wife was at first very much wrought up over his conversion, she afterwards investigated and embraced the Gospel, and has been faithful ever since.
From the time Ernest was baptized he advocated its doctrines and was ridiculed and persecuted as a consequence, but the stronger the opposition the more zeal he manifested. He received the nickname of "Harry, the Mormon," and was better known by that soubriquet than any other.
He was ordained an Elder April 5, 1891, and the next day baptized his wife and her sister.
Ernest continued to follow the sea, and still met with adventures that satisfied him that the devil had not ceased trying to encompass his destruction.