A.—No, I do not. [B]
The Stadthalter now advised me to continue to abstain from taking any active part with the "Mormons" as, perhaps, I was not aware (not being able to read the public newspapers) to what extent the people were excited against "Mormonism," and told me I would be sent for in about a week to obtain the necessary papers to stay in Zurich, as it was dangerous for me to remain longer in Weiningen. Thus ended my first examination, and for the next two weeks I heard nothing from the authorities; but rumors were prevalent that the "Mormons" were about to be expelled.
[Footnote B: In being questioned about emigration, the object was to convict us of receiving the people's money by making promises which we could not fulfill. Any one, of course, could secure a passage to America by paying the necessary amount. The laws of Switzerland did not prevent emigration.]
CHAPTER III.
LETTER FROM ELDER SECRIST—ORDERED TO LEAVE ZURICH—ARRESTED AND IMPRISONED IN A FILTHY DUNGEON—TAKEN TO BETTER QUARTERS—RELEASED.
About this time I received letters from several of the brethren in other parts the mission, from which I learned that we in Zurich were not the only ones who were being persecuted. From Bro. Secrist's letter, written at St. Louis, France, I copy the following:
"You may think it strange to hear from me, an outcast (not on the island of Patmos, but in the kingdom of France) for the testimony of the truth and of the gospel, which we preach. I hardly know how to begin my history. I left Geneva sick, yet complained little. It was with much difficulty and distress of body that I arrived at a good sister's house in Thun, where I had a severe time for about three days. About one week after, President Tyler came to see me. We ordained three to the Priesthood. I kept myself hidden from strangers, and traveled from place to place after night, and as the Saints are very much scattered, frequently walked twelve miles after dark. I felt after a time that something was not right, and as the reigning Stadthalter wished to see me to learn from me concerning our doctrine, I went to see him. About this time he received a note from Berne, stating that 'Secrist had left the canton and if he were to show himself, to see after him and send him to Berne,' yet he (the Stadthalter) gave me the privilege of going to Berne by myself, instead of sending me by a policeman.
"I went, expecting to get a hearing, but this was denied me. They wished to know where I wanted to go. I answered to Thun. They replied, 'You cannot go to Thun,' and got into a passion and sent me to prison, where I remained nine days. The brethren did all they could for me to get the authorities to hear me, stating that the preacher at Siglerswyl (who complained against me) did not represent the thing as it was. They had encouragement to have a re-hearing for me, till last Friday. They had petitioned testifying that I had not brought a strange doctrine in the land, etc., but all to no purpose; in short, on last Saturday morning, I was transported by a policeman, and never got clear until at the dividing line of Switzerland and France."
I first made the acquaintance of Elder Jacob F. Secrist in Geneva, and found him to be a very humble and devoted missionary. He had just commenced to lay the foundation of a permanent work in Berne and Thun (a town some fifteen miles distant from the former) where he had by the blessing of God, after enduring many hardships, baptized a number of good people and established one or two branches. He was honorably released to return to Zion, but did not live to enjoy the happiness of a re-union with his family in this life, as he died somewhere in the States on his way home.
For four or five weeks during these exciting times I kept no journal, as it was not prudent under the circumstances to do so. In a country where a man may be arrested and imprisoned at any movement, as we then expected to be, and without a knowledge, on his part, of any charge being made against him, it was not safe to write and carry evidence of one's movements and connections. Although there was nothing wrong about our acts or intentions, as our only desire was to remain that we might teach our brethren and sisters and preach the gospel, as required by the revelations of God; we wished to avoid bringing trouble on others, if we had to feel the effects of prejudice and persecution.